Job Summary

Beacon Academy, a Montessori-based, IB high school for 215 students in Evanston, IL, seeks an experienced and visionary educator to serve as the next Academic Dean. A member of the Leadership team reporting to the Head of School, the Academic Dean oversees the academic program; supports teachers through mentoring, evaluation, and professional development; attends to students’ academic well-being; provides curricular oversight and development; and serves as a resource for the parent body.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Beacon’s next Academic Dean will: 

• Enable an innovative and challenging academic program while engendering an environment that encourages independent, creative, and engaging teaching and learning; 
• Act as the academic leader of the school with the vision and skills to develop and augment our already robust and innovative Montessori-based, IB curriculum; 
• Chair the Curriculum Committee and oversee curriculum-related objectives of the school’s strategic plan
• Foster best practices in teaching and learning to challenge students academically; --Advise the Head of School regarding the hiring and retention of faculty and facilitate regular faculty evaluation; 
• Manage the faculty and assist with their professional development and lead new faculty orientation; --Work closely with the Student Support Team, Director of College Counseling, and Dean of Students to ensure care for the whole student; 
• Inspire others, using interpersonal skills, great communication, and purposeful meetings to unite the community around a common purpose; 
• Provide for the academic guidance of students and oversee all academic grading and reporting as well as managing exams; 
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity, value multiple perspectives, and have experience creating a safe learning environment for all;  
• Prepare a master school class schedule, assigning teachers and students to classes and other obligations; 
• Manage the budget for academic program and support school's enrollment and marketing efforts; 
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of School; 
• Support the school and its leadership.

Additional Job Requirements

• Support the philosophy and mission of the School
• Work with all levels of the organization from students to Board of Trustees
• Maintain and manage sensitive and confidential school, student, parent, and employee information

Qualifications and Skill
Beacon Academy is seeking an Academic Dean with exceptional leadership skills and a commitment to Montessori education and academic excellence. The next Academic Dean will be a proven leader with a minimum of three to five years of administrative experience in a school setting and a skillful communicator who can foster the core values expressed in the school’s mission. The successful candidate will thrive in a school community that reflects the cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity of Chicago. This candidate will be a relationship-builder who is dedicated to furthering its educational mission through a partnership of students, faculty, staff, parents and guardians, and the wider community. Applicants should possess a minimum of a master’s degree and have a proven track record of success in leadership positions.

The new Academic Dean will take office July 1, 2021 

This is a 100% full-time, exempt, 12-month administrative position. Salary is commensurate with experience, and benefits include but are not limited to retirement, medical, life, and disability insurance. 

Non-discrimination Policy 
Beacon does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, or ethnic origin, sexual identity, gender, or religion, in the administration of its hiring policies, educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.                                                                                                                                                                                         

Physical Demands and Work Environment                                                                                                           

• While performing the responsibilities the employee is required to talk and hear.
• The employee is often required to sit and work at a computer screen for long periods of time.
• The employee is required to stand or bend over while filing in a 4 drawer filing cabinet.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
• Typical work hours are limited to Monday through Friday, but additional days/hours are required at times depending on the demands of the department and School events.