Dean of Lower School (SY 25-26, Full Time, In Person) Position Available In Charleston, South Carolina

Dean of Lower School (SY 25-26, Full Time, In Person) Compass Collegiate Academy 5010 Wetland Crossing Road, North Charleston, SC 29418 Company Description School Mission Compass Collegiate Academy provides every scholar with the academic foundation and strong habits that inspire and cultivate lifelong learners who lead purposeful, civic lives. Compass Collegiate Academy strives to create a diverse, inclusive, and anti-racist community. People from historically underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. School Overview Compass Collegiate Academy (CCA) is a public charter school that opened in Charleston, South Carolina with grades K-1 in August of 2021. Our school is adding a grade each year thereafter until we are a full Kindergarten through 8th grade school. CCA has intentionally built its school model and structured its budget to ensure that the student body is representative of the student population in North Charleston and the Charleston peninsula, the school’s geographic target area. CCA is driven by the following core beliefs for its school model: All Means All – The school will operate with a non-negotiable belief in the potential of every child. Every adult employed at the school will operate with a daily mindset that every scholar can achieve at high levels irrespective of a scholar’s family income, disability, language proficiency or prior developmental experience. Rigorous Curriculum – The school’s rigorous curriculum and academic program is designed to assist scholars to acquire a foundation of knowledge and advanced literacy skills in the early grades that will prepare scholars to undertake higher order analysis, evaluation, and critical thinking skills in later grades. An Intentional Commitment to Scholar Social and Emotional Growth – Preparing scholars for successful secondary and postsecondary pursuits involves growing both sharp minds and big hearts. CCA will focus on helping scholars to better understand their own identities, their communities, and how to successfully build relationships with peers across lines of difference. Scholars will develop character strengths such as kindness, determination, curiosity, gratitude and integrity and will be better equipped to positively impact their diverse local communities and world. High-quality Staff – The school will have a robust hiring and development model based on some of the nation’s best public schools to ensure a high-quality teaching and learning environment for scholars. Teachers and leaders will be respected as skilled practitioners and professionals in a culture that prioritizes continuous growth and development for adults as well as scholars. Personalized Learning through Data-Driven Instruction – Through a continuous cycle of assessment, analysis, and action, the school will identify personalized needs to close academic gaps while also differentiating instruction for scholars with more advanced achievement. Parental Involvement and Intentional Community – The school values families as partners in the academic growth and human development of scholars. Families can expect daily updates on scholar progress, weekly phone communication and availability with a scholar’s teacher, open doors to the school, and access to workshops and seminars on childhood human development. The school will intentionally cultivate a supportive school community among diverse families.

Job Description Position Overview:

The Lower School Dean will serve as a key leader in both the academic and operational success of the school. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, this role is responsible for supporting instructional excellence, overseeing scholar achievement, and managing day-to-day operations that ensure a safe, productive, and mission-aligned learning environment. The ideal candidate is a dynamic, organized, and instructional leader who thrives in both strategic planning and hands-on execution.

Key Responsibilities:

Academic Leadership Assist in launching and refining the academic program to align with the school’s mission and performance goals. Coach and develop instructional staff through regular observation, feedback, and professional development. Collaborate with the instructional team on curriculum design and instructional practices, particularly in literacy and data-driven instruction. Lead the implementation of the school’s social-emotional learning and discipline programs. Analyze scholar academic performance data to drive instructional improvement. Monitor lesson planning, assessments, and scholar academic progress to ensure alignment with state standards and school goals. Oversee compliance for special populations (including special education and 504) in collaboration with the Special Education Coordinator. Direct and coordinate school-wide assessments and ensure fidelity in assessment administration (e.g., iReady, SC Ready). Support scholar attendance, academic, and behavioral interventions. Instructional Staff Management Assist with recruiting, hiring, and onboarding instructional staff who embody the school’s mission and values. Conduct regular staff meetings, one-on-one check-ins, and performance evaluations. Provide leadership for professional development sessions and instructional planning meetings. Collaborate with staff on classroom management techniques and scholar engagement strategies. Foster a positive and supportive staff culture and monitor school morale. Operational Leadership Oversee daily school operations, including food service, transportation, technology, facilities, and safety procedures. Supervise the operations team and part-time support staff, ensuring high-quality performance and accountability. Serve as the main point of contact for HR-related issues and support staff onboarding and compliance. Lead logistics for school-wide and off-site events (e.g., orientations, family nights, recruitment fairs). Manage school-wide operational systems and ensure fidelity of implementation across all teams. Serve as the school’s expert on data and student information systems Fiscal & Compliance Management Manage the school’s purchasing, inventory, and vendor relationships. Support the Executive Director in budget development, financial reporting, and audit preparation. Ensure adherence to internal controls, fiscal policies, and all local, state, and federal compliance requirements. Assist in reporting to the Board of Directors and external stakeholders. Scholar Enrollment & Family Engagement Lead scholar recruitment and enrollment processes to ensure full enrollment each academic year. Manage student registration and transitions (entry/exit) and maintain accurate records. Support family engagement efforts by enhancing classroom-home communication and participating in school events. Qualifications Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree required (Master’s degree or higher preferred). Minimum of three years business experience required; charter school operations experience preferred. Experience with charter school finance and budgets preferred. Demonstrated competency with technology, including but not limited to Microsoft Word, Excel, Student Information Systems and accounting software systems required. Experience working with a culturally diverse student body preferred.

Ability to:

Work hard to achieve the school’s mission. Communicate clearly and effectively in both oral and written language. Be extremely attentive to detail. Ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines and responsibilities at once and prioritize the highest-leverage and most urgent tasks. Establish and maintain positive relationships with a variety of people. Engage families and the larger community in the life of the school. Plan, coordinate, and direct work and activities of the operations team. Manage budgets, prioritize expenditures, and seek innovative methods for providing school resources. Promote and market the educational program and services of the school.

Additional Information We Offer:

A supportive and energetic team environment. Opportunities for professional growth and community impact. Salary is competitive and commensurate with your experience. Compass Collegiate Academy full-time employees are provided with a benefits package that includes medical, vision, and dental insurance, retirement plan, parental leave, and a laptop. All employment with CCA is AT-WILL and nothing contained in this job description or in any other document provided by CCA creates a contract of employment for a specified term. In at-will employment, both the employee and employer retain the right to terminate the employment relationship at any time and for any reason, with or without cause and with or without any advance notice. Compass Collegiate Academy is committed to providing equal access to educational and employment opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, pregnancy, age, sex, or any other protected characteristic, as may be required by law.