[2026-2027] Instructional Dean (Humanities) - Middle School

Position Overview 

The Dean is responsible for ensuring that the highest quality curricula are developed across the school and for creating a positive, structured, and disciplined school culture. They are responsible for ensuring that the students’ learning experiences are exciting, and rigorous, and helping to prepare them for college. The Dean coordinates curriculum and instructional content with the Teaching & Learning team, coaches teachers, assesses teacher and student performance, coordinates professional development needs for the school, and provides operational support to keep the academic program running.  It is also important that a Dean cultivates productive relationships with all members of the school community, including faculty, students, and families. The Dean reports directly to the Principal, who provides guidance and sets school policy.

Duties and Responsibilities:

General responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Instructional Strategy

• Develop and execute high-quality, standards-based school curriculum and instructional content consistent with the philosophy, values, and mission of the school and KIPP NYC.

• Work with principal to develop tactical strategies to improve student academic performance.

• Coordinate adequate instructional support for co-curriculars, special education, and other student needs.

• Motivate and focus staff on student performance to reach for increasingly high levels of student achievement.

• Model school culture by being a regular presence in classrooms.

• Support execution and coordination of cross-school instructional initiatives. 

• School culture

• Work closely with the leadership team to develop a positive, structured, achievement-oriented, and creative school culture. 

• Lead the implementation of values integration and character development within the classroom community. 

• Be highly present and visible during school hours, relentlessly ensuring the school has a strong culture. 

• Support execution and coordination of cross-school instructional and cultural initiatives. 

• Student assessment

• Continuously monitor student achievement with data analysis support from Teaching & Learning team.

• Clearly articulate benchmark student performance goals for each grade level and work with teachers to set clear, measurable student performance goals in their individual classes to ensure all students achieve all standards.

• Analyze results for assignments, standardized tests, and other data points in order to target interventions that will ensure the academic success of all students.

• Recognize and celebrate exemplary student achievement.

• Communicate student academic issues to parents regularly.

• Teacher coaching and professional development

• Plan, implement, and provide ongoing professional development and feedback to all staff, focusing on building positive student relationships, student culture, and classroom community. 

• Support teachers in developing their classroom management and instructional practice (unit and lesson planning, lesson execution, and collection and use of assessment data). 

• Conduct classroom observations and follow-up with targeted feedback and support to help teachers become even more effective. 

• Communicate teacher performance to principal, highlighting teachers in need of principal coaching due to insufficient performance. Complete quarterly, mid-year, and end-of-year teacher performance evaluations. 

• Organize summer training and professional development days in coordination with other Deans and the Principal. 

• Recognize and celebrate staff professional growth and success. 

• Operational support

• Teach classes when necessary, for coverage purposes or professional development of teachers.

• Collaborate with the Leadership Team regarding daily schedule, class schedule, and student placements in conjunction with the Director of Operations.

• Ensure completion of report cards and progress reports.

• Participate in the teacher recruitment and hiring process, in collaboration with the Principal.