Serving as the guardian of classical integrity, the builder of academic excellence, and the steward of student character and conduct across grades K–12 is the core of this senior-level leadership role. The Dean of Students is responsible for preserving and strengthening the school’s classical vision while ensuring measurable academic rigor, faculty development, operational clarity, and a well-ordered school culture in which virtue is taught, practiced, and expected. This role oversees all K–12 faculty, department chairs, instructional coaches, and literacy specialists; leads the school’s character education and student discipline; and partners closely with the Head of School as she leads the intellectual, moral, and cultural life of the Academy.
Responsibilities
Teach one to two courses annually, modeling instructional excellence and remaining directly engaged in the life of the classroom
Guard the integrity of the classical model
Ensure fidelity to the Hillsdale College K–12 Program Guide
Build systems that sustain academic excellence
Form students in virtue, so that they learn self-government and ordered liberty
Maintain a safe, orderly, and joyful school culture in which learning can flourish
Cultivate a faculty culture rooted in truth, goodness, and beauty
Strengthen structures that support long-term institutional growth
Ensure full alignment with the Hillsdale K–12 Program Guide
Protect and advance the classical liberal arts framework
Strengthen the integration of grammar, logic, and rhetoric across grades
Strengthen the language of instruction and execution of mathematics across grade levels
Support the cultivation of intellectual virtue and ordered freedom
Help nurture Lafayette’s house structure and academic culture
Supervise all K–12 faculty
Oversee department chairs, instructional coaches, and literacy specialists
In concert with the Head of School, help conduct evaluations and classroom observations, with timely, actionable feedback
Mentor and develop faculty
Lead a structured induction program for new teachers
Coach teachers in classroom management and train all faculty and staff in the schoolwide discipline plan
Participate in teacher recruitment, demo lessons, and hiring processes
Assist in leading faculty meetings
Support professional development planning and implementation
Build and refine department chair structures
Develop a classical faculty training institute
Oversee academic scope and sequence K–12
Ensure assessment integrity through NWEA, CLT, and internal diagnostics
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Serve as testing coordinator and maintain the school-wide assessment calendar
Monitor academic interventions and support systems
Oversee academic probation monitoring
Support and strengthen the Senior Thesis program
Provide transcript oversight and academic record accuracy
Own the academic calendar
Manage academic communication to parents
Schedule parent-teacher conferences
Oversee grading timelines
Ensure report card accuracy and distribution
Maintain academic handbook
Oversee gradebook systems and policies
Create and refine the academic school schedule (master schedule) for both teachers and students
Support academic probation structures
Oversee academic standards and performance monitoring
Collaborate with faculty on student progress
Coordinate individual learning, intervention, and accommodation plans with teachers and parents
Maintain and uphold the Academic Honor Code; meet with students who commit academic violations (such as cheating or plagiarism) to determine consequences and remediation
In conjunction with the Head of School, support the school-wide character education program, grounded in Lafayette Classical Academy’s four cardinal virtues: fortitude, prudence, justice, and temperance
Ensure virtue is integrated at all levels and in all activities (in classrooms, House Time, assemblies, and daily routines, etc.)
Steward the house system as a source of belonging, student leadership, service, and friendly competition
Oversee the merit and demerit system so that virtue and achievement are recognized and expectations are clear
Help lead assemblies, recitations, and school traditions that reinforce character
Develop opportunities for student leadership and service
Personally model the virtues the school seeks to form in its students
Develop, maintain, and consistently apply a school-wide discipline plan rooted in virtue and aimed at formation, not punishment
Maintain the Student Code of Conduct, dress code, and behavioral sections of the Family Handbook
In conjunction with the Head of School, coordinate procedures for discipline referrals, documentation, and parent notification, and maintain confidential disciplinary records
Meet with students referred for discipline to determine consequences and steps toward restoration
Serve as the primary liaison to families on conduct matters, communicating promptly, clearly, and respectfully
Help teachers resolve conduct and communication concerns with students and parents
Develop behavior support plans with teachers and parents for students with recurring concerns
Coordinate suspensions and make recommendations on expulsion to the Head of School in accordance with policy
Oversee attendance and tardiness policies, monitoring, and family follow-up
Report discipline and attendance trends to the Head of School
Serve as next in line whenever the Head of School is unavailable
Attend school events
Serve as administrator on duty at after-school and evening events if needed
Create supervision and duty schedules for arrival, carline, lunch, recess, assemblies, and events
Participate in dismissal (carline) procedures
Plan and run all safety and emergency drills (fire, severe weather, and lockdown) and be present for each drill
Coordinate field trips in keeping with the school’s mission
Oversee Club Coordinator
Model excellence in classical pedagogy
Demonstrate strong classroom culture and instructional clarity
Contribute to the intellectual life of the school
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
Minimum 10 years experience in classical education
Demonstrated alignment with classical liberal arts philosophy
Experience supervising faculty
Experience in curriculum oversight
Demonstrated success in classroom management and student discipline
High moral character and evident personal virtue
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Deep understanding of grammar, logic, and rhetoric stages
Nice to have:
Master’s degree or higher
Experience with Hillsdale K–12 Program Guide
Experience building academic systems in a growing school
Experience mentoring faculty
Experience leading character education, a house system, or school-wide discipline
Experience with student support plans and standardized testing coordination
Benefits
Health insurance
Paid time off
Important Details
Reports to: Head of School
Leadership: Member of the school’s leadership (L10) team
Supervises: K–12 faculty, department chairs, instructional coaches, literacy specialists, and recess/lunch/duty supervisors
Schedule: 12-month
About the Company
Lafayette Classical Academy is entering a period of intentional growth, with projected enrollment increases and expanded academic programming. The Dean of Students will help build durable academic and cultural structures capable of sustaining growth while preserving institutional integrity.