Dean of Faculty

Xavier High School seeks a Dean of Faculty beginning July 1, 2022.  The Dean of Faculty, reporting directly to the Headmaster, is responsible for the areas of school life that relate to faculty and effective classroom instruction.  The Dean of Faculty should be someone who cultivates curiosity and excellence in the faculty with a focus on pedagogy and practice through the lens of our Jesuit, Catholic identity.

The Dean of Faculty will lead the ongoing development of teacher formation and support with an aim for excellence in the classroom and ensuring that our faculty ‘draw upon an Ignatian worldview and the Catholic intellectual tradition in all subjects to help students think critically, ethically and compassionately about themselves and the world around them.’ (Standard 2: Our Way of Proceeding)

The Dean of Faculty’s primary focus is support and develop the faculty to excel in a student-centered practice by maintaining high professional expectations.  To that end s/he works ‘to ensure that Xavier is a school marked by a pedagogy that engages the world through a careful analysis of context in dialogue with experience, always open to evaluation through reflection for the sake of action.’ (Standard 10: Our Way of Proceeding)

The Dean of Faculty is a key member of the Headmaster’s Leadership Team who will work effectively with the Dean of Academics, Dean of Students and Dean of Educational Systems as part of a cohesive whole to ensure that the day-to-day workings of the school align with our mission and best serve our students’ learning and formation.

This is a full-time, 12-month position with full benefits and a salary competitive for the New York City area.  Work hours will include some evenings and weekends. 

Responsibilities

• Assists the Headmaster by managing the hiring process of new faculty;
• Organizes and supervises the orientation of new faculty;
• Organizes and oversees the new teacher mentoring program including classroom observations each semester;
• Observes and evaluates faculty members as directed by the Headmaster;
• Coordinates faculty professional development with an annual professional development plan that includes, opening week and two in-service days; 
• Designs and implements professional development plans that meet the varied needs of departments and individuals;
• Assists Headmaster with tenure process;
• Promotes the qualities and values of pedagogy and practice as expressed in the documents of the Jesuit network, including but not limited to: Profile of an Ignatian Educator, Our Way of Proceeding, The Graduate at Graduation;
• Remains current in educational trends and practices and works with the Headmaster to integrate new approaches to teaching and learning into school practice;
• In collaboration with Department Chairs, cultivates resources for professional growth that is discipline specific and coordinates the observation and evaluation process from hiring through retirement;
• In collaboration with the Dean of Academics, conducts regular reviews of the curriculum and syllabi, ensures good communication practice between faculty and students and families, supports teachers’ ability to meet the needs of varied learners;
• In collaboration with the Dean of Educational Systems, helps manage the long-term and short-term substitution plans, supports faculty efficacy in grade reporting and equity, helps develop and manage teacher schedules;

• In collaboration with the Dean of Students, helps ensure healthy classroom dynamics and proctoring practice;
• In collaboration with Director of Guidance, is attentive to concerns expressed by students about classroom experience, should they arise;
• In collaboration with Headmaster, promotes and helps provide faculty faith formation opportunities including oversight of an annual faculty formation day;
• Models effective instruction by teaching one student class each year;

• Serves as a member of the Academic Council; Xavier’s crisis team; XCEID; ex-officio member of the Xavier Cabinet;
• Prepares budget requests and supervises their expenditure;
• Works on special projects and tasks as requested by the Headmaster;
• Supports the mission of the school by appropriate presence at events (games, plays, etc.), participation in the retreat and service programs and ongoing participation in JSN and province activities;
• Engages in ongoing professional development.

Application Process

Resume, Cover Letter, Statement of Educational Leadership, and four references (that will only be contacted with expressed permission of candidate), should be sent in a single PDF file to Ms. Christie Gannon (gannonc@xavierhs.org) by Monday, April 25.

Ideal candidates will have extensive experience working as a classroom teacher of adolescent boys; experience in school leadership; an advanced degree (with a preference for educational leadership and/or administration); experience that demonstrates a clear capacity to lead initiatives that span beyond an individual discipline such as curriculum review; competency in educational technologies; enthusiasm for working with faculty towards excellence in teaching; a commitment to the school mission; familiarity with the documents and charism of Jesuit education; a practicing Catholic.