Upper School Dean of Students

St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School, an Episcopal day school serving ages 3 to Grade 12 in Alexandria, VA, seeks an Upper School Dean of Students for 2027-2028.

The Dean leads discipline, student life, and program coordination, guiding the Student Council and advising a class or two. The role reports to the Director of Upper School and is part of the JK-12 Administrative Team. Our community emphasizes belonging, equity, and rigorous learning, with extensive opportunities across arts, athletics,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of five years of school setting experience including teaching, counseling, or guidance as well as school leadership.
• Demonstrated passion for working with Upper School students.
• Commitment to supporting students through the Upper School years.
• Proven ability to build relationships with parents.
• Track record of effective collaboration with faculty and administrators.

Responsibilities

• Organize, implement, and execute a character-based, responsive discipline system.
• Supervise the Associate Deans, Clubs Coordinator, and Directors of the Freshmen Bridge Program.
• Maintain discipline records and related correspondence.
• Review and revise the discipline section of the Student-Parent Handbook.
• Oversee the Honor and Disciplinary Board and the Administrative Disciplinary Council.
• Coordinate student elections and work with the Student Council Association.
• Coordinate with administrative staff on logistical elements of the Upper School experience.
• Process and reconcile attendance records with the Attendance Manager.
• Plan and execute the annual Senior retreat.
• Support a healthy, productive, and safe Upper School experience with leadership team.

Skills

Leadership

Student engagement

Policy enforcement

Communication with parents

Collaboration with faculty

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Upper School Dean of Students

(2027-2028)

Position Statement:

School culture is built in everyday moments, and the Upper School Dean of Students plays a vital role in making those moments count. At SSSAS, the Dean of Students helps cultivate a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive school community where students feel known, valued, and empowered to lead. This highly visible leader brings energy and intention to the student experience, from guiding the Student Council Association and campus organizations to fostering a responsive, character-centered approach to discipline and belonging. Grounded in SSSAS's mission to pursue goodness as well as knowledge, the Dean of Students creates the conditions for students to take meaningful ownership of their community. Key responsibilities include:

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Organize, implement, and execute an effective character-based, responsive discipline system. The Dean of Students works closely with faculty, students, and parents to communicate, clarify, and oversee the enforcement of the policies and procedures outlined in the Student-Parent Handbook.
• Supervise the Associate Deans, the Clubs Coordinator, and the Directors of the Freshmen Bridge Program.
• Maintain detailed discipline records and discipline related correspondence.
• Review and revise the discipline section of the Student-Parent Handbook, making policy and procedure changes when necessary.
• Oversee the Honor and Disciplinary Board and the Administrative Disciplinary Council.
• Coordinate all student elections and work closely with the Student Council Association.
• Coordinate with administrative assistants around logistical elements of the Upper School student experience.
• Partner with the Associate Deans and the Attendance Manager to process and reconcile student attendance records.
• Plan and execute the annual Senior retreat.
• Partner with the Director of Upper School and the Associate Director of the Upper School, to support a healthy, productive, and safe Upper School experience.
• Upper School Administrators typically teach one section of a class and also serve as an Advisor.
• The Dean of Students reports directly to the Director of Upper School and is a member of the JK-12 Administrative Team
• The Dean of Students is responsible for other duties related to support of the Upper School student experience as determined by the Upper School Director.

Qualifications / Experience

The successful candidate will have:

• A Bachelor's Degree
• A minimum of five years of experience in a school setting, including roles in teaching, counseling, or guidance, as well as school leadership
• A demonstrated passion for working with Upper School students
• A commitment to positively supporting students in their unique journeys through the Upper School years
• Demonstrated success in building relationships with parents
• A track record of working effectively and collaboratively with faculty and administrators

Overview

St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School is an affirming and collegial community committed to our mission to "pursue goodness as well as knowledge and to honor the unique value of each of our members as a child of God in a caring community." SSSAS is an age 3 to Grade 12 Episcopal day school located on three campuses six miles from Washington, D.C., in beautiful and historic Alexandria, Va. We believe that educating the whole child by tending to their individual academic, social/emotional, cultural, and physical needs, prepares them to be knowledgeable, kind, and empathetic citizens in a complex world. Combining a rigorous academic program with outstanding opportunities in the arts, athletics, and service learning for our students, SSSAS is a community that values diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and we seek candidates who share these same values.

Our culture promotes lifelong learning, and employees have a wealth of opportunities available to them to continue expanding their knowledge of both their disciplines and in their field of education. Cultural competency workshops for all faculty and staff, regular, small-group DEIB exploration/workshops, support for graduate studies, summer study grants, and conferences (e.g., People of Color Conference, the National Association of Independent School Annual Conference, and CASE-NAIS) are just a few of the ways in which we support and encourage our Saints faculty and staff to continue to develop and learn in their field and as part of our community.