Summer Academy Dean of Instruction

Student U is a community organization that uses the power of education to build a just and equitable Durham.

We empower and equip first-generation college students in Durham Public Schools, their families, and educators to become the leaders that will transform our city. Together, we're creating a Durham where all students succeed.

As a result of structural racism, poverty and other systemic injustices, we acknowledge that first generation college-bound students face significant personal and institutional obstacles to educational success. We want to change the odds for children in our community.

The Work :

Each summer, Student runs a full-day Summer Academy for our ~250 rising 6-10th grade students. During Summer Academy, students attend both academic and elective courses, engage in intentional community and culture building, and attend a weekly field trip and / or enrichment experience. At Summer Academy, we are committed to helping our students feel success and growth by providing thoughtful, intentional academic experiences, and sharing our own excitement around academic content.

At Student U, we believe our classrooms should reflect best practices in instruction, encourage academic rigor, develop critical thinking skills, and engage students in becoming change agents in their communities. Student U provides a base curriculum for all content classes taught at Summer Academy, and mentor teachers work to ensure our summer educators (a combination of experienced and novice educators) have the tools and support they need to implement these materials effectively with our students.

The Role :

The Dean of Instruction collaborates with Student U staff to plan, oversee, and evaluate academic instruction across Student U's Summer Academy. This work includes :

Instructional Planning : Assist in the creation of clear, measurable, motivating program-wide instructional goals and ensure Student U's in-house curriculum materials are refined and ready for teacher use at Summer Academy Leading Mentor Teacher Team : Recruit, train, supervise, and coach a team of five Mentor Teachers to effectively support summer teachers to be reflective, innovative, and effective educators Staff Training : Collaborate with Student U staff to plan, oversee, and evaluate Student U's two-week Orientation and ongoing professional development for summer teachers Program Leadership : Engage as a part of Student U's Summer Academy Leadership Team

The Dean of Instruction position is designed for a high achieving and innovative educator with curriculum development and teacher coaching experience. Our ideal candidate is passionate, motivated, proactive, innovative and data driven.

Job Responsibilities :

The commitment for this role is January 2026-August 2026. The schedule, hours, and responsibilities for this position change over the course of these months, as Student U moves from programming planning and staff recruitment to program implementation with students :

Season + Schedule

Job Responsibilities

January 2026 - May 2026 :

Program Planning and Mentor Teacher Recruitment / Training

20 hours / month

Hybrid

Program planning :

Read and understand the scope / sequence of Student U's Summer Academy curriculum (21 units of study across 6 grades and 4 content areas)Collaborate with Student U's Program Leadership Team to create of clear, measurable, motivating program-wide instructional and academic goals for Summer 2026Participate on the Summer Orientation Planning Team, helping to plan a strong and impactful two-week training for summer teachers

Mentor Teacher Team recruitment, planning, and training :

Function as a part of the Mentor Teacher Recruitment Team (screen applications, participate in interviews)Collaborate with Director of Academic Support to review and refine Student U's goals, frameworks, and trainings for Mentor TeachersLead 3 Mentor Teacher Trainings in Spring 2026 March 17, 2026, 5 : 00-6 : 30 PM April 28, 2026, 5 : 00-6 : 30 PM Mentor Teacher Training #3, in May : Date TBD

Instructional Leadership :

Help plan and lead Student U's Spring Staff Training for all teachers April 10, 2026, 5 : 30 PM-7 : 30 PM : Summer Staff Launch April 11, 2026 : 9 : 30 AM-12 : 30 PM : Pre-Summer PD Day May 27, 2026, 6 : 00-7 : 00 : Virtual Mentor Teacher Check-ins Offer feedback, ideas, solutions, and resources to all staff as needed, particularly through the lens of instructional effectiveness

June 15, 2026 - August 5, 2026 :

Staff Orientation and Summer Academy

Monday-Thursday

7 : 30 AM - 2 : 00 PM

In-person

Teacher Training and Professional Development :

Plan, oversee, and evaluate instructional components of Student U's two-week Teacher OrientationPlan, oversee, and evaluate instructional components of mid-summer Professional Development Day for teachersHelp Mentor Teachers plan as-needed professional development for their teachersOffer feedback, ideas, solutions, and resources to all staff as needed, particularly through the lens of instructional effectiveness

Mentor Teacher Team Supervision & Support :

Supervise Student U's team of five Mentor TeachersCoach Mentor Teachers to improve their practice as they coach teachersOffer ongoing guidance, support, and ideation for necessary curriculum pivots and changes as the summer progressesLead weekly Mentor Teacher meetings to identify (and when necessary, problem-solve) instructional trends across classrooms

Program Evaluation

Observe classrooms / instruction regularlyCollect ongoing feedback and data on instruction and teacher effectiveness at Summer AcademyEnsure pre / post-assessment data is collected and analyzed for each Student U courseSupport with Program Reflection, Evaluation, and Ideation during Staff Evaluation Week (August 3-5)

Engage as a Leader across programming

Attend weekly Summer Academy Leadership Team meetingsEnsure instructional impact remains a forefront priority for Summer AcademyModel passion, energy, and commitment to academic excellence in all spacesModel a strengths-based and action-oriented approach for reflecting on students, teachers, and classrooms in all spaces

• If you are concerned about your ability to fulfill the requirements due to scheduling conflicts but are still interested in the position, please contact Alex Lowe Turner at alex.lowe@studentudurham.org.

Requirements & Qualifications

Belief in the Student U mission, educational philosophy, and core values Bachelor's degree At least four years of middle or high school classroom teaching experienceAt least two years of formal experience coaching and / or supporting teacher professional developmentUnderstanding of and experience with proven best practices in teaching and / or coaching Culturally relevant pedagogical framework Understanding of the social and academic needs of middle and high school students Experience building open, supportive work environments and effective teams Excellent organizational, communication and interpersonal skillsStrong problem-solving skills Ability to work both independently and collaboratively to meet deadlines

Anti-Discrimination Policy & Commitment to Equity & Child Safeguarding Policy

Student U is committed to fostering an inclusive culture within our organization where people from various backgrounds can participate fully and equitably, as we want to engage all those who can contribute to our mission.Student U has a commitment to ensuring the safety of our students. All staff will participate in a mental health training for young people, safety training, and Restorative Practices training during orientation. Benefits

Compensation : $25 / hour; ~310 hours total from January 2026-August 2026

Preferred Deadline : Rolling deadline with preference given to applications submitted by December 5, 2025

Apply Online!

A complete application incudes your resume, two professional references, and a cover letter that addresses the following questions :

What role do you believe race and wealth play in the education of children? How do your beliefs influence your education and teaching philosophy?Describe your method of coaching other teachers. What processes, frameworks, or pedagogies drive your practice?What 2-3 skills do you think are most important for a novice teacher to master first in their practice?

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