Rhetoric (High) Dean of Student Life - Regents School of Austin

POSITION SUMMARY

The Dean of Student Life is a full time position for a dynamic leader whose primary responsibility is to own the experience of student life, culture, and community in the School of Rhetoric. Under the guidance of the Head of Rhetoric, the Dean should be the first to identify needs or opportunities to better execute our mission, specifically in terms of shaping student community, affections, virtues, spiritual life, and behaviors, and working with faculty and administration to that end.

TARGETED GOAL

To improve the overall student experience so that our students are filled with joy, life, and encouraged to live the life of virtue and wisdom for Christ. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leading Student Council (meetings, vision, etc.)

• Organizing and attending dances, etc.

• Guiding daily life and student spirit teams on an ongoing basis 

• Building and maintaining the trust of students and parents while fostering a sense of community and creating a Christ-centered school culture.

• Develop and implement formation programs on campus to promote students’ virtue and personal growth -- spiritually, academically, relationally, and emotionally. Work with the Head of SOR on bringing in speakers for the students.

• Partnering with teachers, Department Chairs, and the College Office on an on-going basis.

• Partnering with parents and volunteers to help cultivate student and school community in the SOR (in loco parentis)

• Managing communications to parents and students effectively and efficiently in regards to the student experience on campus.

• With the ultimate goal of discipling students, to proactively engage with relevant cultural issues and topics appropriate and normal for students of that age and creating opportunities for dialogue with interested students.

• To build, cultivate, and maintain student community in a Christ-centered way

• Identifying issues and matters needing attention or a new approach in the realm of student experience. This is both during the school day as well as in terms of the broader student experience outside of school -- student spirit at sporting events, etc. 

• Being an important voice in helping handle discipline issues involving student behavior, specifically helping coach students to grow through mistakes. 

• Attending regular (bi-weekly) lunch meetings with all teachers with a significant number of students of each particular grade

• Hosting once a semester meetings with parents of each grade level

• Weekly meetings with Head of Rhetoric

• Student Culture

• Advisory Program

• Outside Speakers

• Chapel (themes, topics, speakers, etc.)

• Quarterly meetings with Associate Head

• Frequent visible presence at various athletic and fine arts events -- leading & guiding student participation and involvement

• Frequent visible presence in student spaces (Knights Hall, cafeteria, Junior Wing, main plaza before school, etc.)

• Attending quarterly after school meetings with the SOR Leadership team

• Close formal and informal monitoring of student spiritual and emotional health and well-being, including being in frequent contact with Academic Resources and College Advising

• A flexible schedule for meeting with students who have either been sent to Dean by their teacher or to help meet students as necessary 

• Other duties that are relevant to the scope of the position but not necessarily listed here

SKILLS AND EXPERTISE

• A strong desire for and proven ability to disciple and counsel students. This job is part disciplinarian, part counselor, part den parent, part spiritual director, and part communications director.

• Demonstrated ability at facilitating problem solving among students & parents

• Strong interpersonal skills (ethos with both students/parents and faculty is marked by one of trust)

• Wisdom and discretion in relationships

• Principle-based decision making

SUCCESS MARKERS

• Major student discipline events decline year over year

• Students are consistently exposed to information about their well-being in various ways and encouraged to make good decisions based upon their knowledge

• Parents trust and support this individual to deal wisely with their children (i.e. parents come to this person for advice and support)

Information on our Purpose, Mission, Philosophy, Objectives and Doctrinal Statement

Board members, administration, faculty, coaches and other instructional personnel of Regents School, whether full-time, part-time or volunteer, must believe and abide by the Purpose, Mission, Philosophy, Objectives and Doctrinal Statement, evidenced by their signing a statement of agreement with Article II annually. This document can be found by clicking: Philosophy and Doctrinal Statement. As a supplement, the Regents Board of Directors has adopted two additional statements as clarifying language under Article II. The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy - This was adopted in 2017 by the Board to be clear on our view of the inerrancy of Scripture. Nashville Statement: A Coalition for Biblical Sexuality - This was adopted by the Board in 2019 as clarifying language on our view of biblical sexuality.

Links to documents below:

Article II

Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy

Nashville Statement: A Coalition for Biblical Sexuality