Jonesboro, Arkansas
Vienna, Virginia
Posted: 22-Nov-24
Location: SOUTHBOROUGH, Massachusetts
Type: Full Time
St. Mark’s School welcomes nominations and applications for the position of Dean of Students, effective July 1, 2025. The Dean of Students provides strategic leadership, program development, and day-to-day management of student life at St. Mark’s.
ABOUT ST. MARK'S SCHOOL
St. Mark’s School is a coeducational, Episcopal, preparatory school, situated on 210 acres in Southborough, Massachusetts, 25 miles from Boston. Founded in 1865 by Joseph Burnett, St. Mark’s is one of the oldest private boarding schools in New England and is a member of the Independent School League in competitive athletics. The school’s 65 teachers lead 375 boarding and day students through a rigorous curriculum and a full program of co-curricular activities. Class size averages 12, with a student-faculty ratio of 6:1. From the School’s founding, the goal of educating young people for lives of leadership and service has been part of its mission.
THE ROLE OF DEAN OF STUDENTS
Reporting to Head of School, Dr. Ivory D. Hills, and a member of the School’s senior administrative team (Ad Team), the Dean of Students is responsible for overseeing programs that promote a caring, intentional student community, where the highest personal standards of behavior and kindness are prized. The Dean leads an office that nurtures the growth of individual students through the Residential Life Program, the Advising Program, Health Services, Student Leadership, Student Wellness, Student Activities, social discipline, and attendance. The Dean of Students leads and manages a team of seven, including the Associate Dean of Students/Director of Residential Life, Director of Counseling, Director of Health Services, Director of Student Life, Director of Wellness, Community Wellness Educator, and an Administrative Assistant. The following list is not comprehensive but serves as a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities.
- Provide strategic and tactical leadership on all assigned Ad Team goals; provide wisdom and counsel to support Ad Team work including character education, the residential life initiative, and other critical assignments
- Select, supervise, and support the Dean’s Team professionals, holding them to the highest standards
- Lead annual orientation program for new and returning students
- Participate in and manage annual review and revision of School Handbook
- Coordinate with other departments as needed, including Academics, Athletics, Assistant Head of School/Dean of Faculty, Dining Services, Facilities, Technology, Southborough Police and Fire Departments
- Teach a course in an academic discipline, participate in St. Mark’s Saturdays, and engage in Lion Term program
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS
The ideal candidate for St. Mark’s next Dean of Students will have a demonstrated history of providing strategic leadership and program development that fosters student well-being and thriving. This position requires an appetite for collaborative decision-making, regular and clear communication, engagement with multiple and diverse community members, capacity building, and, most importantly, a passionate, student-centered approach to leadership. The ideal candidate will also demonstrate sound professional judgment, personal integrity, and resilience when addressing complex, and often ambiguous, organizational, and political challenges. The most successful candidates will possess many of the following qualifications and characteristics:
- High emotional intelligence, warmth, energy, and enthusiasm, as well as a sense of humor and inspirational character
- Demonstrated experience with and commitment to equity and inclusivity in all areas of school life
- Possess a growth mindset and is open to feedback and new learning
- Ability to work with a broad array of constituencies - students, parents, faculty, staff, board members, and community members
- Experienced practitioner in social-emotional learning and an appreciation for health & wellness as a part of the student experience
- Effective listener, who in addition to seeking to process and understand, is comfortable receiving input from many sources
- Proactive, hands-on leader and problem solver who is an initiator with a high energy level and is both a “doer” and a collaborator
- Genuine passion for working with adolescents, demonstrating knowledge and awareness of the challenges and trends facing students and educators
- Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to ongoing learning and professional development
- Approaches barriers and crises with resiliency, creativity, and flexibility
- Student life planning, programming, and facilitation experience with adolescents, boarding school preferred
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field. Master’s degree in related field, education, or counseling preferred
- Five to ten years of experience as a teacher and/or administrator
This is a full-time position that will be performed on site in Massachusetts. St. Mark’s offers an exciting and supportive work environment, a competitive salary and benefits package which includes medical and dental plans, a pension plan, tuition remission, campus housing and/or a housing stipend (which is a taxable benefit), and four weeks of paid vacation.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The search committee for St. Mark’s School’s next Dean of Students is now accepting applications and nominations and will begin reviewing materials immediately. Requested application materials include a letter of interest and current resume. Interested candidates should apply using the following Talent Profile link: https://talent-profile.dsgco.com/search/v2/21720.
To learn more about this opportunity, please review the leadership profile.
St. Mark’s School is being assisted in this search by Storbeck Search|Diversified Search Group. For additional information, or to submit a nomination in confidence, please contact:
Staci Williams Seeley, Managing Director
Christopher Bernard, Senior Search Associate
StMarksDOS@storbecksearch.com