Career Center

Lake Forest Academy is seeking a Dean of Students to start in July 2022. This role reports to the Head of School and is the primary administrator for all aspects of student life.  Interested candidates must submit a resume (pdf) and cover letter with Lake Forest Academy’s online application: https://www.lfanet.org/about-us/employment.

Founded in 1857, Lake Forest Academy is a coed boarding school serving approximately 435 academically bright and motivated students in grades 9 to 12 from across the globe. The Academy offers a rigorous curriculum focused on academic excellence and characterized by small classes and close faculty/student interaction.  The school's mission of educational excellence is founded on the four pillars of character, scholarship, citizenship, and responsibility.  The LFA community places students at the center of their own learning and provides the support needed to develop confidence and strong values.  Please visit our website http://www.lfanet.org/ for more information about us.

Overall responsibility: 

• Serve as a primary administrator with responsibility for student life.
• Provide leadership and oversight in cooperation with the deans, associate deans, and assistant deans for each department.
• Manage, plan, coordinate, supervise and evaluate activities for all areas of student services.
• Provide leadership to the programs and manage initiatives.
• In conjunction with the other members of the Dean of Students office and student leaders, recommend policy, establish philosophy and develop the long and short term goals demonstrating a commitment to students.
• Develop plans, procedures, and methods for meeting goals and provide services including strategies for resource allocation.
• Supervise and evaluate Dean of Students office staff

Duties and Responsibilities:

Boarding Life

• Oversee and assist the Director of Residential Life with the supervision of dorms via dorm heads, supervision of residential activities, assignment of rooms, management of dorm funds, assignment of dorm faculty, review of students’ vacation plans, writing of dorm comments, and management of weekend sign-out.
• Fulfill weeknight (once a week) and weekend (7) residential duties

Advisory program

• Make advisory/advisee assignments in partnership with the Dean of Admission
• Serve as resource for advisors
• Serve as an advisor to a small group of students 

Discipline Management

• Serve as a general appeal source or intermediary in academic and personal problems involving students who could disrupt both campus and personal life.
• Resolve discipline issues with the Discipline Committee 
• Implementation of consequences
• Report to parents and other appropriate people
• Confer with parents
• Confer with faculty
• Confer with Head of School 
• Serve as an ambassador for the Academy in the Lake Forest community

Attendance

• Work with the Dean of Students Office Manager to keep track of tardiness, attendance procedures and follow-up, excessive absences, special extended leaves, etc.

Student Leadership

• Oversee and assist the Assistant Dean of Students with student leadership and initiatives.

Service Learning

• Oversee and assist the Service Learning Coordinator with the scheduling, contacts, record keeping, and logistical details of community service projects.

Student Academics

• Work/meet with Learning Resource Specialists to discuss students of concern and determine best support structures for those individuals. 
• Oversee any intervention and communication made necessary by unsatisfactory academic performance by students.
• Partnering with the Learning Resource Specialists, oversee the celebration of student accomplishments in academics including Honor Roll, Headmaster’s List, Academic Performance List.
• Assist the Academic Dean with all school-wide diagnostic testing, including PSAT.
• Assist the College Counseling Office with tutoring programs conducted on campus.
• Work with the Dean of Faculty in overseeing aspects of Family Weekend, including parent/teacher conferences and mini-conferences.

Counseling

• Work/meet with School Therapists to discuss students of concern and determine best support structures for those individuals. 
• Work/meet with School Therapists and Director of Health and Wellness, to discuss medical leaves, related policies and procedures, emergency guideline, crisis management, and critical response plans.

Affinity Groups, Clubs, Organizations, and Student Activities

• Oversee and assist the Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Leadership and Student Life with the assessment, planning, evaluation and implementation of student-centered activities, programs and services.
• Oversee and assist with dances, assembly (daily/weekly), guest speakers, and details (sound equipment, security/police, and work-orders).
• Attend activities: clubs, weekend, all-school meetings, dances, etc.
• Support the Dean of Pluralism and Multicultural Affairs in order to establish, maintain, and fund affinity groups on campus. 
• Planning assessment and evaluation of all aspects of student life
• Coordinate the development of studies to measure the effectiveness of student services.

General Management

• Screen requests, permission forms, special needs, and paper work for students leaving campus
• Work with Office Managers on student database/record keeping
• Work on crisis management with Director of Human Resources
• Produce Student Handbook and Advisor Handbook
• Liaison with Lake Forest Police
• Oversee Registration and Orientation
• Assist with Family Weekend and organize New Students Day
• Assist with Healthy Choices Day and Multicultural Celebration Day/International Fair
• Oversee Opening of School, Move-up Day and Graduation with other members of the DOS Office
• Oversee the year-end awards

Campus Safety and Security

• Work with the Director of Human Resources, Chief Financial Officer, Facilities, and Campus Safety to assure the safety of all students
• Manage vandalism, fire drills, lockdowns, crisis management plans, security, lockers, keys/locks, parking

Other Duties Assigned

• Fulfill co-curricular expectations, often through coaching in the athletic program
• Serve on the Deans Council, the senior administrative team, and other committees/task forces, as needed
• Administration of departmental operations, budgets, resource allocation
• Facilitation of Student Development, Retention and Recruitment, Registration, and Counseling
• Oversee many student-support programs, services and activities

Necessary Skills and Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Experience/knowledge of independent boarding schools is preferred
• Experience working with adolescents in an educational setting
• Administrative experience, as well as a strong background in teaching and coaching, is preferred
• Belief in and a strong passion for the mission of LFA
• Respect for diversity of identities and experiences combined with an orientation toward equity and inclusion in all aspects of Academy life
• Ability to identify and resolve a wide variety of student issues 
• High energy, emotional intelligence, and enthusiasm for residential school life
• Careful listener and welcoming personality
• Patience and persistence, with an ability to set ambitious, challenging, and tangible goals 
• Management and supervisory skills
• Excellent integrity and a strict sense of confidentiality
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Strong organizational skills for prioritizing responsibilities to manage competing deadlines
• Maintain a valid driver’s license

Compensation/Benefits:

This is a full-time, benefits eligible, position with 35 days of PTO per school year. Lake Forest Academy offers a competitive compensation and benefits package that includes full medical and dental coverage, 403(b) retirement plan, and other benefits.  Final salary will be commensurate with the experience and expertise of the final appointed candidate. 

Limitations and Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.  

Employment at Lake Forest Academy is "at-will," which means either you or Lake Forest Academy may terminate the employment relationship at any time and for any reason without prior notice. 

In accordance with Lake Forest Academy’s policies and state and federal law, receipt of this position is contingent upon the individual’s successful completion of all requirements to establish the legal right to work in the United States, as well as a background check.  In the event Lake Forest Academy has not received a complete background check prior to the first day of employment, employment will be on a temporary basis until such results are successfully completed.

Non-discrimination Policy:

Lake Forest Academy is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. This means Lake Forest Academy will not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, religion, color, sex (including gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, transitioned, transitioning or perceived to be transitioning), sexual orientation (including heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality), marital status, domestic partner status, pregnancy and breastfeeding, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics or information, military and veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local laws.

Lake Forest Academy reasonably accommodates employees and/or applicants with disabilities, provided the individual is otherwise qualified to perform the essential functions of the job.  If you believe that you need a reasonable accommodation, you must inform Lake Forest Academy’s Director Human Resources & Risk Management.