(2026-2027) Dean of Culture

About Alma

Alma del Mar is a K-8 charter school whose mission is to put every one of our scholars on the path to college and to challenge them to be service-minded leaders. We do this by immersing our scholars in a highly demanding, highly supportive environment where they receive a content–rich education. As an Expeditionary Learning school, Alma brings to life a three dimensional vision of student achievement that includes mastery of knowledge and skills, character, and high-quality student work.

We’re located in New Bedford, Massachusetts a beautiful coastal city known for its history as the heart of the whaling industry and as a central hub of the abolitionist movement.

Alma gets results for kids. Alma scholars not only outperform their district peers on MCAS, they often outperform their peers in the surrounding suburbs. In some areas, our scholar achievement now matches some of the highest performing schools in the Commonwealth. We have been nationally recognized for our work with English Language Learners.

The Dean of Culture Role

The Dean of Culture will be responsible for ensuring that Alma del Mar maintains a safe, joyful and orderly environment where learning takes center stage. The Dean of Culture is on the school leadership team. They also manage other members of the school culture team.

At Alma we believe that talent is the most important lever driving student success. We know that we can best serve our scholars by helping you to meet your long-term professional growth and career goals.

Team Leadership

The Dean of Culture manages and coaches their culture team including, behavior interventionists and fellows, toward high performance. This includes conducting weekly observations and one on one meetings, coaching on targeted areas and evaluating performance, and leading culture team meetings.

School-Wide Leadership

• Set and take responsibility for culture goals and initiatives for the school
• Work with the leadership team to plan and facilitate high quality training for Alma faculty
• Plan and lead school-wide culture routines and events and ensure that Alma scholars are developing as service-minded leaders

Core Responsibilities

• Train teachers school-wide on effective behavior management and culture-building practices
• Oversee school-wide student discipline system
• Coordinate afterschool detention, in-school suspensions and any discipline issues that go beyond the classroom
• Lead family engagement efforts and conduct parent conferences as needed
• Track and analyze non-academic student data
• Work with outside agencies and community partners to connect our scholars with the additional non-academic resources they need
• Work as a member of the School Leadership Team to solve pressing tactical and strategic issues

Who We’re Looking For

We seek outstanding leaders with the following qualifications:

• At least three years of working in a successful K-12 charter school or district school, in a school culture or teaching role, with increasing levels of responsibility, is required.
• Outstanding classroom management expertise and the ability to effectively coach teachers in this area
• Experience and expertise in facilitating difficult conversations with students, families and teachers
• Experience serving in a predominantly low-income community
• An unwavering commitment to the belief that all kids can succeed
• Proven effectiveness leading by example and coaching adults
• Humility, resilience, and a hunger to learn and grow
• A high level of personal organization and planning

• Infectious joy
• Bilingual candidates are highly encouraged to apply, especially those with proficiency in Spanish, Portuguese or Cape Verdean Creole

What You Can Expect

• Weekly meetings with a manager who supports you
• The opportunity to have meaningful impact across a school
• The autonomy to make decisions and do what is best to support the staff and students you work with every day
• Friendly, supportive, #almazing colleagues

Compensation: Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience. Starting salary is $85,000 to $95,000, depending on previous experience. Multilingual candidates are compensated higher. We offer a comprehensive benefits package.

This is an academic year position starting around July 15, 2026. School hours are 8:20-4:00 for staff.

Please include specific data in your resume demonstrating the success of your students and the adults you have coached.

Alma del Mar is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. People from all diverse backgrounds and identities are strongly encouraged to apply. Spanish language proficiency is a plus.