Williamsburg Christian Academy
Location
Williamsburg, VA | United States
Job description
Position Title: Lower School Dean (K-5)
Reports to: Head of School
Classification: Exempt; Salaried, 40 hours/week; 12 Months
Date Prepared/Revised: January 22, 2024
Position Overview
The WCA Lower SchoolDean is a representative of the school’s mission. The WCA Lower School Principal is responsible for the vision and the day-to-day operation of the K-5th-grade International Baccalaureate program, partnering with administration, division teachers, and parents in the academic, social, spiritual, social, and emotional development of WCA’s students. He or she is a dynamic leader, a collaborator, and a gifted communicator who can initiate change when needed. These responsibilities are conducted in a manner that promotes integrity and confidence in the WCA community.
Core Functions:
- Regularly observe each learning facilitator
- Lead Family Academic Conferences
- Serves on the Executive Leadership Team, Academic Teams and Admissions decision committee
- Collaborate with Head of School to organize parent info nights and orientation
- File learning facilitator evaluations with Human Resources by December 15 and May 15 each semester
- Lead a healthy learning facilitator culture
- Maintain respectful student culture
- Communicate with parental partners as necessary, including the facilitation of in-person family withdrawal meetings
- Responsible for all lower school communications
- Tasked with growing the lower school division according to the school’s strategic plan
- Responsible for helping to ensure a 90% or above retention rate is achieved annually
- Serve as coordinator for Primary Years Program
Serve as spiritual leader for Lower School division
- Be a committed Christian whose goal is to be a model of Christ to others
- Lead, attend and support times of prayer with colleagues
- Have a growing range of Biblical knowledge on which he/she can draw in conversations with students, parents, and colleagues
- Pray for his/her learning facilitators daily.
- Understand and relate to the spiritual development level of the students
- Open and close each parent conference with prayer
- Offer counsel to learning facilitators and students from a Biblical perspective
- Love and appreciate the uniqueness of each student and staff member
- Demonstrate a teachable attitude
Administrative
- Design master schedule/program for lower school; coordinating with early childhood, middle and upper school schedules (also coordinate with Lunch Coordinator on scheduling matters)
- Assign learning facilitators to classrooms and students to classes, as needed
- Design/coordinate lower school informational mailings and communication (summer and other)
- Participate in Executive Leadership Team and Academic Team meetings
- Plan/implement lower school annual budget (coordinate with Business Office Team)
- Guide clerical assistants and aides in providing support services to lower school
- Participate in interviewing/hiring of the lower school staff
- Partner with Director of Admissions to attract lower school prospective students from initial inquiry to final registration
- Serve on Reaccreditation Steering Committee to facilitate reaccreditation/serve on Standards Committee for reaccreditation, when applicable
- Assign non-expulsion level disciplinary consequences when necessary
- Supervise morning drop off and afternoon pick-up system for lower school parents
- Supervise the Extended Care Program
- Direct the ordering of books, instructional materials, and art supplies for the lower school
- Direct the supervision of lower school lunch,playground, and the Lower School’s extended care proram
Guidance
- Perform entrance tests for the division students and provide evaluations
- Work with Academic Council to evaluate curriculum and implement changes for the lower school
- Provide guidance services for students and parents in the lower school
- Work with Educational Enrichment Director to plan services for lower school students who need assistance and intervention and attend weekly planning meetings
Public Relations
- Market interest in the lower school specials program
- Produce a weekly newsletter for parents
Learning Facilitators
- Lead learning facilitators in spiritual maturity (modeling, etc.)
- Teach subjects or sections of subjects as requested by Head of School
- Lead morning devotional meetings as designated by Head of School
- Lead lower school faculty meetings as designated by Head of School
- Plan for lower school faculty development (licensing, ACSI certificates, other, etc.)
- Mentor learning facilitators in teaching skills and behavior management; screen written communications
- Maintain accountability of learning facilitators in all academic areas
- Direct quarterly/semester probation decisions/letters/meetings (academic and behavior)
- Review yearly and weekly lesson plans
- Help orient new faculty to the ministry of WCA
- In collaboration with the Head of School, perform learning facilitator observations (formal and informal)
- Supervise elementary safety drills
Parents
- Plan and execute lower school parent information coffees/meetings as needed
- Plan/supervise/execute parent conferences, as needed
- Facilitate the building of good communication and relationships with parents
- Follow up on tardy students
Student Activities
- Organize supervision of all extracurricular activities of the lower school
- Coordinate Lower School award ceremonies
- Plan a full Lower School event calendar, with book fairs, fundraising events, holiday specials, etc.
- Coordinate Lower School community service projects
- Coordinate lower school academic competitions
General Responsibilities
- Continuing submission to the Lordship of Christ in every area of life, the acquisition of and obedience to scriptural knowledge, continual growth toward maturity in Christ, and consistency of Christian behavior;
- Maintain devotions in your home, to educate in Christian doctrine, and to pray for your family;
- Be actively involved in the life of the school; to be loyal to its programs; to pray regularly for its ministry, leadership, staff, parents, and children; to manifest a tender regard for their reputation; to contribute to its support with time and finances as God prospers you;
- To pray for those outside the body of Christ, to honor obligations and commitments to them, and as opportunity and ability enable, to commend the Gospel of Christ to them.
Physical Requirements
- Lift books/materials for storage and delivery (approximately 25 pounds).
- Walk/stand several times each day for 30 minutes to teach or supervise classes.
- Walk/stand within a classroom setting, bending and stooping periodically to assist students.
- Manipulate hands and fingers with dexterity to operate a computer keyboard.
- Distinguish tone of voice to interpret the needs of students (i.e. joyful v. distressed).
- See details of objects and analyze the activities of students more than a few feet away.
---Masters Degree
---Three-year minimum of Lower School or Elementary School Principal experience
Job tags
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