About the Company
Invictus Nashville Charter School is a public Montessori school serving the Donelson and Hermitage community. We provide a joyful, equitable, and academically rich environment where students are known, valued, and supported through hands-on, personalized learning. Our diverse and inclusive community is built by mission-driven educators and staff who believe in the power of relationships and are dedicated to helping every child thrive.
About the Role
The Dean of Students leads schoolwide culture, student behavior systems, attendance, and family partnership across our Primary, Lower Elementary, and Upper Elementary (4th Grade) environments at Invictus Nashville Charter School, the only public Montessori school in Nashville, serving scholars from PreK through 4th Grade. As a member of the school leadership team, you directly supervise our Behavior Paraprofessionals and make sure every child learns in an environment that is safe, orderly, and joyful. Prior Montessori experience is welcome but not required.
Reports to: Director of Operations
Department: School Culture
Direct reports: Behavior Paraprofessionals
Classification: Full-time (1.0 FTE), exempt, 12-month
Salary range: $70,000–$90,000, based on experience and credentials
Start date: July 2027
Licensure: Tennessee teaching license preferred
Grades served: PreK–4th grade
We believe Montessori education should not be a privilege; it should be accessible to every child. The Dean of Students makes that promise real by building a school culture grounded in grace, courtesy, and self-discipline, where adults respond to behavior with consistency, warmth, and high expectations, and every child feels safe, known, and capable.
Our students learn best when expectations are calm, clear, and consistent across the whole day. Behavior is communication, and every response is a chance to teach. You will be the leader who makes that true in every classroom, hallway, and lunchroom, and who equips the adults around you to do the same.
Key responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
School Culture and Student Behavior
• Lead the schoolwide culture vision so peace, order, respect, grace, courtesy, and positive discipline are visible in every classroom and common space.
• Design, implement, and monitor schoolwide routines for arrival, transitions, lunch, recess, specials, field experiences, and dismissal.
• Lead a restorative, developmentally appropriate response to behavior, including de-escalation, reflection conversations, and repair.
• Serve as the primary point of escalation for significant incidents, investigating fairly, documenting accurately, and communicating promptly with families.
• Administer discipline in line with the Student and Family Handbook, Tennessee law, and Commission requirements, including protections for students with disabilities.
Behavior Paraprofessional Leadership
• Directly supervise the Behavior Paraprofessional team, setting daily assignments, coverage plans, and priorities.
• Hold weekly check-ins, observe practice, give feedback, and complete performance evaluations.
• Train Behavior Paraprofessionals in de-escalation, positive discipline, Montessori principles, and accurate incident documentation.
• Deploy the team strategically using referral and incident data so students with the greatest needs receive consistent support.
Student Support and Attendance
• Lead the behavioral side of the Student Support Team, using data to identify students who need Tier 2 and Tier 3 supports.
• Build and monitor behavior intervention plans with Guides, the Special Populations team, and outside providers.
• Manage the digital referral system so every referral is reviewed, acted on, and closed out on time.
• Own the attendance and chronic absenteeism strategy, including daily monitoring, family outreach, and incentives.
• Partner with Operations on arrival, dismissal, transportation, drills, and student safety protocols.
Family Partnership and Staff Coaching
• Build strong relational trust with families, leading conferences about behavior, attendance, and well-being with empathy and clarity.
• Coach Lead Guides and Assistant Guides on classroom culture and proactive management through observation and feedback.
• Lead culture-focused professional development and new-staff onboarding.
• Report culture metrics to the leadership team and use the data to drive decisions.
• Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Required
• Bachelor’s degree in education, school counseling, social work, or a related field.
• Three to five years of experience working with elementary-aged children, including at least one year in a culture, behavior, or school leadership role.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and developing adults, including paraprofessionals or support staff.
• Demonstrated success with restorative practices, PBIS, or similar positive behavior frameworks.
• Working knowledge of student discipline law, IDEA and Section 504 protections, and FERPA.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including leading difficult conversations with families and staff.
• A self-starter who thinks ahead, adapts well in a fast-growing school, and brings a problem-solving mindset.
• A commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive, anti-bias approaches to discipline.
• Successful completion of a criminal background check with fingerprinting, as required for Tennessee school employees.
Preferred
• Master’s degree in education, school counseling, social work, or educational leadership.
• Valid Tennessee teaching license.
• Montessori experience or certification, or willingness to pursue Montessori training.
Working Conditions
• Based on campus and highly visible across classrooms, hallways, lunch, recess, arrival, and dismissal.
• Must be able to respond quickly to student needs, sit on the floor, bend, kneel, and lift up to 25 pounds.
• Occasional evening events with families.
Benefits
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid holidays and PTO
• Ongoing professional development, leadership coaching, and career growth
Compensation
Annual salary of $70,000–$90,000, based on experience and credentials.
Invictus Nashville Charter School is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Employment is at will. This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties. Responsibilities may change based on school needs.