Dean of Students - Job Description
The Franklin School of Innovation (FSI) is a rigorous, project-based, interdisciplinary,
charter middle and high school in Asheville, N.C. that uses the Expeditionary Learning
model to prepare students in grades 6 -12 to create their own futures. The school opened
in August, 2014, serving grades 6 – 9. In August, 2015 we will add a 10th grade and we
will continue to build to grades 6 - 12 by fall 2017.
The Franklin School of Innovation is seeking a dynamic, dedicated, and talented
Dean of Students with a background in youth development to join the school.
The FSI Mission:
The Franklin School of Innovation is preparing the next generation of leaders, capable of
solving problems and participating effectively and ethically as local and global citizens.
Through challenging academics, real-world learning, and community engagement, our
students discover their potential, develop persistence, and recognize the value of others.
Our graduates are ready for the future they will create.
Core Elements of our Educational Model:
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Learning Expeditions: FSI will be an Expeditionary Learning model school.
Expeditions are long-term, teacher-designed studies, often multi-disciplinary, that
involve students in original research, critical thinking and problem solving. They
often incorporate fieldwork or service learning and culminate in student products of
value to an external audience.
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Peer Advisories (“Crew”): Peer advisories will meet several times a week to explicitly
work on the “traits of FSI scholars” - as well as development of Personal Learning
Plans and portfolios.
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Personal Learning Plans: Every student develops a plan that identifies academic
strengths and areas of focus, interests and abilities, and strategies to achieve
academic and non-academic goals, including college and career readiness.
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8th & 10th Grade Passage Portfolios: All students develop individual portfolios to
demonstrate mastery of academic standards as well as development of habits of
scholarship and self-reflection. At 8th and 10th grades, these portfolios are used to
showcase students’ readiness to move forward to the next level of education.
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Intensives: Week-long mini-courses to provide opportunities for support
(remediation) and enrichment.
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Internships: Every Junior will complete a self-designed internship to develop
practical career and life skills.
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Service Learning: Integrated into our academic program to enrich learning, provide
real-world applications, and build students’ understanding of themselves as local and
global citizens.
Job Description:
The Dean of Students will work with the Executive Director, the Director of Curriculum and
Coaching and the teachers to develop and promote a culture of high expectations with high
levels of support to ensure success for all students. FSI grounds all practices in a studentcentered approach to learning and discipline that focuses on the use of logical
consequences and restorative practices to promote personal accountability while
establishing a safe and structured learning environment.
The Dean of Students will serve as a support to teachers in developing this environment in
their classrooms and in achieving high levels of engagement and learning from all
students. The Dean will serve as the coordinator for the FSI Crew Program (small group
advisories), developing the Crew Curriculum Map and supporting teachers in the planning
and delivery of Crew advisory lessons and experiences.
In collaboration with the Executive Director and the Director, Curriculum & Coaching, the
Dean of Student is responsible for driving data driven learning. Collectively they make
performance data (MAP, teacher-created assessments, mandatory state tests, etc.)
available to students, parents, teachers and the Board. The AD also ensures that teachers
understand and use data to plan and revise learning experiences for their students.
Job Responsibilities:
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Advances Expeditionary Learning principles of culture and character
(http://elschools.org).
Promotes and communicates clear school-wide expectations for character
development and positive behavior.
Proactively creates and develops positive relationships with all members of the
school community (students, teachers, families).
Develops the Crew curriculum maps to address the social, emotional, and academic
needs of students based on short-term and long-term learning targets derived from
the schools code of character and habits of scholarship.
Organizes and coordinates school-wide community gatherings to build community,
celebrate, recognize and showcase student endeavors.
Observes Crews and provides feedback.
Partners with the Director, Curriculum and Coaching to support teachers in
developing classroom structures to ensure all students are well known.
Partners with the Director, Curriculum and Coaching to support teachers in
establishing and maintaining consistent classroom routines in a student-centered
classroom.
Supervise the consistent and fair administration and tracking of student conduct and
the tracking of student character data.
Oversee school assessment schedules and procedures, and ensure timely and
transparent dissemination and analysis of testing data.
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Contribute toward a safe environment for learning, including ensuring that student
conduct is maintained and discipline is enforced fairly and consistently, and updating
and implementing the annual school safety report.
Serve as liaison to parents and facilitate parent education and involvement,
including reinforcing the need for parents to support the school’s policies and
practices for student discipline, dress code, homework, and events.
Provides behavior counseling and support for high-needs students such as
observations, parent conferences, home visits, and intervention groups.
Coordinates a team of teachers to staff the in-school suspension systems.
Serves as a member of school leadership team.
Supports crew leaders and teachers in promoting outstanding daily attendance and
on- time arrival for all students.
Collaborates with the EL school designer and leadership team to implement EL core
practices in culture and character, including traditions for celebrating relational
character and a system for assessing habits of scholarship.
Participates in all professional development activities.
Participates in all staff meetings including school governance.
Demonstrates awareness of school/community needs and initiates activities to meet
those identified needs.
May perform other projects and duties as directed by the Executive Director.
Credentials:
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Hold a valid North Carolina secondary teaching credential, preferably in Math,
Science, English Language Arts, Social Studies and/or Exceptional Children.
Hold, or be in the process of obtaining, a North Carolina Department of Education
Administrative Credential.
Education/Experience/Skills:
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Bachelor's or Master’s Degree in applicable field of study/education from an
accredited college or university.
Demonstrated experience with experiential or project-based learning.
Excellent knowledge and understanding of the teaching and learning process.
Experience and training in conflict resolution strategies and/or restorative practices.
At least 5 years classroom teaching experience & experience in youth development.
Prefer someone with at least 3 years of High School administration experience.
Demonstrated experience working with challenged groups in a standards-based
environment, including utilizing assessments to place students, flexible pacing,
flexible instruction, grouping and regrouping, acceleration, enrichment, and
independent study to meet student needs. Appreciate developmental needs and
different learning behaviors of early adolescents and adolescents.
Demonstrated knowledge of multiple forms of assessment, including Assessments
for Learning, Portfolios, Student-Led Conferences, etc.
Demonstrated knowledge of how to use data to drive instruction.
Demonstrated understanding of effective practices to coach and develop teachers.
Demonstrated success in effectively solving challenging problems through a positive,
collaborative approach.
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Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to work with diverse populations.
Personal and Leadership Skills:
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Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with students, parents, administrators,
colleagues, community, and other school community staff.
A strong sense of personal accountability for student achievement.
Solid knowledge of content in at least one subject, which you agree to teach.
Wide ranging pedagogical skills to meet the needs of diverse learners.
Outstanding listening, written and oral communication skills.
Unshakeable belief that all students can learn and achieve at high levels.
Ability to facilitate the creation and healthy functioning of school teams.
Compensation and Development:
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Salary Target: $50,000 per year
Benefits include NC State medical benefits
School sponsored 401k
On-going Professional Development with Expeditionary Learning including one-onone technical assistance from EL staff, regional and national training institutes.
Non-EL regional/state/national training, programs and conferences on areas of:
school startup, finance, and leadership.
Application Process:
Please email application to jobs@thefsi.us. No faxed applications, please. Complete
application packets include: Cover letter, résumé/curriculum vitae, copy of credentials,
transcripts, three letters of recommendation, references, and (optional) any supporting
evidence of excellence in educational leadership. Deadline to Apply is May 15, 2015.
All applications will be treated as confidential.