Learning with Joy. Leading with Heart. A sanctuary in the heart of Manhattan's West Village, St. Luke’s School is an independent day school serving Junior Kindergarten (pre-K) through Grade 8. Rooted in the Episcopal tradition, St. Luke’s welcomes students, parents, and professional staff of all faiths and identities. The school’s mission is to ignite curiosity for the world and for learning, instill confidence to advocate for themselves and others, and inspire courage to lead in service to our community, world, and future. The academic program is rigorous, developmentally informed, and interdisciplinary. We use students' strengths to help them progress in all areas.
POSITION SNAPSHOT
Start Date: July 1, 2025 - This is a 12-month position.
Salary Range: $125,000 - $140,000 (salary is based upon but not limited to factors including years of experience, education level, and expertise)
Reports To: Head of School
FSLA Status: Full-time, Exempt
Benefits (include but not limited to): Health Insurance (medical, dental, and vision), Retirement, Professional Development, Paid Time Off, Lunch Program, Disability Insurance, Life Insurance
St. Luke’s School is seeking a full-time Dean of Student Life to support the JK-8 student community. The Dean of Student Life works closely with the Division Heads, Psychologist, Chaplain, Equity & Belonging Office, and Head of School to manage the student experience as informed by restorative practices, social-emotional foundations, and character education principles. St. Luke’s School embraces our students’ academic, social, and emotional learning and believes that these areas are best nurtured when clear frameworks, support, and guidance are provided. The Dean of Student Life works in partnership with teachers to support and guide students’ character and social-emotional development and serves as an integral part of the Strategic Student Support Team, working to develop, define, and implement these frameworks, supports, and guidance. In addition, the Dean of Students will provide opportunities for students to create supportive, mentoring relationships with caring adults. The Dean of Student Life helps to cultivate an inclusive community where all students feel seen and have a sense they belong.
The ideal candidate will be empathetic and grounded in a developmental understanding of students ages 4-14, having experience working with and supporting a community of diverse backgrounds. They will have extensive experience working with elementary and middle school students and have a deep respect for their intellectual and social-emotional development. Additionally, the ideal candidate:
finds joy and fulfillment in working with young people and in school life
is a clear, compassionate communicator with adults and children
has patience, empathy, care, resilience, and a sense of humor
possesses strong cultural competency and experience implementing and supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging initiatives
has experience with restorative practices
regards collaboration as an essential component of professional work and growth
has the desire to learn from others and to be an active member of the St. Luke’s community
maintains confidentiality
listens actively
advocates for students and holds them accountable to high standards
balances an inquiry approach with boundary-setting
works flexibly and effectively in a fast-paced school environment
EXPECTATIONS
Position Expectations
Proactively engage with, listen to, and support student voices and concerns, and work to create a community of belonging among students, professional staff, and families that values student voice
Work with the faculty and administrative teams to respond to and monitor student concerns, both academic and behavioral, and help coordinate action plans supported by advisors, deans, learning support, and teachers that work together toward community-focused resolution
Assist the Head of School and Division Heads with discipline issues
Work with the Strategic Student Support Team to support the academic, social, and emotional needs of students
Support advisors and grade deans in the Upper School advisory program
Build positive, trusting relationships with families
Communicate and partner with families in support of the social and emotional needs of students and participate in parent conferences as appropriate
Present to and educate families about SEL and behavior at grade level check-ins, deeper dives, and other school events
Coordinate, help plan, chaperone, and lead grade level overnight and experiential trips alongside other administrators, and serve to support professional development for faculty and education for parents related to trips
Lead and facilitate the review of programs supporting and impacting student life and explore opportunities for school-wide student events
Build student activity options that support student voice, choice, and leadership
Assist in facilitating the Student Council and other student-run organizations, like the Green Team, and affinity groups
Use the Behavior Plan in conjunction with the workflows outlined in it and lead regular assessments of its implementation
Assist in gathering evidence of student well-being, belonging, and relationships and document student discipline issues in order to partner with the Senior Leadership team on analyzing and communicating patterns and areas in need of enhancement
Oversee student attendance in partnership with faculty, nurses, and registrar as a way to monitor health and wellness concerns
Meet regularly with grade level deans in the Upper School and grade level teams in the Lower School
Attend all Child Support Meetings (CSM), divisional, and all-school leadership team meetings
Partner with faculty to model community-building lessons in classrooms
Participate in class placement and planning and leading new student orientation
Demonstrate visible, active engagement in the daily life of the School, including during the daily routines of arrival, dismissal, lunch, and recess times, as well as at major divisional and school functions and events, including those that occur beyond the school day
All Professional Staff Expectations
Support the St. Luke’s School mission, values, institutional goals, and educational philosophy. Understanding and commitment to the community standards of compassion, dignity, excellence, honesty, and respect.
Excellent communication skills. Contact and communication with students, faculty/staff, and parents on a regular basis. Contact and communication consists of face-to-face discussions, e-mail, phone calls, letters, report cards, and memos. Communicate effectively with the school’s constituents.
Strong collaboration skills. Working collaboratively with other faculty, specialists, and staff in a small, close-knit, creatively energetic environment.
An interest in and openness to professional growth and development. Desire and ability to embrace continuing education in the field. Participate and attend workshops, conferences, and other training.
A sense of joy and wonder and an optimistic attitude.
A sense of humor, warmth of personality, and energy
Ability to be self-motivated.
Flexibility and willingness to change. Ability to pivot as changes are made or needed in order to fit the school’s current needs or adjustments to protocols. Be present at the school during the required work hours.
Perform additional duties such as morning, recess, lunch and participate in the life of the school. Be present and on-time to assigned duties.
Participate in and attend faculty/staff meetings and committees, including school-wide initiatives about issues of equity, pedagogy and curriculum.
Participate in the life of the school, including attendance at required events such as curriculum night, parent conferences, grade-level cocktail party, Christmas Fair, Spring Benefit, and school games and events.
Enforce school policies and rules with students.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite Faculty members also need to be proficient with Google Classroom and have the ability to use classroom technology such as Smart Boards, Zoom, etc.
TO APPLY
St. Luke’s requires all applicants to apply online. To apply, please go to www.stlukeschool.org (About Us/Employment). Please direct all questions to Peggy Chen, Human Resources, at 212.924.5960 or hr@stlukeschool.org
St. Luke's School is committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment. St. Luke's School does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, or any other category protected by local, state or federal law in its employment and administration policies, scholarship program, or admission policies. It is the policy of St. Luke's School to recruit, train, hire, promote, and otherwise attend to all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, or any other category protected by local, state or federal law.
EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor’s Degree in education or relevant field
Master’s Degree a plus
5+ years experience in an education setting working with students
Familiarity with CASEL framework standards a plus
Experience with advisory programming and experiential learning a plus
Highly organized with an ability to multitask and prioritize work
Committed to working in a collaborative, team-oriented environment