JOB SUMMARY: The Dean of Student Development and Experience is a division-based administrator who stewards the student experience by shaping school culture, supporting student wellbeing, and ensuring developmentally responsive systems across The School at Columbia University (TSC). Working across divisions, the Dean provides continuity in student life structures, relational care, and shared practices.

Grounded in TSC’s values, the Dean leads community-building efforts, advances empathy and kindness through the Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) framework, and supports aligned, restorative approaches to student behavior that reinforce accountability, reflection, and a sense of belonging.

The Dean of Student Development and Experience is responsible for the coherence, consistency, and care of the student experience within their grade bands, ensuring that systems, programming, and daily practices reflect TSC’s values and developmental philosophy.

Responsibilities:

School Culture, Belonging & Student Life:

• Build, model, and sustain a positive, inclusive school culture rooted in empathy, kindness, and belonging across classrooms, common spaces, and schoolwide experiences
• Lead the implementation of the TSC Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) framework and curriculum in partnership with faculty and staff, supporting consistent language, practices, and expectations across grade levels
• Serve as a visible, accessible administrator and trusted advocate for students and families, strengthening relationships and supporting a cohesive student experience
• Serve on the Child Support Team (CST), meeting weekly to discuss student life and coordinate support for students in partnership with teachers, the SEL Team, and division leadership

Restorative Practices & Student Support:

• Lead and oversee restorative discipline practices for Tier 1 and Tier 2 student behavior in partnership with teachers, staff, the SEL Team, and division leadership, ensuring responses are consistent, developmentally appropriate, dignity-centered, and focused on reflection, accountability, repair, and skill-building rather than punishment
• Coach and support teachers and staff in using shared restorative language and practices across classrooms and common spaces, and facilitate restorative conversations and problem-solving meetings as needed to address harm and strengthen relationships
• Monitor Tier 1 and Tier 2 behavior patterns and trends, identify proactive supports and early interventions, and communicate with families to reduce escalation and support students in successfully returning to classroom and school routines following reflection, restoration, or repair
• Co-create responsive behavior support plans

Morning Meeting & SEL Programming:

• Collaborate with the SEL Team to implement morning meeting structures (Grades K–4)
• Support faculty in delivering consistent, developmentally appropriate SEL experiences across grade levels, ensuring alignment between classroom practices, advisory structures, and schoolwide SEL priorities, while reflecting students’ developmental needs across K–8
• Perform other responsibilities as required

Experiential Learning & Signature Programs:

Integrated Project Week (IPW)

• The Deans (K-4 and 5-8) will oversee the planning, coordination and execution of Integrated Project Week (IPW) ( a four-day, integrated, cross-curricular student experience held in early March) in partnership with faculty and IPW coordinators, ensuring alignment with TSC’s values, developmentally appropriate structures, and a consistent, meaningful student experience from launch through reflection. Ensure strong long-term planning, clear timelines, and coordinated structures

Grade 8 Social Action Project:

• The Deans (K-4 and 5-8) will oversee the Grade 8 Social Action Project (SAP) in partnership with the Grade 8 teaching team, supporting long-term planning, mentorship structures, timelines, and presentation opportunities. The project culminates in a public expo where students share their work with the school community, developing skills in research, writing, problem-solving, collaboration, organization, reflection, and presentation

For IPW and the Grade 8 Social Action Project, the Deans K-4 and 5-8 will be responsible for the following: 

• Support in the development of student mentorship, advising and accountability structures within these signature programs
• Help create meaningful opportunities for student presentation, exhibition and authentic audience engagement
• Ensure these programs reflect the school’s commitment to student agency, interdisciplinary learning, purpose-driven work and experiential education

Student Events & Logistics:

• Serve as a key administrator, in partnership with the teaching team, for field trips, evening events, and overnight trips, supporting planning, communication, supervision, and student safety across K–8 (with overnight trips for Grades 5–8)
• Chaperone overnight and/or extended grade-level trips, as applicable, in support of the teaching team, student experience, and the academic and advisory program
• Perform other responsibilities as required

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 7+ years of teaching and leadership experience
• Experience working with children in a school setting, with demonstrated knowledge of child development
• Experience supporting student life, restorative practices, or social-emotional programming
• Demonstrated record of outstanding achievement and leadership
• Strong relational, communication and collaboration skills
• Demonstrated ability to lead with empathy, clarity, and consistency in complex situations
• Strong organizational Skills
• Ability to work well with different work styles
• Ability to be adaptable and work well in a dynamic school environment
• Proven leadership ability and presence to remain calm and supportive
• Ability to demonstrate good judgement and confidentiality in handling sensitive student and family matters

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in education, counseling, or a related field
• Knowledge of Spanish

About The School at Columbia University

The School at Columbia University is an independent K-8 school founded in 2003 with the goal of providing an excellent education to a diverse student body. Our intentional school culture embraces shared beliefs across disciplines and grades, which underlie important values expressed through everyday behaviors and visible symbols throughout our community: Collaboration: Encouraging creative problem-solving in dynamic groups where outcomes are not always predictable, but ultimately greater than any individual perspective could envision. Community: Promoting inclusivity, facilitating open communication, and providing clear expectations to all members of the community to ensure a healthy, productive environment, inside and outside the school. Diversity: Reveling in an environment of myriad learning experiences that address important aspects of diversity, including identity development, anti-bias skills, and the idea that difference is better. Innovation: Taking thoughtful risks grounded in current research, putting new technologies to work in classrooms, and always seeking new approaches to learning to provide a meaningful 21st-century education to all students.

Connections working at The School at Columbia University