Dean of Culture

Position: Dean of Culture
Supervisor: Principal
Start Date: July 2025
Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. However, the position may be closed before that date if a qualified candidate is hired.

The Opportunity: Global Citizens Public Charter School is seeking a passionate Dean of Culture who is a professional educator or counselor who understands the diverse and changing needs of our student population. Reporting to the Principal and working closely with coordinators, managers, and other leadership team members, the Dean of Culture cultivates a climate of positivity, cultural sensitivity, inclusivity, and belonging that empowers and propels our student’s global competence. The Dean of culture also provides direct student and teacher support and serves as the primary contact for families for all issues related to student culture, rewards, and discipline. The Dean of Culture fosters a positive and inclusive school climate by promoting character education, social-emotional learning, and restorative justice practices. They support teachers with behavior management, mentor students, and collaborate with families and staff to ensure student well-being. Additionally, they provide training, implement school-wide culture initiatives, and engage the community to create a respectful and supportive learning environment.

Global Citizens is the first dual language immersion elementary school in Washington, DC, to offer language immersion in both Mandarin Chinese and Spanish pathways - exposing students to the top three languages spoken in the world. Paired with a focus on social justice and whole child wellness, Global Citizens equips children to become empathetic, globally competent, and socially-minded leaders who are prepared for a future we cannot yet imagine. Global Citizens opened in Ward 7 to provide children and their families living east of the Anacostia River with equitable access to dual language immersion programs. This position offers an incredible opportunity to work alongside a team, within an entrepreneurial and collaborative environment focused on improving educational opportunities for all students, especially those who are most marginalized and undervalued.

Mission: The mission of Global Citizens is to inspire and prepare the next generation of global citizens. We will do this by supporting students, ages 3-11, to reach their full academic and leadership potential in a nurturing learning environment. We will immerse them in the Mandarin and Spanish languages, promote the value of diversity, and equip them with the knowledge, skills, and mindsets they need to contribute to a better world.

Vision: We envision academic excellence, language acquisition, and authentic inclusion of a diverse student population. We will build a strong community of learners who are confident in their ability to communicate in the Chinese, Spanish, and English languages. Our children will use language to liberate and advocate for themselves and those most marginalized. All of our children will develop a sense of self and a sense of belonging, build empathy and emotional resilience, learn to understand and appreciate diverse perspectives and challenge themselves to take action to improve the world.

Philosophy: We believe that all cultures have richness and value, deserve respect and consideration, and do not belong to a hierarchy. We are aware of white supremacy culture and the systemic oppression that exists – even in the current education system. At Global Citizens PCS, we will critically examine our biases and then actively work on counteracting these biases and disrupting the dominant narrative. We will continually examine our teaching and curricula to ensure we incorporate multiple perspectives from diverse cultural backgrounds and life experiences, including the experiences of our students, families, communities, and staff. We will create an environment in which all students will yearn for intercultural connections and see their benefits.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are our core values and are central to our learning, development, and growth:

• Diversity: All children, of all backgrounds, learning abilities, and physical capacities, will thrive and contribute to a positive, inclusive, and supportive learning community.
• Equity: All children are capable of reaching high levels of academic excellence and whole-child wellness. Thus, all children will have the opportunity to gain fluency in more than one language/culture and learn from and with each other. All children will be held to high expectations – ensuring equally high outcomes for all and removing the predictability of success or failure that currently correlates with social, cultural, or socio-economic factors.
• Inclusion: We will live our core value of diversity by creating an environment of connection, belonging, empowerment, and respect – where the richness of different ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives are harnessed to create value.

The core values live in our Global Citizens PCS educational model through four key pillars: Globally Competent Bilingualism, Academic Excellence, Social Justice, and Whole Child Wellness.

Dean of Culture Job Description

Program Development and Planning:
• Provide leadership for strategically establishing and maintaining a positive, thriving school culture.
• Develop and implement strategies to create a positive and inclusive school culture that aligns with the values and mission of the school.
• Design and implement a comprehensive behavior management system that focuses on restorative practices, positive reinforcement, and character development.

Staff & Classroom Support:
• Work collaboratively with teachers, staff, and parents to address and resolve behavioral issues fairly and consistently.
• Collaborate with teachers to integrate Conscious Discipline practices into the curriculum and daily school routines.
• Provide training and support for teachers and staff on fostering a positive and inclusive classroom environment.

Student Engagement and Support:
• Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment where all students feel valued and supported
• Develop and oversee the implementation of Conscious Discipline Practices to support the emotional well-being of students.
• Act as a mediator in resolving conflicts among students, staff, and parents.
• Implement conflict resolution strategies that promote understanding and cooperation.
• Develop and manage all positive incentives and recognitions (grade-specific and school-wide) including honor roll, student of the month, and awards ceremonies.

Staff & Family Collaboration:
• Provide training and professional development for staff on behavior management, student engagement, and relationship-building.
• Work closely with teachers, counselors, and administrators to align behavior expectations and interventions.
• Communicate with families regarding student behavior, discipline policies, and support strategies.
• Organize and lead events that promote family and community engagement in school culture.

School Culture & Climate:
• Develop and implement programs that promote a positive school culture, including character education and social-emotional learning initiatives.
• Foster an inclusive environment that values diversity, equity, and respect among students, staff, and families.
• Support school-wide initiatives that build strong relationships and a sense of community.

Behavior Management & Student Support:
• Implement restorative practices and conflict resolution strategies to address student behavior.
• Support teachers with classroom management strategies and student behavior interventions.
• Develop behavior support plans in collaboration with teachers, counselors, and families.
• Monitor student behavior trends and recommend strategies to enhance the school climate

Administrative Duties:
• Utilize data to assess the effectiveness of culture-related initiatives and make data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.
• Collect, enter, and manage student conduct data.
• Prepare and maintain accurate student records as required by the school, and submit such records for both internal and external compliance by established deadlines.
• Prepare regular reports for school leadership on culture-related metrics and trends.
• Support with other duties as assigned

Dean of Culture Qualifications:
• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Education, Counseling, Social Work, or a related field.
• Previous experience working in educational settings, preferably in an instructional coach, counselor, dean, or school leader role
• Strong understanding of restorative practices, social-emotional learning, and equity-driven practices.
• Strong understanding of conscious discipline, positive behavior interventions, and social-emotional learning.
• Demonstrated communication skills- Model correct use of language, oral and written
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, and community members.
• Possess a high degree of professionalism and discretion; demonstrated willingness to be held accountable for student’s results.
• An energetic, flexible, creative, innovative individual who is a highly motivated self-starter

Compensation
Salary is competitive and based on education and professional experience, and ranges from $80,000 to $90,000. Additionally, Global Citizens PCS offers a comprehensive benefits package.

We are Deeply Committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Global Citizens PCS is an equal-opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. We strongly encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply. It is our policy to ensure that all individuals with whom we are in contact with are not discriminated against based on race, color, ethnicity, disability, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, military status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, parenthood, or any other personal or professional status.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for this position, please click this link: https://globalcitizensschool.bamboohr.com/careers/86. We’ll review applications as we receive them until the position is filled. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

Global Citizens PCS is committed to building a team that reflects the varied backgrounds and experiences of the students we seek to serve. It is important to us that you use your application materials to clearly delineate ways in which your background and experience align with Global Citizens PCS’s core values and key pillars, including our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.