Dean of Student Supports

Description

Organization Overview

Excel Academy is a network of 5 schools in Massachusetts and Rhode Island that prepares students in grades 5-12 to succeed in high school and college and engage productively in their communities. The majority of our 1,700 students identify as Latinx or Hispanic and will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Families choose Excel because our students consistently outperform their peers in growth and achievement and are 5x more likely to graduate from college.

At Excel, we believe that every student—regardless of race, zip code, or economic status - deserves access to a free, high quality holistic education. During their middle school journey with us, students grow at a pace faster than most peers in their state. This is possible through a combination of high expectations, rigorous instruction, and individualized support. At our nationally ranked high school, students achieve at the highest level and are poised for success in their chosen college or career path.

About our Team

Everyday, our team members choose to be positive, drive their own growth, uplift one another, and hold the highest possible beliefs for what students can achieve.

About the Role

The Dean of Student Supports ensures that students receiving special education and/or 504 accommodations make significant academic gains in line with the school’s Big Goals and ensures that compliance tasks are completed and deadlines met related to Special Education and directly manages special education staff and teachers. This position will report to the Head of School.

Starting Salary & Start Date: $74 - $120k, commensurate with experience. The ideal candidate would start in August 2026.

Your Impact

Drive High Quality Student Supports, Inclusive Classrooms, and Interventions

• Coach teachers to create a classroom that reflects Excel’s vision for rigorous and inclusive education in line with the “Least Dangerous Assumption,” where high expectations are the norm for all students 
• Observe classes regularly and give written and verbal feedback to teachers and co-teachers, with or without the Dean of Curriculum and Instruction or Head of School;
• Lead professional development, supported by the Dean of Curriculum and Instruction and Head of School, on inclusive teaching practices, differentiation, and student-specific needs and accommodations as needed to ensure that all students receive an equitable education
• Collect, analyze, and share student achievement and equity data and work with other members of the admin team to ensure data is used strategically to improve quality of student support programs (behavior intervention plans, academic interventions, co-teaching, etc.)
• Lead the Child Study Team process for the school
• Partner with the Dean of Student office to ensure that students with disabilities have supportive behavior plans as needed and as indicated in their IEPs

Directly manage and cultivate key staff members

• Ensure frequent points of contact with all direct reports. Develop structures to ensure presence in all classrooms weekly at a minimum. Meet with all direct reports bi-weekly at a minimum, sending agendas in advance and supporting teachers to develop agendas to maximize the utility of meetings; 
• Manage and support team including Learning Specialists and ELL Specialists
• Provide school-based support and direction to the SLP, Reading Specialist, and school-based services like OT.
• Serve as the leader of the school-based Learning Support Team

Manage Special Education Documentation

• Serve as the final owner of special education evaluations, IEP timelines, and 504 paperwork
• Serve as evaluation team chair for all special education evaluations
• Support network Special Education Parent Advisory Council meeting coordination
• Serve as Local Educational Agency representative (LEA) for the school
• Coordinate, monitor, and provide planning support for all modified courses.
• Support compliance with IEP/504 suspension and other discipline regulations

Support the Head of School in School Leadership

• With the head of school,
  • Articulate a vision for Excel’s program and translate that vision into action.
  • Develop and perform regular school health assessments.
  • Create a dynamic and innovative staff culture; including developing and upholding staff norms, and mediating disputes as needed;
  • Support efforts for knowledge management and continual improvement;
  • On an ongoing basis, set the tone of highest expectations and urgency; and
  • Oversee relevant programmatic budgets.
• Productive member of the Administrative Team,
  • Model flexibility, creativity, generosity of spirit by supporting members of the administrative to the best of your ability.
  • Lean in to difficult situations and conversations, when necessary, while maintaining a generosity of spirit and willingness to “call people” in to work through tension or conflict.

Serve as a productive member of the Excel Community

• Participate in generating and upholding Excel Staff Norms;
• Act as a substitute teacher when needed;
• Meaningfully participate in Friday meetings, school PD and Family Conferences; and
• Meaningfully participate in the network-wide community of instructional leaders.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree is required; a Master’s degree is preferred.
• License or a plan to pursue DESE required licensure prior to the start date:
  • Learning Specialists, Special Education Teachers, ROSE Teachers, and Special Education Coordinators and Administrators must hold a Moderate Disabilities or Severe Disabilities license.
• A minimum of three years’ special education teaching experience in an urban public school or charter school setting is strongly preferred

Mission Alignment

• You share a commitment to and belief in all students and the mission of Excel Academy Charter Schools, including Excel’s values and educational model;
• You are committed to addressing racial and economic inequity in education;
• You work effectively in a team environment and have a willingness and desire to support others in doing their best work; and
• You are open to change, are willing to problem-solve, and seek feedback for your own professional growth and improvement.

Preference will be given to applicants who share points of intersection with our students, such as speaking Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, or a language commonly spoken by our students and families at an advanced level, being first generation college graduates, or having grown up low-income.

Excel Academy Charter Schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, ancestry, athletic performance, special need, proficiency in the English language or a foreign language or prior academic achievement.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.