Dean of Academics

Sequoyah School; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Sequoyah School in Pasadena, CA seeks a Dean of Academics to lead an intellectually ambitious, student-centered progressive program. The Dean shapes curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment across the Upper School and partners with department chairs to drive professional growth and program development.

This role includes scheduling, academic policies, records, accreditation, and student progress systems, while teaching one class per term to stay connected with students.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree required; masters or higher.
• 10+ years of high school teaching and instructional leadership.
• Proven track record in school administration, registrar duties, and academic leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to create a culture of inclusion and belonging.
• Proficiency with Veracross, Canvas, Blackbaud or similar SISs.
• Exceptional interpersonal communication with all school constituencies.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Assistant Head of School & High School Director, Dept. Chairs, and other program administrators to advance the vision of the high school program.
• Oversees school scheduling, supporting the needs of students and faculty.
• Faculty Development: Facilitate workshops and professional development focused on stated school priorities, including competency-based grading and active pedagogy.
• Student Academic Progress: Ensure students are on track toward graduation by overseeing transcripts, credits, graduation requirements, and the academic registration process for incoming students.
• Accreditation & Program Recognition: Maintain the school's academic standing and external approvals, including UC A–G and NCAA requirements.
• Academic Records & Reporting: Oversee accurate, timely systems for report cards, transcripts, and other academic records that support students, families, and faculty.
• Attendance & Academic Eligibility: Oversee systems for monitoring attendance and academic eligibility, ensuring that concerns are identified early and communicated clearly to students, families, and the appropriate school teams.
• Teach one section of a class per term.
• Demonstrated ability to create a culture of inclusion and belonging.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Educational leadership

Curriculum development

Student assessment

Education

Master's degree or higher

Tools

Veracross

Canvas

Blackbaud

Job description

The Dean of Academics is a key member of the Upper School Leadership Team and an academic leader for the school. The Dean helps shape an intellectually ambitious, student-centered progressive academic program—one that combines deep disciplinary learning with inquiry, student agency, and meaningful application beyond the classroom. The Dean supports faculty in their craft, partners with department chairs, and helps ensure that Sequoyah’s curriculum and academic practices reflect both the principles of progressive education and Sequoyah’s mission to challenge the mind, nurture the heart, and celebrate human dignity.

This is a role for a progressive educator who enjoys both big-picture thinking and the practical work of making a strong academic program come alive. The Dean works closely with faculty on curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, and professional growth; helps develop thoughtful systems that support teaching and learning; and uses student experience and academic data to identify where individuals and the program as a whole can grow. As part of the Leadership Team, the Dean also helps shape the culture and direction of the Upper School and is an engaged presence in the daily life of the campus, ensuring full student engagement and belonging both in and beyond the classroom.

The Dean provides leadership for the essential academic structures that allow this work to flourish, including scheduling, academic policies and records, accreditation requirements, student progress and support systems, and faculty development. The Dean also teaches one class section, keeping the role grounded in direct work with students and in the lived experience of teaching at Sequoyah, while modeling intellectual and educational leadership and excellence. The ideal candidate should have a proven track record in school administration and academic leadership. Proficiency with educational information systems such as Veracross, Canvas, or Blackbaud is highly desirable. Strong interpersonal skills are essential for effectively engaging with families, conducting registration meetings, and facilitating faculty workshops.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Dean of Academics is a key member of the Upper School Leadership Team and an academic leader for the school. The Dean helps shape an intellectually ambitious, student-centered progressive academic program—one that combines deep disciplinary learning with inquiry, student agency, and meaningful application beyond the classroom. The Dean supports faculty in their craft, partners with department chairs, and helps ensure that Sequoyah’s curriculum and academic practices reflect both the principles of progressive education and Sequoyah’s mission to challenge the mind, nurture the heart, and celebrate human dignity.

This is a role for a progressive educator who enjoys both big-picture thinking and the practical work of making a strong academic program come alive. The Dean works closely with faculty on curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, and professional growth; helps develop thoughtful systems that support teaching and learning; and uses student experience and academic data to identify where individuals and the program as a whole can grow. As part of the Leadership Team, the Dean also helps shape the culture and direction of the Upper School and is an engaged presence in the daily life of the campus, ensuring full student engagement and belonging both in and beyond the classroom.

The Dean provides leadership for the essential academic structures that allow this work to flourish, including scheduling, academic policies and records, accreditation requirements, student progress and support systems, and faculty development. The Dean also teaches one class section, keeping the role grounded in direct work with students and in the lived experience of teaching at Sequoyah, while modeling intellectual and educational leadership and excellence. The ideal candidate should have a proven track record in school administration and academic leadership. Proficiency with educational information systems such as Veracross, Canvas, or Blackbaud is highly desirable. Strong interpersonal skills are essential for effectively engaging with families, conducting registration meetings, and facilitating faculty workshops.

Academic Leadership

• Collaborate with the Assistant Head of School & High School Director, Dept. Chairs, and other program administrators to advance the vision of the high school program.
• Oversees school scheduling, supporting the needs of students and faculty
• Faculty Development: Facilitate workshops and professional development focused on stated school priorities, including competency-based grading and active pedagogy.
  

Academic Systems & Program Stewardship

• Student Academic Progress: Ensure students are on track toward graduation by overseeing transcripts, credits, graduation requirements, and the academic registration process for incoming students.
• Accreditation & Program Recognition: Maintain the school’s academic standing and external approvals, including UC A–G and NCAA requirements.
• Academic Records & Reporting: Oversee accurate, timely systems for report cards, transcripts, and other academic records that support students, families, and faculty.
• Attendance & Academic Eligibility: Oversee systems for monitoring attendance and academic eligibility, ensuring that concerns are identified early and communicated clearly to students, families, and the appropriate school teams.
  

Student Culture & Support

• Help to create a culture of student accountability through early interventions: Manage the academic student support level system; meet with students, Advisors, teachers and parents as necessary;
• Foster positive school culture through modeling stewardship on campus, maintaining high visibility, supporting special events and daily student life.
• Maintain a strong adult team through regular supervision, and clear and visible collaboration with the administrative team.
  

Teaching

• Teach one section of a class per term.
  

Qualifications

• A graduate degree, masters or higher;
• 10+ years experience of high school teaching and instructional leadership;
• Proven track record in school administration, registrar duties, and academic leadership;
• Demonstrated ability to create a culture of inclusion and belonging;
• Proficiency with Veracross, Canvas, Blackbaud or similar SISs is highly preferred;
• Communication: Exceptional interpersonal skills with all school constituencies, including students, parents, faculty, staff, and prospective families;
• Demonstrated success fostering belonging in classrooms and community spaces