Director of Student Support

Yellowstone Schools

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required. Teaching Certification preferred.
• 3 years of previous teaching experience.
• At least 1 year serving in an educational leadership role. Experience as a Dean of Students or College & Career Readiness Counselor preferred.
• Prior experience working in a Title 1 school community is preferred.   
• Experience in coaching or leading adults.             

 

Organizational Overview

Founded in 2001 and rooted in the Christian faith, Yellowstone Schools collectively educates 600 children in Pre-K through 10th grade and will grow a grade each year to serve 12th grade by 2026. Yellowstone partners with students and families—regardless of financial means—to provide a life-changing education, develop a strong moral foundation, and prepare scholars for life beyond high school. The K-12 campus is located in the Third Ward, one of Houston's oldest historically Black neighborhoods.

 

Most students served live in communities without access to strong educational opportunities. With classes ranging in size from 16 to 22, our students experience a rich academic and co-curricular model while receiving bus transportation, two meals a day, and access to a comprehensive student support program.

 

Yellowstone Schools consists of a cooperative of two school systems: a lower school (a private Christian school serving PreK-5th grade) and an upper school (a tuition-free, public charter school growing to serve 6th-12th grade). The lower school and upper school are distinct legal and financial entities with separate governing boards. The name Yellowstone Schools reflects each school system’s shared mission, vision, values, culture, and leadership. Each school complies with all applicable federal and state laws.

 

Position Overview

This role ensures students receive maximum academic success on our campus by leading the campus student support team and through providing students with exceptional programming as it relates to their social, emotional, and behavioral needs. This is similar to an Assistant Principal role at other districts. This role reports directly to the campus principal.  In addition to leading a team, the Director of Student Support is also responsible for building relationships and working with fellow teachers, the upper school leadership team, community partnerships,  and college/universities to ensure our students engage in experiences that help them expand their knowledge, connect them to resources, and develop and strengthen the skills they need to successfully matriculate to and thrive in their post-secondary education and beyond. It is the ultimate goal of Yellowstone Schools, to ensure that all graduates maintain success in their academic, professional, and personal lives through guidance, exposure and education.

This role is an ideal opportunity for a highly motivated, collaborative, results-driven and service-minded leader with a passion for seeing others embrace their potential to live a fulfilling life.

 

Essential Qualities

• Experience in coaching or leading adults
• Belief in and commitment to the mission and core value of Yellowstone Schools.
• Openness to giving and receiving frequent feedback
• Ability to maintain emotional control under stress
• Ability to work urgently in a fast-paced and results-oriented environment
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks and initiatives at once
• Ability to analyze data and craft proposals that support students
• Engage in difficult conversations
• Demonstrates skills in conflict resolution
• Demonstrated ability to work on a team and collaborate cross-functionally
• A dedication to learn, grow and develop as a professional
• Commitment to the mission of educational equity and the belief that all students can learn.
• Ability to self-direct and identify and initiate process improvements.
• A culturally competent collaborator that expresses high expectations for all students, and expects team members to do the same.
• Data and results driven.
• Resilient and outcomes-oriented, with a strong work ethic, follow-through, and demonstrated ability to balance competing priorities with tight or back-to-back deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills; Ability to work with a wide-range of people including teachers, parents, students, alumni, corporate partners, vendors and admissions personnel.
• Proven written and verbal communication skills.

 

Essential Duties

• Driving programmatic vision related to student support services by proposing, planning, and implementing programs and projects related to student data, campus goals, and student needs.
• Managing and coaching the campus’ Behavior Interventionist, Character Development team members, College & Career Readiness Counselors, & Athletic Director, on positive school culture, student discipline, team management, social-emotional wellness, compliance, family engagement, and student achievement.
• Overseeing systems, programs, and professional development on campus that ensures students feel a sense of belonging and safety on campus that allows them to engage actively in learning including weekly PBIS events.
• Managing and leading the campus Character Development Team and co-leading the Case Management Team in providing support in the areas of student support counseling, interventions (academic and non-academic), restorative discipline, positive school culture, and academics.
• Collaborating closely with all campus directors & leadership to plan, lead, and execute projects and programs that support student achievement and positive school culture and other campus leaders to plan and implement the steps necessary to establish, launch, and maintain a solid academic mindset and jaw-dropping results so that students experience a multi-pronged support system on their post-secondary pathways. 
• Overseeing the development, implementation, and execution of Yellowstone Schools intervention support systems and programs on campus that focus on addressing and reducing at-risk barriers to students social, academic, and emotional development.
• Managing, and executing effective student behavioral systems and ensuring incorporation of family communication throughout the process.
• Managing, coaching, modeling, and developing team members through communication, observations, meetings, and collaboration.
• Managing and evaluating comprehensive programs that will increase student achievement and social-emotional wellness.
• Collecting, maintaining, and analyzing relevant student data to evaluate and make recommendations for systems of accountability that support students.
• Developing, maintaining, and modeling transformative relationships with various stakeholders, including staff, students, families, and community members that reinforce campus vision, values, and culture.
• Supporting the development and execution of the campus culture vision.
• Managing and coaching Grade Level Chairs to align to campus systems and goals.
• Planning & facilitating events for caregivers & families.
• Additional duties as assigned.

 

Working Schedule

• On campus each school day (Monday - Friday; 7:30am - 4:30pm) 
• Available to work some evenings, holidays, and weekends as necessary
• Ability to travel for home visits, tours and field trips as necessary

 

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

Work requires the ability to operate standard office equipment and keyboards. Must have the ability to lift and carry items up to 15 pounds, to walk short distances, and drive a vehicle to deliver and pick up materials and meet candidates.

 

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Yellowstone Schools offers a competitive benefits package that includes medical (including HSA), dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings options, $50K employer-paid life insurance, supplemental life ( short-term disability insurance, cancer, hospital, accident), EAP, wellness day off and generous paid time off program, and 10-weeks paid parental leave.

 

Yellowstone does not refuse to hire, terminate, or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of race, color, sex, or national or ethnic origin.