Dean of Students, Middle Grades (6-9) - Avenues Shenzhen

Position: Dean of Students, Grades 6-9 

Location: Shenzhen, China

Start Date: August 2021

WHY TEACH AT AVENUES?

Avenues | The World School  prepares students for engaged global citizenship during a time of unprecedented complexity and accelerating change, combining language immersion, interdisciplinary learning, a global curriculum, and a culture of creativity and deep collaboration. 

Avenues Shenzhen opened in August 2018, our first campus in China. Avenues Shenzhen provides a unique early childhood program, and is now expanding to serve students in all grades from grades from toddler through 12. Avenues Shenzhen furthers Avenues' longstanding commitment to developing multiple campuses in China, providing a transformative, world-focused education.

UPPER GRADES 

The Upper Grades are where our ambitious goals for Avenues graduates, defined in our mission statement, are most comprehensively realized. While in grades 6-12, we prepare students for a globally connected, innovation-driven, and largely unknown future. Our students will be: accomplished in all the academic skills you would expect, at ease beyond their borders, and confident because they excel in a particular passion. 

WHAT YOU’LL DO

A Dean is a leader (also mentor

, cheerleader, confidant, and occasional tough-love-giver) who supports students' wellbeing and partners across Avenues and with their families to support each student to thrive. A dean works with an entire grade level of students and moves with those students from grade 6 to grade 9. This allows deans to build powerful, lasting relationships with students and nurture their development and wellbeing. Deans and teachers work together closely to make the secondary experience a rewarding one for each students. You will also: 

Nurture students' growth and development

• Advise and guide students and their families in grades 6-9 each year. Your students will feel known and well supported; their families will rave about you
• Teach, and help develop, a socio-emotional learning curriculum
• Develop strong, ongoing relationships with parents and students
• Monitor and guide students' academic progress and social and emotional well-being
• Uphold high standards of personal conduct by students
• Be the primary point of contact for parents and colleagues about individual students 
• Lead daytime and/or evening programs for parents and students on special topics

Be a leader and collaborator

• Partner with faculty, associate division heads, and members of the student success team to build strong communities of students
• Develop plans to support students' success in school, and follow through with colleagues and families to ensure student needs are met
• Be relentlessly resourceful and highly collaborative, guiding colleagues on how to best support each individual student's success, growth and happiness
• Enthusiastically contribute to a dean's team dedicated to all Avenues students' wellbeing

WHAT YOU BRING

• At least 3 years of experience working with adolescents
• Strong experience with advisory and socio-emotional development curriculum
• Extraordinary ability to build relationships with middle school students and their families
• Ability to identify opportunities to support students, take action and mobilize resources on their behalf
• Deep understanding of developmental stage and socio-emotional needs of middle schoolers, and a range of proven approaches to address them
• Clear, compelling communicator in speaking and writing, individually and in large groups
• High emotional intelligence to navigate difficult conversations with grace and empathy
• Bachelor’s degree; graduate degree in related field is ideal 
• Native Chinese speaker with professional fluency in English 

WHAT WE OFFER  

• Unparalleled career growth opportunities across multiple global campuses, including a well-defined career pathway 
• The thrill of a start-up, where everyone helps to build and improve, within an organization with global reach, ample resources and proven results
• Frequent feedback, ongoing coaching and top-notch, job-embedded professional learning
• Competitive rewards package, wellness resources, relocation support (as needed), and other benefits to best support you and keep you healthy and happy
• A beautiful, uplifting, student-centric school environment
• A chance to change the world of education as part of a global community spanning three continents

TO APPLY 

Apply through the Careers section at https://www.avenues.org/en/careers. Be sure to include a letter of application, in English, in which you thoughtfully explain why you believe that this role at Avenues Shenzhen would be an excellent match for your experience, skills and passions. If you have any questions, please email Chinacareers@avenues.org.  

DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND SAFEGUARDING

Avenues is deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion throughout our organization. We strive to uphold a culture in which every colleague feels that they belong, are trusted, and are valued. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, and strongly encourage candidates from traditionally underrepresented communities or groups to apply. Avenues offers competitive compensation and a generous benefits package.

Avenues upholds the highest standards for safeguarding the physical and emotional wellbeing of children. As an essential aspect of this commitment, all offers are contingent upon successful completion of careful reference and background checks.