Dean of Students

North Star Academy Charter School; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 73,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Professional development

Health, dental & vision insurance

Pre-tax benefits (FSA/DCFSA/HSA)

Paid holidays & ~10 weeks breaks

Job summary

Uncommon Schools in Newark seeks a Dean of Students (DOS) to partner with the Principal and Operations Director to foster a positive, achievement‑oriented, culturally responsive school culture. You will model behavior management practices, support teachers, and engage students and families to drive academic and personal growth.

You’ll lead behavior plans, coordinate attendance and homework systems, participate in school events, and help create a joyful, inclusive environment while upholding high

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience working with youth in urban settings.
• Proven ability to uphold high standards and provide emotional and academic support.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Self-motivated with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
• Ability to implement feedback from school leaders and colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Principal to establish a positive, achievement‑oriented school culture.
• Demonstrate mastery of behavior management practices for teachers.
• Support teachers to empower students to reach their full potential.
• Navigate behavioral crises and manage the school‑wide behavior plan.
• Collaborate with teachers, students, and families to implement individual behavior plans.
• Manage systems that support attendance and homework initiatives.
• Be highly present during school hours and at school events to promote inclusion.
• Model the school’s values and the standard for excellence.

Skills

Communication

Time management

Relationship building

Cultural responsiveness

Team collaboration

Leadership

Student engagement

Job description

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks, reflecting our dedication to their success. Our invest deeply in our educators, offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference!

Job Description

At Uncommon Schools the Dean of Students (DOS) partners with the Principal and Director of Operations to create a school culture where students are actively engaged in academics and excited to come to school. Our schools are a place where students enjoy learning and engage respectfully with their peers, teachers and community. Our Deans build strong relationships and a positive school culture to ensure that all students embody the school’s values and stay focused on their journey to and through college. The Dean will also lead initiatives around school culture, our college preparatory focus, culturally responsive teaching, and student and family engagement. As Dean of Students:

You’ll work closely with the Principal and Director of Operations to establish a positive, achievement-oriented, and culturally responsive school culture.

You’ll demonstrate mastery of our instructional taxonomy to model behavior management best practices for teachers.

You’ll support teachers in empowering students to meet their full academic and personal potential.

You'll navigate behavioral crisis-intervention and acute behavioral issues, and you'll manage the school-wide behavior plan utilizing culturally responsive techniques.

You’ll collaborate with teachers, students, and families to create and implement individual behavior plans.

You’ll manage systems that support school initiatives that lead to academic success for our students (e.g., attendance systems, homework systems).

You'll be highly present and visible during school hours, constantly ensuring the school has an inclusive and joyful school culture. You will also be present and visible for other school-wide events outside of school hours, including parent-teacher conferences, school-wide performances.

You’ll model the school’s values and the standard for academic and personal excellence.

Qualifications

Passionate commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools;

Unwavering belief in high academic and behavioral expectations for all students.

Exceptional time and task management skills;

Ability to persevere despite uncertainty and unexpected obstacles;

Relentless drive to empower students academically and personally;

Self-motivation, desire to be a great teammate, and a strong sense of personal responsibility;

Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and strong interpersonal skills with students, parents, colleagues, and community members;

Ability and desire to implement feedback from school leaders and colleagues.

Requirements:

3+ years of experience working with youth or teaching in an urban district or charter school setting, with an explicit focus on building rapport and trust;

Proven track record of holding high standards and offering emotional and academic support to students.

Additional Information

Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy values equity & fairness and attracting & retaining top talent.

Our Approach to AI and Your Application
At Uncommon Schools, we value thoughtful use of technology. Your responses should begin with your own thinking and reflect your authentic voice, experiences, and commitment to our mission. Generative AI can be used to refine or organize writing, but not to generate initial responses or replace your ideas. Every application is reviewed by a member of our Recruitment Team, and we are committed to understanding the person behind the application.

Compensation

Compensation for this role is between $73,000 and $115,000. Most candidates who meet job description requirements will receive an offer of $73,000 - $79,000.

Starting pay is determined using various factors including but not limited to relevant professional development, education certifications, and tenure with Uncommon Schools.

Generous paid time off inclusive of sick time, paid holidays, and ~10 weeks of paid breaks (Spring, Winter, and Summer).

Extensive, best-in-class training and development

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans + pre-tax flexible spending (FSA), dependent care (DCFSA), and health saving accounts (HSA)

Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)

Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits

*A detailed list of all SY 26-27 benefits is located HERE .

At Uncommon, we believe that a supportive and welcoming environment helps our students, staff, and community thrive. We are dedicated to building a team that brings a wide range of perspectives and experiences, reflective of the communities we serve---with over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color. Our organization values respect and open dialogue on important topics that shape our school culture.

As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email [e-mail].