2026-2027 (CT) Dean of Special Services

Achievement First; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 90,041 - 117,483; Full time

Job summary

Achievement First is seeking a Dean of Special Services in New Haven, CT for the 2026-2027 school year. You will coach teachers, design interventions from data, and lead a culture that drives high achievement for every scholar.

You will work with the principal and network teams to develop rigorous curricula, observe lessons, and provide actionable feedback while modeling excellence in instruction. A strong commitment to equity guides daily decisions and professional growth.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree; master’s degree preferred.
• Certified as a school leader per state guidelines; if not certified, ability to obtain certification within the first two months of employment.
• At least 3 years of K-12 full-time lead teaching experience with a record of high student achievement.
• At least 1 year of experience coaching and leading adults to obtain high student achievement.

Responsibilities

• Analyze school wide data to design responsive student interventions.
• Develop highly effective instructional curriculum and schedule in collaboration with principal and Team Teaching & Learning in the Network Support office.
• Observe lessons regularly and deliver targeted feedback to teachers.
• Collaborate with grade/subject teams to plan units, lessons and assessments; regularly share feedback.
• Assist teachers to devise and monitor high-impact support plans for students.
• Model outstanding instruction for teachers.
• Coordinate and manage creative, inspiring professional development sessions in line with school goals and priorities.
• Direct the interim assessment process to ensure teachers use current data to drive instruction; facilitate regular debriefs with teachers.
• Lead staff trainings at start and end of school year and on professional development day.
• Analyze school wide data to design responsive student interventions.
• Track academic data (homework completion, etc.); communicate progress to students, teachers and parents.
• Participate in regular leadership team meetings.
• Work with dean of students to support character development and positive school culture.
• Assist teacher leaders in developing leadership skills.

Skills

Coaching

Data analysis

Curriculum design

Observation feedback

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

State teaching certification

Job description

Leading at Achievement First

As a Dean of Special Services at Achievement First, you will be at the center of this work— coaching our teachers and driving decisions that will benefit our scholars. Here, you will be the driver of high quality coaching instruction that enables teachers to develop and deliver strong content and to help our scholars develop a lifelong love of learning. You will work with teachers to be your students’ champion who believes all students are capable of greatness. You will be a demander of excellence for yourself, your teachers and your students, an educator who helps create a vibrant school community where students have the type of powerful school experience that fosters their best and most thoughtful work.

School Year: 2026-2027

As a Dean of Special Services at Achievement First, you will grow as a passionate and constant leader who thrives on feedback, enjoys regular one-on-one coaching with your principal, and nurtures a voracious appetite for professional development and consistent improvement. You will cultivate schoolwide classroom cultures built on strong structures, communication and lasting relationships. Every day, you will contribute to the education of children who will go on to become the next generation of leaders in our communities.

Coaching And Developing Staff To Achieve Excellent Student Outcomes

• Analyze school wide data in order to design responsive and effective student interventions.
• Develop highly effective instructional curriculum and schedule, in collaboration with principal and Team Teaching & Learning in the Network Support office.
• Observe lessons regularly and deliver targeted feedback to teachers.
• Collaborate with grade/subject teams to plan units, lessons and assessments; regularly share feedback.
• Assist teachers to devise and monitor high-impact support plans for students.
• Model outstanding instruction for teachers.

Facilitating Excellent Professional Development

• Coordinate and manage creative, inspiring professional development sessions in line with school goals and priorities.
• Direct the interim assessment process to ensure teachers are using current data to drive instruction; facilitate regular, meaningful interim assessment data debriefs with teachers.
• Lead staff trainings at start and end of school year and on professional development day.

Serve as an active member of the school leadership team

• Analyze school wide data in order to design responsive student interventions.
• Track other useful academic data (e.g. homework completion rates); communicate progress to students, teachers and parents.
• Participate in regular leadership team meetings.
• Work closely with dean of students to support efforts in character development and positive school culture.
• Assist teacher leaders (e.g., coaches, grade team leaders) in developing leadership skills.

Skills And Characteristics

• An active and demonstrated commitment to Achievement First’s mission and values: Leading for Racial Equity, Embrace Challenge, and Go Further Together.
• A track record of exemplary instructional and classroom management skills, including meeting extremely high standards for student achievement.
• A proven ability to proactively and effectively coach and manage adults and drive excellent student achievement through others.
• Superior personal organizational skills, ability to coach others to improve their organizational skills and efficiency, and ability to zoom out to create and manage systems and projects that require long range planning and organization.
• People Leadership: Strong self awareness and awareness of others, and exceptional "warm/demanding" balance when leading adults.
• Growth mindset for self and others; willingness to seek out feedback and ability to implement constructive feedback quickly and effectively.
• Mastery of and enthusiasm for subject matter.

Necessary Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree; master’s degree preferred.
• Certified as a school leader per your state’s guidelines and requirements; if not currently certified, ability to obtain necessary state certification in specific subject and grade level is required within the first two months of employment.
• At least 3 years of K-12 full-time lead teaching experience with a record of high student achievement.
• At least 1 year of experience coaching and leading adults to obtain high student achievement.

Compensation & Benefits

• Employees at Achievement First are provided with a competitive salary. Our salaries are set through a lens of equity, and based on an individual’s skills, education, and years of experience relevant to the role. Dean salaries in CT range from $90,041 - $117,483.
• As a regular full time employee of Achievement First, you will be eligible for benefits that include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance as well as a 403(b) retirement benefit package with match and paid Family Leave.

Achievement First is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. People from all diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Spanish language proficiency is a plus. You can learn more about diversity at Achievement First here: http://achievementfirst.org/about-us/diversity/