TO APPLY AND VIEW THE POSITION STATEMENTCLICK HERE
Application Deadline: March 20, 2025
Semifinalist Interviews: March 31–April 4, 2025
Finalist Interviews: April 7–11, 2025
Announcement: Week of April 21
Start Date: July 1, 2025
SUMMARY
Lick-Wilmerding High School (LWHS) is a private school with public purpose, serving 560 students in grades 9-12 in San Francisco. Since its founding in 1895 as a vocational school, LWHS has built upon a long tradition of valuing and integrating the liberal arts, sciences, technical arts, visual arts and performing arts to offer a robust college-prep curriculum. Today, the LWHS curriculum is both a catalyst and a vehicle for civic engagement, and the Public Purpose Program offers students the opportunity to contribute their time, talent, and treasure through partnerships with community organizations. Students demonstrate an unparalleled commitment to their communities, the motivation to deeply explore their interests, and a desire to positively impact the lives of others.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
In partnership with the Head of School and Senior Leadership Team, the Dean will work collaboratively to advance institutional priorities, champion the school’s vision for equity and belonging, and strengthen community bonds by prioritizing the following:
Support the Head of School in ensuring that the school’s mission is consistently reflected in its practices related to equity, inclusion, and belonging. Act as a critical thought partner to the Head and Board of Trustees in broad strategic planning for the school and its future.
Audit the school’s DEIJB mission and vision, as well as all current programming and policies, looking critically for ways to improve. • Develop and implement strategies to ensure that all constituents feel valued and included within the School environment.
Collaborate with the Teaching and Learning Leadership Team (TLLT) on enhancing pedagogical practices and curricula to explore and integrate the complexities of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; take a leadership role in the launch and rollout of a new required Ethnic Studies course for 9th grade students.
Lead professional development initiatives that enable faculty to develop capacity to meaningfully incorporate DEIJB across academic disciplines; manage different viewpoints and hold multiple truths; and initiate and facilitate courageous conversations as needed.
Partner with Admissions, Advancement, and Communications on strategic thinking, storytelling for current and prospective families, and data-driven studies to better understand the school’s evolving demographics.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Collaborate with departmental leaders to align equity and inclusion practices with the school’s overall mission, goals, and strategic plan.
Coordinate forums and workshops that promote open discussions and mutual understanding among community members.
Offer support for conflict resolution and facilitate discussions on sensitive topics.
May teach one related course as needed.
Lead initiatives that integrate diverse perspectives into the curriculum and co-curricular activities.
Lead the process of designing, delivering, and analyzing a community-wide survey to gather data on the sense of belonging among all constituents, using the findings to inform and enhance DEIJB initiatives.
Create space for affinity groups, working with group leaders (co-chairs), helping them set goals for the year and meet those goals (this usually includes a community dinner, a guest speaker, a cultural celebration event open to the affinity group and the whole community, and a graduation celebration for each affinity group).
Lead the adult community in deepening cultural competency skills in programs including faculty meetings, in-service days, MLK Day, and the Sam Mihara Day of Justice.
Organize and facilitate community celebrations and events designed to bring together diverse groups within the school community, fostering a sense of unity and shared experience.
Create and implement programs and services tailored to families, especially families of color, non-English speaking families, and those new to independent schools, to ensure they have the support and access needed to fully participate in all LWHS services and activities, thereby fostering greater engagement in the school community.
Partner with the Parents Association and Family Networks to advance their objectives of building a more inclusive and engaged parent community.
Serve on the board of trustees Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee.
Supervise the Director of Student Inclusion, collaborating on student inclusion programming and the oversight of the LWHS Equity and Inclusion Roundtable.
Review and update school policies and practices to ensure they promote equity and inclusion.
Stay informed on legal issues and best practices related to DEIJB and ensure the school’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Collect, analyze, and report data on the school’s DEIJB efforts, including climate surveys and demographic trends.
Use data to inform decision-making and recommend adjustments to DEIJB strategies and initiatives.
QUALITIES AND ATTRIBUTES
The successful Dean of Equity, Inclusion & Belonging at LWHS will be a self-directed and highly relational leader who can navigate the complexities of a diverse and dynamic community with both strategic vision and emotional intelligence. This seasoned practitioner will bring deep DEIJB acumen, facility with curriculum development, a tempered approach, and a relationship builder mindset to foster belonging across all facets of the school. A visible and present leader who can form strong ties within the community, the Dean will also proactively jump in with both feet and execute upon the strategies they develop. Additionally:
Strategic thinker who aligns DEIJB work with institutional goals
Strong communicator with the ability to articulate vision, inspire others, and motivate the community to action
A skilled bridge-builder who can work across constituencies and stakeholder groups
Collaborative and flexible team player
Deep and active listener
Demonstrate strong facilitation skills with the ability to lead professional development and guide challenging conversations
Maintain resilience when facing resistance and demonstrate the ability to pivot when necessary
Balance strategic vision with strong executive functioning skills to manage day-to-day implementation
Possess a high level of broad cultural awareness
Center joy and community building while advancing equity and belonging initiatives
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work in a relevant field (Master’s Degree preferred)
Demonstrated success in DEIJB leadership, working collaboratively with administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents, trustees, and other stakeholders to advance equity and inclusion initiatives in education
Demonstrated experience in building and implementing inclusive curriculum and pedagogical practice across disciplines
Exhibit a track record of turning big ideas into effective programs with measurable impact
Possess knowledge of and experience in facilitating restorative practices and mediation
Mission Statement: A private school with public purpose, Lick-Wilmerding High School develops the head, heart, and hands of highly motivated students from all walks of life, inspiring them to become lifelong learners who contribute to the world with confidence and compassion.
