UNIVERSITY PREP

Position: Dean of Academics

Our Mission: Building a foundation of skills, knowledge and character, University Prep educates every scholar for a four-year college degree and life of opportunity.

Why you’ll love Us:

"We have been a part of the University Prep family from the beginning. Over the past school years, I've been so proud to see my child grow, learn, and get the support that I feel every child should receive.” – U Prep Parent

In 2011, University Prep opened the doors to its first elementary campus. Fast forward 15 years and our founding scholars are now enrolled in their sophomore and junior years of college. With nearly 90% of U Prep alumni on track for post-secondary success, U Prep is living its mission. Our scholars represent a 3X difference when compared with their peer group statewide (less than 30% are earning a degree or certificate following high school graduation). Our alumni are beating the odds and pursuing their dreams as they enter young adulthood and make choices about their futures. We couldn’t be prouder of our now college-going alumni, but more importantly, they couldn’t be prouder of themselves. Watch this video to hear from them directly and learn more about who we are as an organization and why we exist.

While you may love us because of the depth of our commitment to our mission and the integrity we carry each day to bring it to life, we believe your initial love will come from the investment we make in our people. Everything starts with our care and commitment to the adults who lead our work. They are the game changes who make everything possible.

Our investment in You:

Our compensation and benefits package includes, but is not limited to the following:

·         Highly competitive salary within the local market

§  $ 85,000 – $105,000 (*New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary between the range minimum and midpoint depending on experience, historic performance in leadership roles, and in alignment with internal equity)

·         100% of medical benefit covered for all employees, and options to elect dental, vision, critical illness and accident benefits.

o    Up to $600 in contributions to a personal wellness account

·         Participation in the Colorado PERA retirement program, including PERA 401K option

·         Weekly personalized coaching and supports from your Principal and ongoing professional development and coaching from the network’s Chief Academic Officer

Why we’ll love you:

Do the following must haves resonate with how you’re wired? If so, we invite you to apply and can’t wait to learn more about you!

You’re mission-driven. You believe educating all children from all backgrounds to grade level proficiency and beyond is the priority of a school because academic achievement sets the stage for young people to pursue genuine lives of opportunity.  

You love content AND culture: You are “geeky” when it comes to academic content and have a robust understanding of standards-aligned curriculum, instruction & assessment. And, you’re deeply committed to the creation of warm, focused, and joyful classroom cultures that allow for all children to meaningfully engage in learning.  

You love working with people (big & little): Your experience in schools has taught you that an investment in adults and their mindsets/skillsets makes all the difference for kids. You show your love and commitment to a school’s little people through your love and commitment to its big people.

You want to be the best. You care deeply about mastering your craft and take full ownership over your growth and development. You get a little better every day because you are invested in truly becoming the best at what you do.

You never give up. When things feel impossible, you roll up your sleeves, stay calm, and carry an unyielding sense of optimism. You take on challenges directly and find a way to get to the finish line.

You operate with deep humility. While you carry skills and knowledge from previous experiences, you humbly reflect on new learning and are open to change if it means getting better. You ask questions, listen, and learn from a wide range of sources including families, team members, other leaders and research.

What you’ll do:

·         Fully embody the mission and vision of University Prep along with the organization’s core values.

·         Work closely with the Principal and full campus-based leadership team to create and maintain a warm, engaging and

        achievement-oriented environment that meets the needs of all scholars.

·      Includes preparation for and engagement in weekly leadership team meetings focused on driving the campus’s goals (lead & lag measures) forward.

·         Carry an unwavering vision for high behavioral & academic expectations across our building and all classrooms.

·         Coach and develop teachers and support staff in their implementation of rigorous, cohesive, standards-aligned curriculum. This includes but is not limited to:

·       Co-intellectual preparation efforts that support teachers in internalizing and practicing lesson plans.

·       Engaging in deliberate practice to build teacher skills at executing effective instruction.

·       Leveraging real-time coaching, observation feedback cycles and weekly data meetings to move teacher knowledge and skills forward.

·         Take full ownership of the scholar culture within the classrooms and the grade levels you support along with the adult culture that

must be healthy to achieve our ambitious goals.

·         Analyze scholar work and achievement data alongside of teachers, and collaboratively action plan on an ongoing basis, making necessary changes to accelerate learning while monitoring for change. 

·         Model rigorous, standards-aligned teaching for educators to gain clarity on highly effective instructional practices in alignment with the network’s four Tenets of Effective Instruction (See Vision of Excellence Here).

·         Plan and lead professional development for both academic content and classroom culture, building teacher skills using the See It, Name It, Do It Framework with the expectation of increasing the capacity and abilities of our educators. 

·         Communicate regularly and proactively with staff, scholars and families to ensure everyone is “rowing together” in alignment with

the mission and vision of the school. 

·         Participate in additional activities including field trips, intensive academic support sessions, and other required programs as needed throughout year to best support our children and adults.

·         Assist in coordination and management of all standardized student assessments and evaluations, including federal and state required assessments, quarterly assessments, and curriculum-based assessments.

·         Lead on key administrative work that supports the school’s compliance in areas such as Gifted & Talented Education, English Language Development and Special Education.

o    Each Dean plays a critical role in supporting the campus in meeting and exceeding all local and state guidance in relation to these critical student subgroups. 

Position Preferences & Requirements:

·         Full commitment to, belief in, and alignment with mission and vision of University Prep.

·         Full commitment to organization’s values, definitions of diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism, and core identity statement.

·         Unyielding optimism that children can perform at or above grade level regardless of where they may be starting their educational journey and can all meet/exceed high behavioral expectations that support learning for all.

·         Evidence of successfully implementing Common Core standards-aligned curriculum in the elementary grades and effective teacher coaching and development with that content.

·         Minimum of five years working in public education and preference for candidates who have a history of not only working in urban communities, but in driving significant academic gains in student growth & achievement. 

·         Demonstration of success in building and sustaining positive staff, student and parent relationships.

·         Experience and success with analyzing data, finding trends, and using a range of information to drive strategic decisions and build effective plans.

·         Demonstration of cultural competence and a humility/commitment to continue growing in this area.

·         Openness to feedback and a strong desire for continual growth and development as a professional.

·         Willingness to take full responsibility for scholar outcomes.

·         Ability to work full-time, including some evenings and weekends along with a “whatever it takes” disposition given the responsibilities of a leader to drive game changing results.

·         Excellent verbal and written skills along with strong organizational skills (including the ability to prioritize).

·         Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree (required)

·         Bilingual - English/Spanish (preferred)

Apply Today: Visit: http://uprepschool.org/careers

As an equal opportunity employer, University Prep hires without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.