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Head-Royce School is seeking a courageous, innovative, and bold change-maker to lead with intention and integrity as the next Upper School Dean of Equity and Community (“US E&C Dean”).
Reporting to the K-12 Dean of Equity and Community (“K-12 Dean”), the Upper School Dean plays a crucial role within the Upper School leadership team, contributing systematically across the division to help steer the future trajectory of Head-Royce’s Upper School. Positioned as a stable and vibrant institution with a strong reputation in the Bay Area, Head-Royce’s Upper School boasts significant student diversity. Despite this strength, there is ongoing work to be done in the domains of equity and inclusion. Head-Royce is poised to elevate itself from good to great.
Under the leadership of the K-12 Dean of Equity and Community, and in collaboration with the Upper School Division Head, the Upper School E&C Dean will be responsible for operationalizing the school’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals within the Upper School (US). The US E&C Dean will collaborate with their middle and lower school counterparts in order to build consistency and interconnectivity between the three divisions and uphold alignment throughout our K-12 equity and inclusion initiatives. Embedded within the Upper School, the US E&C Dean will play a central role on the US divisional leadership team as a critical thought partner.
The US E&C Dean must have a deep love of working with kids, a student-centered and asset-based approach to the work, and a nuanced understanding of how to build equitable, inclusive, and identity-affirming experiences that place students at the center. This role necessitates creative and entrepreneurial thinking. The successful candidate will play a role in advancing the strategic plan within the Upper School while putting kids first amidst every facet of the work.
Institutional Priorities
Support students and professional community members in orienting towards a skill-based learning approach to the work.
Clearly convey to the upper school community how the work of the Office of Equity and Community, encompassing curriculum, pedagogy, student support, and programming, align with the school’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities.
Essential Functions
Lead the proactive and responsive work of building a more equitable and inclusive Upper School community, focusing on a skills-based learning approach to the work.
Be embedded in student life, bringing a joyful orientation to the work.
Collaborate closely with fellow members of the K-12 equity and community team to build alignment into the K-12 experience.
Partner with the US instructional coach to provide support for faculty at Head-Royce, focusing particularly on culturally responsive classroom development and supporting curriculum construction.
Work with US divisional leadership and K-12 Dean to review, assess, modify, and manage US policies, practices, and procedures that build equity into the experiences of all students.
Serve as an advocate and support for students as they navigate historical systems of inequity.
Supervise and facilitate student programming focused on inclusion and belonging, concurrently fostering student agency and active engagement with the Equity and Community program.
Manage the US programs that foster a culture of belonging and inclusion such as student affinity groups and Student Diversity Council.
Participate as a member of the US admissions committee.
Assist in recruitment and hiring processes.
Teach one US class.
Qualities and Attributes
Background in teaching, coaching, mentorship, curriculum development, and teacher learning.
Student-centered and asset-based approach to serving students.
Deep empathy and joyful orientation towards equity and inclusion work.
A systems-approach to leading change.
Capacity to analyze interpersonal dynamics and school ecosystems through diverse and critical lenses.
Orientation towards teamwork and collaboration.
Strong instincts as a relationship builder with students, families, and colleagues.
Ability to understand complexity and hold multiple perspectives.
Commitment to the work of holding all students in care.
Ability to lean into conflict and serve as a critical friend to US divisional leaders and the K-12 Equity and Community Team.
Consensus builder who can support people in driving change.
Innovative and strategic thinker willing to engage in day-to-day student support.
Nuanced understanding of historical systems and the resistance and resilience of marginalized people.
The ability to dream expansively about what schools can be.
Humility and capacity to take a learner’s stance in the work.
Comfort with public speaking.
Qualifications and Requirements
Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred.
A minimum of 4 years of related experience working within the DEI space, preferably with Upper School students.
A background in curriculum construction and teacher coaching.
Prior experience in a leadership role within a school setting.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
A deep understanding of the principles and best practices of equity and inclusion program development.
Experience as a proven problem-solver, critical thinker, and change agent, adapting to new situations and challenges with flexibility, determination, and positive approaches.
$100,000 – $115,000 a year
The salary range for this position is $100,000-115,000, as a 12 month position.
If you are a passionate and visionary leader committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive school community, we invite you to apply for this impactful position.
Interested candidates are asked to submit a letter of interest, a statement of educational philosophy, as well as a current résumé.
Application materials should be submitted through our website.
Located on a 22-acre campus in Oakland, California, Head-Royce (HRS) is a pre-eminent, co-educational, independent, K-12 day school with a 137-year history. Our mission is to inspire in our students a lifelong love of learning and pursuit of academic excellence, to promote understanding of and respect for diversity that makes our society strong and to encourage active and responsible global citizenship.
Head-Royce enrolls 900 students in the three separate divisions—Lower, Middle and Upper—and provides a dynamic, whole-child education to every student.
Please note – HRS is unable to provide immigration sponsorships such as H1B Visas.
Head Royce is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions including but not limited to employment, training, promotion, demotion, transfer, leaves of absence and termination based on qualifications and without regard to protected status. We will not discriminate based on age, color, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin or ancestry, race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), religion, registered domestic partner status, physical or mental disability, a medical condition including genetic characteristics, military or veteran status, reproductive health decision making or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local laws Head-Royce School seeks to be a community in which every individual is treated with sensitivity, courtesy and respect.
