Notre Dame High School, a Catholic college preparatory school sponsored by the Congregation of Holy Cross, educates the hearts and minds of students who are diverse in ethnicity, talent, and culture.  As a community of faith, Notre Dame strives to form each student – spiritually, intellectually, and socially – to recognize the dignity of all persons and to serve the evolving needs of the world. Notre Dame faculty and staff are expected to be men and women of integrity and able to espouse Catholic, Holy Cross, and Notre Dame mission values that will set a positive example for all students.

OVERVIEW OF POSITION

The Dean of Women is a 12-month, exempt position that reports to the Principal. The work hours are typically from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., but this position requires significant extended hours, nights, and weekend work. The Dean of Women plays a pivotal role in fostering a safe, disciplined, and supportive environment that aligns with the mission and values of our Catholic high school. This role is performed in partnership with the Dean of Men, with both deans working together to oversee key areas of student life, campus safety, and school operations. Together, they ensure the well-being and success of the entire school community by collaboratively managing responsibilities, implementing policies, and addressing the needs of students, faculty, and families. The position requires not only leadership and management skills but also a commitment to administrative and supervisory duties outside regular school hours. This includes attending administrative meetings, assisting with admissions, supervising a number of student events during evenings and weekends, responding to after-school student emergencies, etc.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Student Behavior and Discipline
Develop and implement policies that guide student behavior in alignment with our Catholic Holy Cross mission.
Address disciplinary concerns raised by faculty and staff, document actions taken, communicate resolutions to all parties involved and implement appropriate consequences, such as detention, suspension, or probation. Ensure consistent follow-up with the student to monitor progress.
Supervise daily and Saturday detentions, ensuring fairness and consistency.
Work with students, parents, and faculty to resolve chronic behavioral issues, promote student growth, and maintain discipline records.
Oversee and enforce student regulations regarding behavior, appearance, and attendance.
Coordinate and participate in the Discipline Board and Academic Discipline Board to address serious or exceptional disciplinary and/or academic integrity cases.
Review student discipline records and place students on disciplinary probation when necessary.
Place students with academic dishonesty violations on an academic integrity warning.
2. Attendance Oversight
Oversee attendance office personnel and enforce absentee and tardy policies.
Investigate discrepancies in attendance as needed.
Confer with students and families regarding excessive absences or tardies, address concerns, provide counseling, place students on attendance contracts, or move them to an online platform.
Communicate regularly with administrators, teachers, and coaches to ensure they are aware of attendance issues and can collaborate on strategies to support the student.
3. Emergency Preparedness

Coordinate emergency preparedness drills (e.g., fire, earthquake, and lockdown drills).
Update emergency preparedness protocols and procedures each summer to reflect staffing changes.
Maintain safety plans for the school and liaise with local authorities and community agencies as needed.
4. Policy and Handbook Review
Revise the Student and Parent Handbook annually to ensure clarity and alignment with school policies.
Conduct regular evaluations of disciplinary policies and propose necessary modifications.
Ensure all faculty and staff are updated on any revisions to the handbook or policies when they return in August.
5. Behavioral Support and Collaboration
Work collaboratively with counselors, campus ministry, the athletic department, teachers, and other administrators to address student behavior issues or concerns.
Assist in resolving significant disciplinary incidents and support students on probation.
Develop strategies with faculty and staff to promote students’ social-emotional and academic growth.
6. Campus Operations and Supervision
Supervise students during breaks, lunch, assemblies, and other campus activities. Whenever possible, maintain a visible and active presence during class and passing periods to proactively address and prevent potential issues.
Create a supervision schedule utilizing faculty for lunch, nutrition, and assembly supervision as needed.
Monitor behavior and safety at school functions such as Masses, rallies, dances, and athletic events.
Oversee the bell system and coordinate schedules for lunch and nutrition break supervision.
Assign and oversee student lockers, manage lost-and-found, and maintain the inventory of loaner uniforms.
Assign on-campus faculty and student parking spots,  manage student parking registration–including off-site parking.
Hire and supervise Parking Assistants (for morning drop off); approve time cards and other communication.
Manage the canine detection process to maintain a safe and drug-free campus.
7. Student and Faculty Support
Provide social-emotional learning (SEL) support through assemblies, workshops, and parent education initiatives.
Facilitate programs and events that promote student safety, discipline, and character development.
8. Leadership and Coordination
Serve as a key point of contact for safety-related issues and initiatives on campus.
Partner with the administrative team—including the Principal, Vice Principals, Director of Student Activities, and counseling staff—to ensure smooth daily operations and uphold the school’s mission.
Assist the administrative team in daily school operations, including morning walkarounds and event supervision.
Participate in evening and weekend school events, such as chaperoning dances and supervising games and other activities that are heavily attended by students.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree and relevant California credential preferred.
Minimum 5 years of full-time teaching, counseling, or educational leadership experience in a secondary school setting.
Proven ability to manage and resolve student-related issues with a compassionate, fair, and firm approach.
Strong organizational, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrated commitment to Catholic education, the mission of Notre Dame High School, and the spiritual and academic development of students.
Ability to build and sustain a positive, respectful, and inclusive school culture that fosters student engagement, promotes well-being and supports the social and emotional health of all students.
A collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, and families from diverse backgrounds, fostering an inclusive and equitable environment for all.