K-2 Academic Dean

Division: Lower School
Job Title: K-2 Academic Dean
Status: Exempt full-time school year
Salary: $80000 to $110000

ABOUT POLY
Founded in 1907 Polytechnic School is the first nonprofit coeducational K-12 independent school in Southern California. The meaning of polytechnic as many arts is reflected in the schools ambitious and student-centered educational program. Nationally recognized as a K-12 educational leader Poly develops the unique intellect talents and character of each student through transformative teaching within a diverse community devoted to academic excellence the creative arts the camaraderie of team sports and service to others.
Poly strives to be an inclusive community that fosters academic excellence and personal growth by ensuring that all of our 870 students nearly 65% of whom identify as Students of Color are seen heard and valued as their authentic selves. We respect the dignity and worth of every individual and seek to celebrate the joy the love and the creativity that emanate from the human spirit. Throughout our Lower Middle and Upper Schools students faculty and staff commit to deepening our understanding and knowledge of ourselves each other and our ever-changing world.
Within our community of care Poly students build the confidence and capacity to think critically and creatively to become responsible global citizens and intellectual leaders. Taught by an extraordinary faculty Poly graduates are ready to fulfill the promise of their talents and lead meaningful purposeful lives.
To learn more about Polytechnic School please visit us.
Poly is seeking a K2 Academic Dean to support the strength consistency and growth of the early elementary academic program. This role partners closely with the Lower School Director and the 35 Academic Dean and collaborates with the Lower School leadership team including the Dean of Teaching and Learning and the Dean of Student Life to support high-quality instruction curriculum alignment student intervention parent education and schoolwide initiatives.
The K2 Academic Dean serves as both an academic leader and instructional coach working alongside teachers to strengthen instructional practice support lesson design use assessment data meaningfully and implement developmentally appropriate strategies for differentiation and student support. This individual also works directly with students inside or outside of the classroom when targeted academic intervention observation modeling or short-term skill support is needed. The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of early childhood development foundational literacy and numeracy play-based learning developmentally appropriate practice and early intervention along with a commitment to culturally responsive teaching inclusive instructional practices and learning environments where all students feel seen supported and challenged.
Reporting to the Director of the Lower School the successful candidate will take a student-centered approach to all school work and will use the schools mission to design and support the academic extracurricular social and emotional success of students.

Responsibilities
Specific duties include but are not limited to the following:
Instructional Coaching and Faculty Support
Partner with K2 teachers to strengthen instructional practice through observation reflection feedback and coaching.
Support teachers with lesson design differentiation classroom instruction assessment practices and student support.
Serve as a thought partner as teachers respond to a range of student learning needs.
Help teachers use student work classroom observations and assessment data to inform instruction and determine next steps.
Support professional growth through modeling co-planning resource sharing and reflective conversations.
Build trusting relationships with faculty through a coaching stance grounded in collaboration and respect.
Support teachers in implementing culturally responsive inclusive and student-centered instructional practices.

Curriculum Alignment and Program Development
Support curriculum review development and alignment across Kindergarten through Grade 2.
Ensure that early elementary instruction reflects developmentally appropriate practice play-based learning and strong foundational skill development.
Partner with grade-level teams to ensure that curriculum is coherent appropriately paced developmentally appropriate and aligned with Lower School priorities.
Review curriculum and instructional materials with attention to representation accessibility developmental appropriateness and alignment with the schools commitment to diversity equity inclusion and belonging.
Help identify curriculum needs gaps redundancies and opportunities for stronger alignment across grade levels.
Work with the 35 Academic Dean to support vertical alignment across Kindergarten through Grade 5.
Support the implementation of schoolwide academic priorities and instructional initiatives.
Order major curriculum materials and instructional resources for K2 teams in collaboration with the Lower School Director.
Student Support and Academic Intervention
Collaborate with the Dean of Teaching and Learning who leads the student support process to identify students who may need additional academic intervention extension or enrichment.
Provide direct academic support to students inside or outside of the classroom through targeted intervention observation modeling or short-term skill support.
Partner with teachers Dean of Teaching and Learning and families to develop appropriate academic supports.
Monitor student progress and help determine next steps for intervention extension or additional support.
Participate in student support meetings and assist with documentation follow-up and communication.
Help ensure that academic support is coordinated responsive inclusive developmentally appropriate and aligned with classroom instruction.
Collaborate with the Dean of Student Life when academic concerns intersect with behavior discipline peer dynamics classroom engagement or social-emotional needs.

Team Meetings and Instructional Leadership
Attend K2 grade-level team meetings regularly to provide instructional guidance support curriculum planning and help address student learning needs.
At times lead horizontal team meetings focused on grade-level curriculum instruction assessment and student progress.
At times lead vertical team meetings to strengthen alignment across grade levels and ensure continuity of skills expectations and instructional practices.
Serve as a thought partner for teachers as they plan units review student work analyze assessment data and determine next steps for instruction.
Partner closely with the Lower School Director to ensure that team meeting work is aligned with broader Lower School goals and priorities.

Parent Education and Family Partnership
Partner with the Lower School Director and Lower School leadership team to support parent education connected to curriculum instruction child development assessment and student support.
Help plan and facilitate parent workshops grade-level parent sessions and other family-facing learning opportunities as needed.
Support clear and thoughtful communication with families around academic programming curriculum priorities and student learning.
Collaborate with teachers and school leaders to ensure that family communication is aligned developmentally appropriate inclusive and supportive of the schools mission.

Lower School Leadership and Schoolwide Initiatives
Partner closely with the Lower School Director to support teaching learning faculty growth and student progress.
Collaborate with the Lower School leadership team to support schoolwide initiatives and ensure alignment across academic student support and community priorities.
Help implement and sustain Lower School initiatives related to curriculum instruction assessment student support professional growth and belonging.
Collaborate with the Dean of Teaching and Learning Dean of Student Life and other members of the leadership team to ensure that academic social-emotional and behavioral supports are aligned.
Serve as a visible and collaborative member of the Lower School leadership team supporting faculty students and families in ways that strengthen the overall program.

Professional and Community Responsibilities
Regularly participate in professional development opportunities to maintain and grow expertise in early childhood development foundational literacy and numeracy structured literacy academic intervention instructional coaching assessment practices and developmentally appropriate teaching.
Attend Lower School meetings workshops and in-service programs;
Serve as a Panther Pod advisory leader;
Enthusiastically participate in the greater life of the school;
Perform other duties as assigned.

Salary
Polytechnic School is committed to attracting and retaining talented dedicated employees through a competitive compensation plan that is commensurate with experience.

Benefits
A full benefits package includes medical dental and vision coverage and a 403(b) retirement plan.

Equal Opportunity Employer
In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals Poly will recruit hire train and promote faculty and staff without regard to an individuals race color sex gender identity genetic information sexual orientation (including heterosexuality homosexuality and bisexuality) national origin ancestry citizenship status uniformed service member status marital status pregnancy age medical condition and physical or mental disability (whether perceived or actual) or any other consideration made unlawful by federal state or local laws. School policy also prohibits unlawful discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics. This policy governs all aspects of employment including selection job assignment compensation discipline termination and access to benefits and training.

Education and Experience
Bachelors degree in education or a related field required; masters degree preferred.
Significant experience teaching elementary-aged students preferably in Kindergarten through Grade 2.

Literacy Numeracy and Intervention
Certification or training in Orton-Gillingham or a comparable structured literacy program required.
Strong understanding of early childhood development foundational literacy phonological awareness decoding encoding and early writing development.
Strong understanding of number sense foundational numeracy and early math development.
Experience supporting student intervention including identifying academic needs providing targeted support monitoring progress and partnering with teachers and Dean of Teaching and Learning to determine next steps.

Instructional Coaching and Curriculum
Experience with instructional coaching including observing teachers providing feedback modeling lessons and supporting instructional growth.
Familiarity with developmentally appropriate practice play-based learning differentiated instruction assessment and early academic intervention.
Ability to build trust with teachers and provide clear supportive actionable feedback.

Collaboration and Professional Practice
Strong communication collaboration organization and problem-solving skills.
Commitment to inclusive student-centered culturally responsive and developmentally appropriate teaching practices.
Educational and leadership philosophy aligned with the mission of Polytechnic School.