Vacation: Holiday Break, Spring Break, Month of July
Effective Date: 5/2023
School Overview
Breck School is a preschool through twelve, coeducational college preparatory, Episcopal day school located in Golden Valley, Minnesota with a national reputation for excellence and achievement in academics, athletics, and the arts. Our School’s Episcopal roots are lived through an unwavering commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging where we respect the dignity of every human being. We are a close and caring community that focuses on lifelong learning and a commitment to the greater good.
We are a community of highly engaged and motivated students, faculty, staff, and school leaders focused on building trusting relationships, strong scholarship, through a practice of bridging research to practice. Upon graduation, Breck students are prepared for a life of intellectual curiosity, self-knowledge, and social responsibility, matriculating to colleges and universities throughout the world.
Position Overview
The Middle School Dean shares responsibilities for the Division with the Middle School Administrative team, serving a leading role in the collective effort to establish and maintain a culture that is conducive to all members feeling a sense of belonging. Responsible for the oversight and leadership of two grade levels in the Middle School, the Dean consistently engages with students, colleagues, parents and guardians.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Communication
General
Communicate effectively and timely, both in written and oral form
Maintain appropriate documentation
Share expertise in the growth and development of early adolescents
Colleagues
Serve as the lead for weekly grade-level meetings
Work with advisors to ensure that individual students’ overall experiences are being appropriately synthesized
Provide support and supervision of faculty.
Collaborate with the Lower and Upper Schools to ensure consistency in practice
Serve as a member of the Middle School’s Student Support Team
Work with the Program Directors to ensure that school-wide initiatives are being effectively implemented at the grade level
Families
Work with the Parents Association to identify appropriate parent education opportunities
Monitor student attendance and contact home to follow up on extended absences
Develop supportive home/school relationships with parents and guardians as they and their children navigate the middle school years
School Culture and Community
Establish a consistent presence in and around the Middle School
Provide a presence beyond the academic day at performances and games
Oversee and record student disciplinary concerns and advise/involve the Middle School Director as appropriate
Coordinate and facilitate a restorative approach to discipline
Implement a behavior management system that is reflective of Breck’s Mission & Values. Ensure that infractions are all opportunities for learning and growth.
In collaboration with the other Dean, run the Middle School’s Community Meetings
Develop and implement student programming that is both engaging and builds community
Provide leadership, vision, and coordination of the Middle School’s Advisory Program
Advise the Division Director on setting policies that reflect best practice
Organize and supervise student social activities
Lead the planning of class trips
Other Responsibilities
Teach one class
Serve on committees, as requested by the Division Director and/or Head of School
Take part in interviewing prospective colleagues
Take part in the admissions process
Provide the necessary outreach to prospective families
Read and evaluate applicants’ files\
Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree; Master’s preferred
Minimum 3-5 years of experience in a middle school setting
Previous independent school administrative experience desired
Competencies
Displays good judgment, time management, and an ability to prioritize
Actively seeks avenues for personal and professional growth
Deep knowledge and understanding of middle level child development
Is reflective
The ability to triage and support
Schedules (creation, implementation, and modification)
Breck School is a single-campus, P-12, Episcopal independent school where living our mission means always reimagining, reinventing, and reanimating learning — both to model the process and rewards of authentic, meaningful learning for Breck students, and to continually grow, evolve, and reinvigorate as a learning enterprise.
Founded in 1886, Breck is located in Golden Valley, Minnesota, about five minutes west of downtown Minneapolis. We serve a community of approximately 1150 students on our 50-acre campus. Visit www.breckschool.org for more information.
Breck students are independent thinkers, self-starters, socially conscious problem solvers, thoughtful athletes, visionary artists, perpetually curious and perpetually learning citizens. We want every Breck graduate to be fully realized human beings, confident, capable, and compassionate enough to change the world in the way he or she sees fit. If that approach mirrors yours, we encourage your further interest.