High School Grade Dean

The High School Dean is an essential leadership position that helps to support the Leffell School’s core values. Working in collaboration with the student support team of the high school (Director of Student Services, Psychologist, Chair of Student Learning, Principal, Learning Specialists, and Teachers), plans are developed and implemented to help each student grow and develop into the best version of themselves. Deans serve as the grade leaders as well as the school counselor for each grade. Deans maintain a “whole child” view; integrating all elements that comprise the student’s experience (including familial, social, emotional, spiritual, physical, academic, and behavioral, etc.).

The following document lays out some of the specific activities of the Dean as part of the administrative structure:

Student Support and Relations

• Primary liaison between students, parents, and teachers

• Build and maintain individual relationships with all students

• Lead grade-level team meetings/student support team meetings in collaboration with the high school psychologist and chair of student learning in order to monitor and develop plans to address individual student needs regarding academic, social, and emotional challenges

• Lead, implement, and participate in the development of the advisory curriculum in collaboration with the school psychologist

• Provide counseling support for students to promote their social, emotional, behavioral, and academic functioning in collaboration with the psychologist and chair of student learning

• Provide academic advisement and work with students on building their schedule

• Work with students to develop an appropriate sense of responsibility and encourage self-advocacy

Family Support and Relations

• Communicate and partner with parents regarding student concerns, as appropriate

• Work with the school psychologist and chair of student learning or designated learning specialist to develop social, emotional, behavioral, and/or academic plans

• Facilitate meetings between faculty, students, and parents

• Support transition from middle school to high school as well as for any transfer students

• Refer students to outside support providers and collaborate with them accordingly

Faculty Support

• Ongoing collaboration and problem-solving with faculty to monitor individual student progress, facilitate parent communication, and other student-related issues

• Collaborate with college counselors

High School Programming

• Create a sense of community by working closely with the student life team to develop and lead grade and school-wide experiential education programs and trips

• Work with students to develop leadership initiatives

• Monitor and address concerns of student kehilah

• Participate in school-wide and community events

Other Responsibilities

• Weekly Deans, Logistics, and Leadership Team meetings

• Tefilah

• Advisory

• Student Government

• Club Advising

• Consider opportunities to create and facilitate support groups for students (divorce, stress management, etc…)

• Respond to student scheduling issues in collaboration with the student support team

• Administrative tasks (i.e., scheduling classes, reviewing grades, attendance, community service, etc.)

• Your thinking and your work are aligned with the school culture and philosophy