2026-2027 Lead Dean of Culture

POSITION SUMMARY:

Scope of Work: Culture Systems Leader & Student Experience Owner

The Lead Dean of Culture (LDOC) is the primary owner of schoolwide culture systems and student behavior support.

This role exists to ensure:

• Consistent implementation of Breakthroughs school culture model
• Safe predictable and joyful student environments
• Strong development of culture team staff
• Fair and restorative student discipline systems
• Effective coordination of safety and compliance protocols.The Lead Dean of Culture is not simply a responder to behavior.

The Lead Dean of Culture is:

• Culture Systems Leader ensuring consistent expectations and routines across the school meeting Breakthroughs vision of excellence
• Adult Developer coaching and developing culture staff and supporting teachers
• Student Support Architect building systems that promote belonging accountability and growth
• Safety Coordinator ensuring clear and compliant response to safety concerns

The Lead Dean of Culture reports to the Principal and serves as a member of the School Leadership Team.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Culture Systems Leadership & Unified Model Execution

The Lead Dean of Culture ensures Breakthroughs culture model is implemented consistently across the building.

This includes:

• Upholding the implementation of Common Picture Playbooks across classrooms and shared spaces
• Monitoring culture systems through regular walkthroughs observations and real-time coaching (RTC)
• Reinforcing schoolwide expectations routines and procedures
• Ensuring consistency of responses to student behavior
• Identifying breakdowns in systems and intervening quickly to restore alignment
  

Anyone walking through the school should experience:

• Clear routines and expectations
• Calm and structured transitions
• Strong student accountability
• Positive relationships between adults and students
  

Culture systems are not reactive they are proactive predictable and aligned to academic success.

2. Coaching & Development of Culture Staff

The Lead Dean of Culture develops the capacity of the schools culture team to execute systems with excellence.

This includes:

• Direct management coaching and development of Deans of Culture and ISR Coordinators
• Conducting regular observation real-time coaching and feedback cycles
• Supporting staff in building strong student relationships and de-escalation strategies
• Developing team members ability to facilitate restorative conversations
• Supporting culture staff in problem-solving complex student behavior cases
  

The Lead Dean builds a culture team that operates with professionalism alignment and strong judgment.

3. Student Discipline & Restorative Systems

The Lead Dean of Culture ensures the school maintains a fair structured and restorative discipline system.

This includes:

• Overseeing disciplinary responses aligned with Breakthrough policies
• Ensuring consistent application of expectations and consequences
• Facilitating restorative conversations and re-entry processes
• Supporting students in reflecting on behavior and repairing harm
  
• Collaborating with teachers to ensure discipline practices maintain instructional environments
• Monitoring discipline data to identify patterns and improve systems
  

Student discipline balances accountability with restoration and growth.

4. Teacher Support & Real-Time Culture Coaching

The Lead Dean of Culture supports teachers in maintaining strong classroom culture environments.

This includes:

• Providing real time coaching (RTC) to teachers when culture systems need reinforcement
• Modeling effective classroom management strategies
• Assisting with behavior redirection and student de-escalation
• Supporting teachers in implementing proactive engagement strategies
• Partnering with leadership to maintain high expectations for classroom culture
  
  

Teacher support is immediate practical and focused on protecting instructional time.

5. Student Safety Threat Assessment & Compliance

The Lead Dean of Culture ensures the school maintains strong safety protocols and compliance with legal requirements.

This includes:

• Coordinating the schools Threat Assessment Team
• Conducting threat assessments when safety concerns arise
• Collaborating with school leadership counselors and network leaders when necessary
• Monitoring student safety plans and reintegration supports
• Ensuring appropriate documentation and follow-up
  
  

The Lead Dean also serves as the schools Title IX investigator including:

• Investigating reports related to Title IX concerns
• Conducting interviews with students and staff
• Gathering documentation and evidence
• Maintaining confidentiality and procedural fairness
• Collaborating with leadership to ensure compliance with federal and network policies
  

Safety systems are timely thorough and aligned with legal expectations.

6. Data Monitoring & Continuous Improvement

The Lead Dean of Culture uses behavior and culture data to refine systems and strengthen student outcomes.

This includes:

• Monitoring discipline trends and referral data
• Identifying patterns that require systemic responses
• Collaborating with leadership to improve culture strategies
• Supporting staff in interpreting culture data
• Ensuring accurate documentation of student behavior incidents
  

Data is used to improve systems not just record incidents.

What Success Looks Like

A successful Breakthrough Lead Dean of Culture:

• Ensures consistent implementation of Common Picture Playbooks
• Develops culture staff into skilled student support leaders
• Maintains fair structured and restorative discipline systems
• Responds quickly and effectively to safety concerns
• Provides coaching that strengthens teacher classroom culture
• Uses data to refine and improve culture systems
  

Most importantly:

Students experience safe structured and supportive learning environments that allow them to focus on academic success and personal growth.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• Bachelors degree required; Masters degree preferred
• 3 years of teaching experience (urban education preferred)

Experience:

At Breakthrough Public Schools leadership is not a title it is a mindset.

We believe transformative schools are built by leaders who embody a clear set of mindsets that shape every decision every interaction and every outcome.

Our Lead Deans of Culture lead with the following mindsets:

We Do Our Job.

• We take full ownership of results.
• We do not blame circumstances systems or people we improve them.
• We ensure the work gets done at a high level because students are counting on us.

We Hold High Expectations.

• We believe all students can achieve at the highest levels.
• We define excellence clearly and refuse to lower the bar.
• We intervene quickly when performance slips in ourselves and in others.

Kid Needs > Adult Needs.

• We make decisions based on what is best for students even when it is hard.
• We prioritize long-term student success over short-term adult comfort.

We Communicate Openly and Honestly.

• We give direct actionable feedback.
• We say what needs to be said in service of growth.
• We seek clarity and alignment rather than comfort.

We Remain Committed.

• We persist through challenge.

• We do not waver when the work is difficult.

• We understand that consistency not intensity drives transformation.

We Center Joy.

• We believe rigor and joy coexist.
• We create environments where adults and students feel purpose belonging and pride.
• We celebrate growth and progress along the way.

Breakthrough operates as a unified system across five campuses grounded in a shared school model and a clear Arc of the Year for adult and instructional excellence.

We are seeking Lead Deans of Culture who are relentless about outcomes courageous in coaching adults and unwavering in their commitment to students.

If you are energized by building strong teams setting a clear bar and driving meaningful academic growth for children you will find your work here matters deeply.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Performs work in an office setting with moderate levels of noise sitting for long periods of time repetitive motion using computers and phones with exposure to fluorescent lighting

ANY PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY MAKES A FALSE STATEMENT IS GUILTY OF FALISIFCATION UNDER SECTION 2921.13 OF THE REVISED CODE WHICH IS A MISDEMEANOR OF THE FIRST DEGREE

DISCLAIMER:

The information outlined in this job description indicates the general nature and type of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to provide a comprehensive inventory of all duties responsibilities or competencies required of employees within this classification.

Compensation packages are competitive and commensurate with experience. Breakthrough Schools offer a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical dental and vision life and disability coverage. Employees are also eligible to participate in the StateTeachers Retirement Systemof Ohio (STRS) or the School Employees Retirement System of Ohio (SERS).

Breakthrough Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race color religion gender sexual orientation or national origin.