The Brearley School— an independent K-XII day school for girls in New York City known for its academic excellence, cross-divisional teaching and diverse community— seeks an experienced, compassionate and committed professional to become the Academic Dean.

Position and Responsibilities

The dean oversees Brearley’s academic program in its various aspects and ensures its continued excellence as a liberal arts institution. The Academic Dean and the Dean of Faculty collaborate closely and regularly on creating and maintaining equitable, inclusive and affirming classrooms for all students as well as strengthening “the structures and practices necessary to achieve equitable representation and participation in our school” (from our Statements of Belief). The dean reports to the Head of School and supervises all fourteen academic department heads in addition to the Chief Technology Officer, together with the Chief Operating Officer/Chief Executive Officer; the Director of Student Support; the Registrar; and the Coordinator of the Office of Academic Life, together with the Dean of Faculty.

Academic Affairs

• Co-chairs the Academic Affairs Committee with the Dean of Faculty.
• Develops its monthly agenda in consultation with the Head of School, the Dean of Faculty, the division leaders and academic department heads.

Curriculum

• Maintains a deep and thorough knowledge of the scope, sequence and aspirations of each academic department and works to maintain standards of excellence in collaboration with department heads and division leaders.
• Consults on new courses, fields of study and curricular projects in collaboration with Academic Affairs and other members of the community as appropriate.
• Supports teams and departments in their ongoing audit of practices, philosophies and courses of study.
• Meets regularly with faculty (individuals, grade-level teams and departments) to better understand and support their needs and goals at the intersection of equity, inclusion, teaching and learning.
• Supports individuals, teams and departments in identifying texts, teaching methods, guest speakers and other resources in service of an inclusive classroom and curriculum.
• Manages departmental reviews and their implementation of recommendations.
• Manages the endowed funds that support the academic program.
• Collaborates with the Dean of Faculty on professional development as it relates to the academic program.
• Consults on the co-curricular program with division leaders and others as necessary.
• Attends departmental presentations and events throughout the year.

Department Heads

• Supervises, supports and evaluates the academic department heads.
• Manages the rotation and hiring of department heads in collaboration with the Dean of Faculty.
• Reviews departmental budgets and consults with the Business Office as necessary.

Program

• Determines course offerings—with a special focus on the Upper School— in consultation with department heads and division leaders.
• Oversees the enrollment of students in all divisions with a special focus on Class XI and XII and on courses whose enrollment varies year to year.
• Runs informational sessions for students, advisors and parents in conjunction with the Upper School, Middle School and College Advising.
• Coordinates placements for new and continuing students with division leaders, Admissions, Dean of Students, and department heads.
• Coordinates courses for students on away programs.
• Supports division leaders and department heads on questions of sectioning.
• Collaborates with department heads and the Dean of Faculty on teaching assignments.
• Ensures that Upper School students are meeting graduation requirements.
• Works with division leaders, department heads and faculty on questions of grading, assessments and homework.
• Consults with division leaders and Head of School on questions of academic integrity.
• Manages the Awards Assembly with the Registrar.
• Collaborates with the Registrar, Admissions, the College Advising Office and others on transcripts.
• Serves as a liaison between division leaders and parents on questions about the program, including grading, courses and transcripts.
• Keeps a record of full-time employment for each department in collaboration with the Dean of Faculty.
• Works with Interschool on promoting and developing their courses.

Publications

• Annually updates and edits the Upper School Course Catalog and the Course of Study.
• Annually updates and edits the Teachers’ Guide with the Dean of Faculty.

Schedules and Calendar

• Supervises the Registrar.
• Oversees the development of the academic calendar, the academic schedule, report schedules and schedules of faculty meetings and teacher meetings in collaboration with the Registrar, division leaders, the Dean of Faculty, schedulers and department heads.

Student Services

• Serves on the Accommodations Committee and consults on accommodations to the program for students with learning differences, on medical leave or in unusual circumstances.
• Works with the Director of Student Services on the development and implementation of student support services K-XII.
• Works with the Director on communication with parents and academic departments.
• Works with the Director to ensure the School’s accommodation policies and practices are up-to-date, compliant and communicated through divisional handbooks and other venues as necessary.

Other

• Evaluates members of the faculty.
• Consults on the development of facilities, assignment of classrooms and use of shared spaces.
• Teaches one class in the academic program.

Qualifications include:

• Leads through openness, empathy, curiosity and humor.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with inclusive, antiracist, antibias curriculum.
• Has significant teaching experience.
• Demonstrates a commitment to equity.
• Communicates clearly and effectively in writing and speech.
• Demonstrates an eagerness to collaborate and the ability to foster collaboration among others.
• Demonstrates the ability to listen actively and engage deeply.
• Holds an advanced degree or has equivalent experience in a school setting.

About the Brearley School

Founded in 1884, the school is a center of intellectual exuberance, attracting students from across and beyond New York City. Our mission has long combined outstanding academics with an insistence on a larger purpose:  to cultivate in our students a commitment to the greater good. In pursuit of this goal, we actively strive to build, nurture and sustain a diverse faculty and student body. We are committed to creating an inclusive, equitable and antiracist school community, and we expect our faculty, staff, students, parents, and trustees to pursue meaningful change through deliberate and measurable actions.

Compensation and Benefits

The base salary range offered will be $180,000 - $200,000 based upon experience.

Benefits offered to eligible employees include a range of options for health and welfare, including insurance coverage with generous employer contributions across the plans; a voluntary pre tax 403 (b) retirement plan, a School contribution towards retirement, a Health Savings Account option; pre-tax transit benefits; breakfast and lunch without charge; support for professional growth and development; and the opportunity to participate in a community based on collaboration, mutual care, and a commitment to the greater good.

 Applications

Candidates are asked to complete an application,  submit a letter of interest, résumé and three current references by November 28, 2023.

The Brearley School is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to hiring exceptional, dedicated professionals of diverse backgrounds. We consider qualified individuals for employment with the School regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability or any other state or federally-protected classification.

About The Brearley School

The Brearley School, an independent school for girls, was founded in 1884 to provide its students with a college-preparatory education equal in rigor to that of boys, and, in the words of the mission statement today, to prepare them for “active responsible citizenship in a democratic society.” Within a highly articulated 13-year curriculum, and with a 6:1 student-faculty ratio, teaching methods are varied, flexible and pragmatic, taking into account individual patterns of development and ways of learning. The School’s program is designed to challenge eager, able students intellectually, and to give each one the opportunity to gain competence, self-reliance and self-knowledge through academic achievement as well as experience in the visual and performing arts, sports, community service and a wide variety of extracurricular activities. Brearley’s K-12 enrollment is divided into Lower School, Middle School and Upper School, and consists of about 747 students from throughout the New York metropolitan area who represent a diversity of backgrounds, experiences and points of view.

Connections working at The Brearley School