About Leaders In Our Neighborhood Charter School:

Leaders In Our Neighborhood (LION) Charter School is the only K-12 college-preparatory school serving students and families in the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx. Over 90% of our students graduate from high school, preparing them for college and for life.

LION Charter School’s mission is to develop the character of each student. We unite students, families, and teachers in helping each individual achieve their best academically, and in sports, the arts, and service to the community. We believe that passion for learning, self-discovery, leadership, and a social conscience are the foundation for success in college and fulfillment in life.

We maintain a student-centered culture. Our goal is to prepare students for college and beyond. We believe that to provide the best possible education for our young leaders, faculty and staff need to engage in a continuous growth process as well. Given our exceptional culture and results, working at our school is a unique and rewarding experience.

Overview of Role:

The Academic Dean plays a vital role in the instructional leadership of the Middle School. The Academic Dean is a 12 month position and is responsible for the supervision of teachers and ensuring that LION Middle School’s academic program is successful and aligns to the larger K-12 mission and vision.

The chief responsibilities for the Academic Dean include supporting teachers with classroom instruction and curriculum planning. The Academic Dean also supports the Director and Assistant Director with the development and implementation of a rigorous NYS standards, culturally and historically responsive curriculum with diverse offerings that provides equity of access, tools for success, and an inclusive environment for all students and the effective implementation of a multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS). The Academic Dean works with leaders and teachers in order to build teachers' capacity for planning, instruction, and assessment and is responsible for ensuring that teachers are prepared to execute the highest quality instruction through observation and instructional coaching.

Mission and Vision

• Supports the Middle School Director & Assistant Director in:
• Ensuring that all aspects of the Middle School division are consistent with the mission and vision
• Developing and maintaining the character and learning culture within the division
• Developing and maintaining an academic program consistent with mission and vision
• Collaboration with leadership team to formulate and monitor school-wide strategic goals

Academic Leadership Team Responsibilities

• Work alongside other members of the Middle School Leadership Team in analyzing programmatic effectiveness and identifying opportunities to leverage the school community to improve student outcomes
• Participate on the MTSS Team to help ensure holistic student success
• Contribute to and support a positive school community.
• Support with annual reports and site visits, including the SUNY annual visit, Open Houses and donor visits.
• Participate in the hiring process (reviews resumes, conducts interviews, views classroom demos).
• Administrative duties as needed.

Curriculum & Instruction

• Oversee and ensure curriculum alignment horizontally within and across subject areas and vertically within 3-8 of our grade K-12 progression.
• Collaborate with teachers to ensure implementation of a rigorous course of studies, ensuring access for all students.
• Model effective classroom culture and instructional techniques which when appropriately implemented by the classroom teacher will lead to engagement and improved student performance.
• Ensure high-quality, engaging co-teaching; model effective co-planning, co-instruction, and co-assessments for teachers.
• Work with teachers to create interdisciplinary and authentic learning opportunities and assessments.
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of New York State Next Generation standards and requirements in order to ensure instruction prepares students for success against those benchmarks.
• Provide weekly feedback on lesson plans aligned to the Danielson Rubric and teacher development goals.
• Work with teachers to effectively integrate technology and ensure that teachers have the best possible curriculum materials and training on how to use them.
• Work with faculty to differentiate curriculum; support faculty in implementing instructional strategies and responding to students’ strengths and needs.
• Conduct frequent walk-throughs of classrooms to identify school-wide strengths and needs and to ensure fidelity to the curriculum.
• Collaborate with instructional staff in evaluating and selecting instructional resources to meet student learning needs.

Professional Development & Supervision

• Assist in the planning and implementation of staff development programs designed to fulfill the professional growth including researching and evaluating professional development opportunities for instructional team members
• Collaborate on the yearlong Professional Development calendar to ensure alignment to initiatives and response to academic needs as they arise.
• Supervise teachers on all professional responsibilities including the goal setting and evaluation processes aligned to the Danielson Rubric.
• Develop a consistent and appropriate observation and feedback cycle including both informal and formal observations to provide teachers with constructive, actionable feedback aligned to the Danielson Rubric.
• Lead curriculum planningmeetings with individual teachers and teams of teachers.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Principle and Middle School Director to develop and implement teacher support and strategic improvement plans.
• Support teachers with obtaining teacher certification as needed.

Data & Assessment

• Collaborate with the Assistant Principle to lead quarterly data analyses and ongoing implementation of data driven instruction in all courses.
• Conduct bi-weekly teacher data and content meetings with individual teachers and/or departments.
• Ensure all teachers consistently and accurately collect data on student performance in a range of ways including but not limited to attendance data, daily CFU’s, formative, summative, and benchmark assessments.
• Review course assessments and ensure alignment and backward planning in curriculum maps and lesson plans.
• In collaboration with the Assistant Principle utilize assessment data to ensure analysis of and response to data on grades, benchmark assessments, and other authentic assessments.
• Works with the Assistant Principle and K-8 Data and Assessment Coordinator to coordinate benchmarks, NWEA Exams, AP Exams, and the academic schedule.

Qualifications

• A passion for urban education and a commitment to LION’s mission
• A minimum of five years of demonstrated success in Middle School teaching, preferably in a high-performing, urban school setting.
• A commitment to equity and antiracism work by reinforcing a culture that supports an anti-biased, anti-racist and culturally responsive environment.
• Deep belief in constructivist learning theory and student-centered instruction
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex systems of data, resources, and information in a systematic way.
• Expertise in 3-8 content areas is preferred.
• Understanding of Universal Design for Learning, New York State Standards, culturally responsive teaching, curriculum mapping, and the processes involved in creating vertical and horizontal alignment reflective of learning progressions.
• Articulate, professional demeanor with strong self-confidence, initiative, and leadership skills
• Flexible and able to work in a team environment
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, handle pressure, maintain timelines, and meeting deadlines
• Proven written, communication, and presentation skills
• Ability to build trusting relationships and function effectively with school-based staff, students, and their parents
• Self-starter with strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills
• An M.A., Ed.M. or Master's degree in Educational Leadership, Teaching or relevant content area
• Demonstrated success with in and instructional leadership role preferred
• Demonstrated ability to effectively coach, train, and develop educators
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite & Google Classroom