Upper School Dean of Student Life

Why St. Michaels Prep

Located in the hills of southwest Austin Texas St. Michaels Catholic Preparatory School is an outstanding co-educational Independent Catholic school serving students from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade in Austin Texas. The Lower School is comprised of PreK 3-4th grades the Middle School houses grades 5-8 and the Upper School contains grades 9-12. We are distinguished by our Catholic tradition a welcoming and diverse community excellent academic programs and a variety of extracurricular activities. Additionally we are a technology-rich school. Thus teachers and staff are expected to demonstrate meaningful skill with technology and an enthusiasm for technological growth in order to create authentic learning experiences for their students. Teachers and staff at St. Michaels Prep further serve as role models that inspire students to think critically reflect explore and apply their faith concretely to their lives. We are one community with three divisions united in our commitment to put students first as we educate them in mind body and spirit.

Our values: Integrity Courage & Excellence

Our mission: St. Michaels Prep cultivates a transformative Independent school experience rooted in Catholic spirituality where we seek excellence in every pursuit and form virtuous leaders who positively impact the world.

We are anchored by the Catholic Social Teachings (CST) and promote inclusion by advocating for a society based on love and justice where all people have inherent dignity. We are passionate about cultivating a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment celebrating and supporting differences.

We employ and optimize practices that promote growth of critical thinking collaboration communication and creativity.

Summary of Position

The Dean of Student Life serves as a senior member of the Upper School leadership team reporting directly to the Head of Upper School. This position carries primary responsibility for cultivating a thriving faith-infused student community through the integrated oversight of student life discipline attendance leadership development and the wellness and support functions of the Upper School.

The Dean of Student Life embodies and actively promotes the schools Catholic mission in every dimension of student experience outside the classroom. This leader possesses both a pastoral heart and a commitment to high standards of conduct believing that a well-ordered joyful school community is itself a form of evangelization and formation.

The role requires significant presence during the school day at evening and weekend school events and at the start and close of the academic year. The Dean of Student Life is a 12-month exempt full-time administrative position beginning in summer of 2026.

Key Responsibilities

Dean of Students Operations

• Serve as the functional Dean of Students for the Upper School overseeing all day-to-day operations that shape the student experience and uphold community standards.
• Oversee all aspects of student attendance in close collaboration with the Attendance Secretary ensuring accurate and timely data collection reporting and communication with families.
• Directly supervise the Attendance Secretary.
• Analyze attendance trends and patterns; develop and implement proactive interventions for chronic absenteeism and tardiness.
• Maintain communicate and enforce the Upper Schools student handbook codes of conduct and community expectations in a manner consistent with Catholic values.
• Serve as the primary administrator for student discipline conducting fair and consistent investigations hearings and resolution processes.
• Manage the Upper Schools discipline database and documentation ensuring confidentiality and compliance with school policy.
• Communicate regularly and constructively with students families faculty and staff regarding attendance and behavioral matters.
• Collaborate with the Head of Upper School on policy development review and annual handbook updates.

Student Life & Community

• Cultivate a purposeful and engaging school culture that reflects the schools Catholic identity and supports the holistic development of every student.
• Provide vision and direction for co-curricular student life programming including school-wide events traditions spirit activities and community-building initiatives.
• Partner with campus ministry to ensure student life programming is rooted in and expressive of the schools Catholic faith and mission.
• Serve as a visible and relational presence throughout the school day building meaningful connections with students across all grade levels.
• Develop and maintain a calendar of student life events that fosters community school pride and inclusive participation.
• Collaborate with athletics fine arts and other co-curricular departments to create a unified and coherent student experience.
• Address issues of student culture proactively including focus groups and student advisory structures.

Student Leadership Development

• Equip students with the knowledge virtue and skills to lead with integrity in school and in life in keeping with the schools mission to form servant leaders.
• Oversee all student government and class officer programs including elections training meeting facilitation and ongoing mentorship.
• Develop and facilitate leadership formation programming for student leaders including retreats workshops and service opportunities.
• Advise and support student-led clubs organizations and affinity groups in alignment with the schools mission and values.
• Create pathways for student voice and agency in school governance and community decision-making.
• Identify and cultivate emerging student leaders who represent the breadth and diversity of the student body.

Advisory Program Oversight

• Provide strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the Upper School advisory program ensuring it serves as a cornerstone of student formation community and pastoral care.
• Oversee the vision structure and continuous improvement of the Upper School advisory program ensuring alignment with the schools Catholic mission and commitment to the holistic development of each student.
• Recruit assign train and support faculty advisors; provide ongoing professional development coaching and resources to help advisors build authentic trusting relationships with their advisees.
• Develop curate and maintain advisory curriculum and programming that addresses social-emotional development faith formation college and career readiness and community building across all four grade levels.
• Manage advisee assignments ensuring each student is known supported and appropriately matched; oversee transitions and re-assignments as needed throughout a students Upper School career.
• Serve as the primary point of contact and escalation for advisors navigating complex student situations; facilitate communication between advisors families the counseling team and academic departments.
• Regularly evaluate the advisory programs effectiveness through student and faculty feedback data review and benchmarking against best practices; present findings and recommendations to the Head of Upper School.

Student Support & Wellness Supervision

• Provide administrative supervision and strategic direction to the departments and personnel responsible for student support and wellness services.
• Directly supervise the Student Support Department including the learning support specialist and the testing coordinator as assigned.
• Directly supervise the Student Wellness Department including school counselors.
• Facilitate coordination and communication between support wellness and academic departments to ensure a cohesive approach to student care.
• Participate in student support team (SST) meetings crisis response protocols and case management for students with complex needs.
• Monitor and assess the effectiveness of support and wellness programs; recommend resources staffing or program changes to the Head of Upper School.
• Ensure all support and wellness services are delivered in a manner consistent with applicable law best practices and the schools Catholic values.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelors degree required; Masters degree in education school counseling educational leadership or a related field strongly preferred.
• Minimum of five years of progressive experience in secondary school administration student affairs or a comparable student-facing leadership role.
• Demonstrated understanding of and authentic commitment to the Catholic faith and the mission of Catholic education.
• Proven ability to build trusting relationships with adolescents while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and high behavioral standards.
• Strong leadership and supervisory skills with experience managing and developing professional staff.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to navigate sensitive conversations with students families and colleagues with clarity compassion and confidentiality.
• Sound judgment decisiveness and a calm consistent presence in high-pressure situations.
• Proficiency with student information systems and attendance management tools.

Preferred

• Experience in an independent school setting.
• Background in school counseling social-emotional learning or adolescent development.
• Familiarity with best practices in restorative discipline and student wellness programming.
• Experience advising student government or leading co-curricular programs.

Personal Attributes

• A person of faith who can credibly articulate and model the schools Catholic mission to students families and colleagues.
• A relational leader with high emotional intelligence and genuine love for working with young people.
• An organized and detail-oriented administrator who can manage complex operational systems without losing sight of the human dimension.
• A collaborative team player who builds bridges across departments and works constructively within a shared leadership model.
• A reflective practitioner who seeks feedback pursues professional growth and is committed to equity and the dignity of every student.

Application Requirements:

Qualified candidates should complete an online application for employment at and attach a cover letter and résumé. You will receive an email confirming receipt of your application and additional details to complete the application process. Contact with any questions.

St. Michaels Catholic Preparatory School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and offers equal employment opportunity to all applicants for employment and all employees without regard to race color religion sex gender national origin age physical or mental disability genetic information veteran status military service application for military service or any other status protected by applicable law