Dean of Academics: STEM [Middle School]

Freedom Preparatory Academy

Dean of Academics – STEM (Freedom Prep Brownlee Middle School)

ABOUT US

Freedom Prep Academy Charter Schools, a Memphis-based network, prepare all students in grades Pre-K through 12 to excel in college and in life. Freedom Preparatory Academy opened in August of 2009 with a class of 96 6th graders. We now serve over 2300 students in grades PreK-12. Our students have exceeded local and state averages in math and local averages in English language arts on the state exam.

We have three core beliefs that drive our mission: Every child deserves the right to a high-quality public education, a foundation in character development is essential, and direct exposure to an array of opportunities and experiences provides each child with the self-confidence and social knowledge to compete globally. We will accomplish our mission through a highly structured, academically rigorous environment where students will master the core subjects, develop advanced academic skills, and demonstrate the school’s core values of: Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Excellence, and Community.

Respect– Shows respect to all members of our school community through words and actions

Responsibility – Takes ownership of work flow and products, is proactive / solutions-oriented

Integrity – Is trustworthy and reliable and a person of their word. follows through every time

Community – Demonstrates a consistent and positive commitment to our school’s success

Excellence – Shows excellence in all work habits, sweats the details, continuously grows

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Dean of Academics position serves as an instructional leader at Freedom Prep Brownlee Middle School with oversight of various aspects of the school’s operation as they relate to teaching, learning and assessment in all STEM content areas. This includes monitoring of classroom instruction, teacher observation and feedback, management of all internal and external assessment data, curriculum development, and creation and facilitation of training and professional development. The Dean of Academics will be responsible for direct oversight of all instructional staff in the school and will be a key member of Freedom Prep’s leadership team. The Dean of Academics [STEM] will report to the Head of School.

The Dean of Academics [STEM] will champion our school’s expectations and belief that all of our students will be prepared for success in college and in life, as a result of our rigorous academic program and support. Their vision and expectations are rooted in deeply held values of equity, especially for our predominantly low-income, first-generation college-going, student of color population.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as instructional leader with oversight of curriculum development and student assessment (internal and external)
• Oversees professional development of all education staff
• Supervises the daily instructional work of teachers, conducts weekly teacher observations and provides feedback on performance
• Communicates regularly with Head of School concerning student achievement, curriculum development, professional development, staff evaluations, and related budgetary needs
• Ensures appropriate rigor on internal assessments by building assessments prior to school year for content areas taught by direct reports, including benchmark scores to indicate appropriate level of mastery
• Builds and/or vets yearlong sequence of objectives for each course taught by a direct report prior to summer teacher orientation
• Implements effective internal assessment systems to monitor academic progress of students throughout the year, and oversees systems for data analysis of all internal and external assessments
• Ensures curriculum alignment with standards for the State of Tennessee
• Seeks and shares curriculum best practices from other schools and professional journals
• Reinforces school-wide expectations regarding classroom instruction and lesson planning
• Communicates effectively and maintains strong relationships with students, families and colleagues
• Maintains the school culture of high academic and behavioral expectations through continuous reflection
• Maintains accurate, complete and correct records as required by law, and district and administrative regulations
• Works an extended school day to allow for collaboration, professional development, and ample communication with parents and other staff members
• Performs other related duties as assigned or directed

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required from accredited college or university; Master’s Degree preferred
• At least four years of urban teaching experience (preferred)
• At least 1+ years experience leading and/or coaching teachers
• Experienced, results-driven classroom teacher/leader with:
• a commitment to standards-based curriculum and the use of data and assessments to drive instructional decisions;
• demonstrated, quantifiable and objective student performance gains that surpass state or local averages;
• experience using structure, incentives, and high expectations to drive student success
• Ability to work with a variety of learning abilities and across learning differences, including those with low skill level in a heterogeneously grouped classroom setting
• Demonstrates sounds judgment and collaborative approach to decision-making
• Strong cultural competence and commitment to creating a culture of inclusion and belonging
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff, families, and community members across lines of difference
• Creative, resourceful, reflective and solutions-oriented thinker
• Possess strong interpersonal skills, professional demeanor, strong work ethic, detail-driven work style with excellent organizational skills
• Required Certifications:
• Tennessee Professional Educator License
• Eligibility for Tennessee Professional Educator License required.
• Considered highly-qualified based on NCLB guidelines

REPORTS TO         Head of School

PTO POLICY          Support Based Administrative

HOW TO APPLY: We are excited to review your application! Please visit our Join Our Team page to learn more and apply directly at our Apply Now link on the same page. Upon creating your profile, please submit your resume, references, transcript, screening reflections, and related credentials. It should take less than 30 minutes to upload your application.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

We are excited that you are inspired or called to learn more about our mission, values, and potential opportunities. We’d encourage you to explore a few additional resources about us, the recent investment for what’s possible, and why you should consider our community as a place for you to become a part of. We are one of the few networks that centers the whole person and their needs to thrive and support themselves and their families in the South.

Check out some of the unique and rare benefits here, including but not limited to:

• Paying higher, scaffolded teacher salaries from Year 1 to retirement stage
• Zero dollar monthly premium options, including holistic options such as chiropractic or acupuncture care
• Focus on staff well-being and collective care through our Adult Social-Emotional Learning
• Support in obtaining licensure

At Freedom Prep, we strive towards trust and transparency in our application process. Our salary range varies for this position, commensurate with experience and expertise. During the interview process, we will align on salary expectations and continue to have transparent conversations at every stage.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: Freedom Preparatory Academy is actively seeking to build a diverse and experienced team of educators. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin. We are an equal opportunity employer.