Dean of Students 2025-26

 
 

School Overview

Founded in 2001 by visionary social justice advocate Sister Mary Reilly RSM, Sophia Academy serves 60 girls in grades 5-8 in Providence, RI. The school seeks a Dean of Students to play a key role in maintaining Sophia Academy’s established excellence and helping to move the institution to the next level of growth.

Since its founding, Sophia has grown into a respected institution in Rhode Island’s K-12 education community. The faculty nurtures, challenges, and empowers young girls; Sophia prepares them to excel academically and to become engaged citizens poised to make a difference in their communities. Ninety-five percent of Sophia graduates complete high school in four years and most continue on to postsecondary education. The school is accredited by the Association of Independent Schools of New England (AISNE). Sophia’s strong social justice ethos has attracted the attention of such inspiring women as #MeToo cofounder Tarana Burke and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafsai, and its dedicated and talented faculty are recognized state-wide for their excellence. The school is accredited by the Association of Independent Schools of New England (AISNE) and is nonsectarian.

The Mission

Sophia Academy engages girls from low income families on a joyful quest for self‐discovery and opportunity through a middle school education grounded in social justice.

vision

An equitable world where girls and women are seeking fulfillment, realizing their dreams, and inspiring others.

Position Overview

The Dean of Students reports to the Head of School, is a member of the Middle School Leadership Team and the Administrative Team, and works closely with students, their families and the faculty and staff. The Dean, in collaboration with the Director of Student Support and the Assistant Head of School, cultivates a school environment that promotes personal growth, empathy, and community building while addressing issues–behavioral or otherwise–which arise that may be disruptive to the smooth daily operation of the school.

Major Responsibilities

  • Continue to develop and administer the school’s accountability plan that supports positive student decision making in accordance with Sophia’s school policies, core values, and guiding principles

  • Serve as the front line to all student conduct and behavioral issues; manage and track day-to-day incidents and communicate directly with faculty, administration, and families

  • Utilize restorative justice practices and promote positive behavior in line with Sophia Academy culture

  • Advise student council

  • Coordinate the PE and athletics program at Sophia; coach or hire a coach for the basketball team

  • Coordinate monthly assemblies

  • In collaboration with the Middle School Leadership Team, revise student and family policies and update the Student and Family Handbook annually

  • Build relationships with families

  • Supervise students on-campus before and after school; monitor students during lunch, recess, passing periods, and other activities

  • Further develop, organize, and monitor the student attendance system including tracking absenteeism and tardiness on a daily basis and communicating with families and scheduling meetings as necessary with regard to absent or tardy students; provide leadership for attendance improvement efforts

  • Coordinate monthly parent meetings pertaining to awareness/health: self esteem, parenting, time management, disease prevention, sexuality and teens, etc.

  • Further develop the curriculum and teach the Sister Mary Reilly Justice and Gender Seminar, a weekly capstone course for all 8 th grade students

  • Provide coverage for teacher absences and supervision for field trips

  • Develop plans for emergency situations in collaboration with faculty and staff as well as public safety officers and agencies

  • Track, monitor and record all data related to student behavior in order to maintain a safe and predictable learning environment in line with best practices

  • Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred

  • Belief in and support for the mission, core values, and guiding principles of the school

  • Passion for and commitment to social justice, girls’ education, and equity

  • Demonstrated commitment to middle school education, urban education, and girls education

  • Experience with trauma-informed discipline and restorative justice practices

  • Ability to relate to students with mutual respect while carrying out a positive and effective accountability/discipline program

  • Capacity to create an environment where children from diverse backgrounds are comfortable and experience success

  • Ability to set objectives and achieve goals in a collaborative team setting while coordinating the efforts of multiple parties, both internal and external

  • A self-starter who takes initiative and works equally well on teams and independently

  • Demonstrated ability to lead in a team setting

  • Highly organized planner and efficient project coordinator with relentless attention to detail and the ability to multitask without compromising quality

  • Personable, flexible, resourceful, and warm with a willingness to go above and beyond to get the job done; respectful of others; sense of humor

  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills; excellent written and verbal aptitude, exceptional ability to work effectively with a wide range of people in a diverse community

  • Strong organizational and time-management skills

  • Thinks strategically and creatively and formulates solid plans based on measurable objectives

  • Enthusiasm for working in a close-knit, student-centered school environment

  • Must be able to treat confidential information with discretion; diplomatic

  • Ability to build productive relationships with the local community

  • Clearances required

To apply, send cover letter, resume, and references to Marie Myers, Head of School at mmyers@sophia-academy.org

Sophia Academy is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, veteran’s status, genetic information, and any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

Sophia Academy is an EEO/AA employer.