Dean of Instruction

We are currently accepting applications for the 2025-26 school year in the Aspire Central Valley Region Elementary & Secondary Schools.

About Aspire:
Aspire Public Schools operates a network of high-performing, college preparatory charter schools serving TK-12 scholars in communities across California. Founded in 1998—in an effort to transform the inequitable racial, social, and gender outcomes that our communities persist through—Aspire is one of the largest and most forward-thinking open-enrollment public charter school systems in the nation.

Our purpose is to prepare our scholars for success in college, career, and life. At Aspire, we set a foundation for our scholars to gain knowledge, skills, and power to access and make choices for their families and post-secondary lives. Every day, our community of students, families, teachers and staff comes together to learn, work, and play in an environment grounded in our values of Bienestar (Well-Being), Culture of Belonging, Community Partnership, Agency & Self-Determination, and Joy.

Job Summary

The Dean of Instruction assists the site principal in developing a healthy school community and culture under the principals of “College for Certain”. This role is primarily focused on assisting the school in developing and refining the academic program provided to students. Deans of Instruction focus their energies on staff professional development and support, aligning educational offerings to match student needs and evaluating the success of the academic program. Due to the integrative nature of schooling, this position may also be part of leadership teams that examine issues pertaining to school culture, compliance and a wide variety of tasks at the discretion of the principal. The Dean of Instruction may be involved more with teacher coaching or have a more student facing role, depending on the needs of the school.

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions

Instruction, Monitoring, & Staff Development

• Support and assist administration with efforts to ensure academic and operational programs of high quality and in compliance with any applicable regulations

• Implement instructional programs that strengthen teaching skills and contribute to the advancement of students

• Lead or support least one instructional/content department team or grade level span

• Participate in and conduct formal as well as informal classroom observations, grounded in the Aspire Student Learning Framework (ASLF).

• Provide direct coaching to ensure alignment with curriculum standards to teachers using site, regional, or org-aligned coaching framework.

• Plan and conduct teacher professional development in relation to new classroom procedures, instructional materials and equipment, and teaching aids

• Monitor, identify trends, and analyze data including report preparation to increase student achievement using such systems as PowerSchool, the Aspire Data Portal and behavior response platforms

• Coordinate and/or support Cycle of Inquiry sessions

• Participate in and/or chair the RTI committee or academic components of MTSS.

• Coordinate with after-school programs and other intervention personnel to insure coherent supports for students

• Support teachers in developing and fostering strong classroom climates that support student academic achievement

• Provide support with academic counseling and monitoring of student class schedules

• Provide direct instruction to students in teaching coursework based on school site needs

• Prepare teachers to support student testing and oversee administration of ACT (as applicable for secondary), GATE, SBAC, ELPAC and other state or Aspire-required assessments

• Participate in and/or represent the principal in SST, IEP 504 or other meetings as required.

• Work directly with families to support the development of students academically, intellectually, socially and behaviorally

• Recommend, order, or authorize purchase of instructional materials, supplies, equipment, and visual aids designed to meet student educational needs

Leadership

• Assign work of, supervise and evaluate direct reports.

• Develops and cultivate a school wide culture that fosters positive relationships across all levels

• Work collaboratively with Principal and Home Office to achieve site and organizational goals

• Support administration in the delivery of student report cards

• Lead projects as assigned by principal that may include; process improvement, cycle of inquiry-driven instructional improvements, or any other projects required

• Lead and participate in appropriate staff meetings and trainings including traveling within and outside of school region

• Effectively build and maintain relationships with parents, community stakeholders, sponsoring district and neighborhood schools that establish mutual trust and respect

Student Life & Culture

• Implement, model and enforce policies and practices as they relate to student discipline and cultural norms.

• Respond to and participate in complaints or investigations of student behavior.

• Collaboratively work with students, parents and school staff to build a learning environment that is safe and productive.

Additional:

• Demonstrate knowledge of, and support, the Aspire Public Schools mission, vision, value statements including antiracism, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and the code of ethical behavior

• Perform other related duties as required and assigned.

Qualifications

Competencies:

• Experience with instructional leadership, including demonstrated knowledge of curriculum, training design, assessment, culture building and developing along with leading teachers.

• Excellent organization, time management and follow-up skills; high sense of urgency; demonstrated ability to successfully handle multiple projects concurrently; ability to work as a team.

• Ability to provide excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to write clearly and persuasively and interact effectively with different audiences.

• Knowledge of business and management principles in leadership techniques, resource allocation, coordination of resource and people.

• Knowledge of applicable laws, Education code, regulations that govern educational practices.

• Ability to collect, analyze and interpret data.

• Possess skill set to select and use training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Minimum educational level:

• Bachelor’s Degree required;

• Masters or Ph.D. in Education preferred

Licensure/Certifications:

• Valid Administrative Credential preferred

• NCLB Highly Qualified preferred

Experience required:

• 3+ years working in underserved communities as a full-time teacher, required

• 5+years teaching and/or administrative experience, preferred

Physical requirements:

• Stand, walk or bend over, kneel, crouch, reach overhead, grasp, push, and pull. Move, lift and/or carry up to 30 pounds to shoulder height

• Repetitive use of hands (i.e. fine manipulation, simple grasping, and power grasping)

• Demonstrate normal depth perception

• Sitting, walking or standing for extended periods of time

• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, operate standard office equipment, and use a telephone

• See and read a computer screen and printed matter with or without vision aids

• Hear and understand speech at normal levels and on the telephone with or without auditory aides

Work authorization requirements:

• Clear the Department of Justice background screening

• Authorized to work in the United States

• Provide health (TB) clearance (most update every four years)

Compensation:
Aspire Public Schools is dedicated to our teammate's well-being In addition to a competitive base salary that is benchmarked against local districts and charter schools, we offer employees exceptional benefits, including paid time off, 100% core health benefits coverage on select plans, life insurance/long-term disability, participation in a CA state retirement plan, tuition reimbursement plan, and adoption assistance program. Our salary schedule based on years of experience for this position type is reflected here:

Aspire Public Schools Dean Salary Schedule