Position Title: Associate Dean of Students (Middle School)
Location: New Haven, CT
Reports To: School Principal
Employment Type: Full-time, Exempt
Start Date: SY26-27 (Immediate Opening / Hire)
Salary Range: $65,000 - $85,000, commensurate with experience.
About Edmonds Cofield Preparatory Academy for Young Men
Edmonds Cofield Preparatory Academy for Young Men (ECPA) is New Haven’s first dedicated middle school for young men. Our mission is to develop resourceful, resilient, and responsible young men who think critically, lead ethically, and contribute positively to their communities. ECPA provides a rigorous academic experience that fosters mastery of learning while preparing students to navigate real-world choices with confidence and integrity. Through exposure to entrepreneurial thinking, leadership development, and hands-on learning opportunities, our young men cultivate the skills and mindsets necessary to excel in high school, college, and beyond.
For more information about ECPA, please visit www.edmondscofieldprep.org http://www.edmondscofieldprep.org
About the Opportunity
Edmonds Cofield Preparatory Academy for Young Men (ECPA) seeks a steady, inspiring, and student-centered Associate Dean of Students to join our leadership team as the school transitions from its founding year into Year 2 and expands to serve 7th grade. This is a pivotal moment in the school’s development — one that requires a leader who can both honor the systems and culture established in Year 1 and help strengthen, codify, and scale them as our community grows.
In this role, you will champion restorative, identity‑affirming, and relationship‑centered approaches to student support, behavior management, and social‑emotional learning — ensuring every young man feels safe, empowered, and accountable within a culture of high expectations, belonging, and brotherhood.
As an Associate Dean of Students at ECPA, you will collaborate closely with teachers, families, the broader leadership team, and community partners to sustain and elevate a school culture where young men’s voices matter and where strong relationships drive strong outcomes. From leading daily culture systems and community‑building rituals to refining proactive supports and interventions, you will help ensure that every student experiences consistency, joy, and meaningful growth opportunities.
You will also play a key role in supporting teacher and staff development — empowering educators to create safe, focused, and affirming learning environments where students take intellectual risks, build character, and develop the habits needed for long‑term success.
This is an opportunity for a grounded, equity-minded, relationship‑driven leader who thrives in a collaborative environment, embraces continuous learning, and is deeply committed to the success of young men. The ideal candidate brings strong cultural leadership, operational clarity, and a passion for helping students grow into thoughtful, responsible, and resilient leaders.
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Key Responsibilities of the Role
As an Associate Dean of Students at ECPA, you will be primarily responsible for:
Student Behavior & Restorative Practices
- Implement and refine ECPA’s restorative accountability systems to promote ownership, growth, and ethical decision‑making among young men.
- Lead culturally responsive, equitable strategies for crisis and conflict management.
- Maintain consistent, transparent communication with students and families regarding expectations, interventions, and supports.
- Regularly solicit and integrate student voice to strengthen school culture, brotherhood, and student leadership pathways
Social-Emotional Learning & Student Empowerment
- Oversee and develop SEL programming that builds resilience, self‑management, leadership, and personal accountability.
- Support the development of student leadership pathways, peer mentoring, and community‑building initiatives.
- Partner with counseling and student support teams to ensure coordinated, holistic services for students.
Culture & Community Building
- Maintain a visible, proactive presence throughout the school day to reinforce a joyful, structured, and inclusive culture of brotherhood.
- Strengthen ECPA’s recognition systems, incentives, and proactive supports aligned with PBIS and restorative practices.
- Lead schoolwide rituals, assemblies, and community events that celebrate student success and reinforce shared values.
- Support attendance initiatives, transitions, hallway culture, and arrival/dismissal systems to ensure safety and consistency.
Teacher & Staff Development & Support
- Collaborate with teachers, students, and families to develop individualized behavior plans aligned with ECPA’s discipline and support systems.
- Lead professional development sessions that equip teachers to build strong classroom culture and implement restorative practices.
- Participate actively in instructional and culture leadership teams to address trends, share best practices, and support teacher growth.
- Provide real‑time coaching and feedback to teachers on culture systems, student engagement, and relationship‑building.
Instructional Leadership & Support
- Partner with the leadership team to ensure that culture systems directly support a rigorous, engaging academic program.
- Collaborate with instructional leaders to align culture expectations with instructional priorities, ensuring classrooms are safe, focused, and conducive to learning.
Operational Leadership & Data-Informed Practices
- Use qualitative and quantitative data to monitor and adjust student support programs, interventions, and disciplinary measures.
- Ensure accurate record‑keeping and compliance with behavior intervention protocols, state regulations, and school policies.
- Lead regular culture data reviews to inform continuous improvement and strengthen schoolwide systems.
- Coordinate logistics for culture‑related operations (e.g., lunch, recess, transitions, arrival/dismissal).
Schoolwide Leadership Responsibilities & Program Support
- Strengthen and refine existing culture systems to ensure consistency, clarity, and alignment with ECPA’s mission and values.
- Lead schoolwide initiatives focused on SEL integration, restorative practices, and community engagement.
- Support the implementation of new culture initiatives based on school needs, data trends, and student voice.
- Serve as a key member of the school’s leadership team, contributing to strategic planning and schoolwide decision‑making.
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Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate
While no candidate will possess every quality below, the ideal candidate for the Founding Dean of Students will likely demonstrate many of the following abilities, attributes, and experiences:
Required Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor’s degree required.
- Experience:
- At least 3–5 years of youth development or school‑based experience with a strong track record of building positive culture and relationships.
- At least 1–2 years of experience coaching or leading adults to improve student outcomes.
- Restorative Practices: Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and manage restorative and behavior intervention systems.
- Communication: Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
- Initiative: Experience organizing schoolwide initiatives that promote a positive, inclusive school climate.
- Data Proficiency: Ability to use data to assess, refine, and strengthen student support and culture systems.
- Experience supporting diverse learners — Demonstrated experience and success in differentiation supports for diverse learners, including multilingual learners (ELs) and students with IEPs
- Mission Alignment: Deep alignment with the mission and values of Elevate Charter Schools and ECPA, including excellence, leadership, brotherhood, self‑discipline, responsibility, and educational uplift.
- Core Values Alignment: Deep belief in our community and in the potential of every single young man to learn, grow, and achieve at a high level.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Education, Educational Leadership, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field preferred.
- At least 3 years of teaching experience with strong classroom culture and student outcomes.
- At least 3 years of experience as a high‑impact school leader (Dean, AP, Culture Leader, etc.).
- Valid CT teaching and/or school leadership certification or eligibility for reciprocity.
- Specialized training in restorative practices, conflict intervention, PBIS, or SEL frameworks.
- Prior experience in a charter, high‑performing urban, or turnaround school environment.
- Bilingual or multilingual proficiency is highly preferred, particularly to support meaningful partnership and accessibility with our students, families, and community (Spanish fluency is a strong plus).
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Mindsets We Value
Our team is passionately committed to the vision and values of Elevate Charter Schools and Edmonds Cofield Preparatory Academy for Young Men. The ideal candidate brings a positive mindset, strong work ethic, and inner drive for excellence, thriving in an entrepreneurial and results‑driven environment.
We are actively seeking candidates who demonstrate the following mindsets and beliefs:
- Mission‑Driven: You deeply align with the mission and values of ECS and ECPA, believe in the brilliance and promise of all students — particularly young men of color — and want to be part of their success story.
- Growth‑Oriented: You welcome feedback, reflect deeply on your practice, and continuously seek to improve your craft.
- Entrepreneurial: You are flexible, solutions‑focused, and energized by the opportunity to build and refine systems in a founding school environment.
- Collaborative: You thrive in a team‑based culture and believe that collective effort drives school success.
- Commitment to Excellence: You hold yourself and others to the highest standards and bring a student‑centered, “whatever it takes” mindset to creating a community where all students and stakeholders can grow and thrive.
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Compensation and Benefits
At Elevate Charter Schools, we are committed to ensuring fair and equitable compensation based on the skills and qualifications required for the role. Our salaries are set through a lens of equity and based on an individual’s skills, education, and years of experience relevant to the role.
The salary range for the Founding Associate Dean of Students position is $65,000 - $85,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications, and reflective of the responsibilities and expertise needed to succeed in this position. Final salary may be adjusted based on experience and qualifications.
In addition to competitive compensation, Elevate offers a range of comprehensive benefits packages to all regular, full-time employees at a competitive value.
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Physical Requirements
This position requires the ability to perform the following physical activities with or without reasonable accommodation:
- Mobility: Ability to move around the office and school buildings, attend meetings, visit classrooms, and participate in professional development activities.
- Vision: Clear vision to read documents, view computer screens for extended periods, and present information to groups.
- Hearing: Ability to hear conversations and presentations in various settings.
- Communication: Clear speech to effectively communicate with teachers, staff, administrators, and parents.
- Occasional Physical Demands: Ability to lift and carry light materials (such as books and documents), bend or reach to access files or materials, and stand for extended periods during meetings or presentations.
Edmonds Cofield Preparatory Academy is committed to providing a supportive work environment and will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.
Elevate Charter Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Elevate is a non‑profit charter management organization serving public charter schools in Connecticut’s urban communities. Our scholars are 99% Black and Brown, and Elevate deeply values inclusion, representation, and diversity across our staff.
Elevate Charter Schools is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment for all stakeholders. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds and experiences to apply, especially those who share a similar background to the communities we serve.
If you have questions about the application process, experience any challenges, or need support completing your application, please reach out to our talent team at talent@elevatecharters.org. We are committed to ensuring an accessible and welcoming experience for all candidates.
