Assistant Principal - Dean of Students (Director of Pastoral) - Yas American Academy (AY 2024/25)

Aldar Academies is currently seeking an AP Dean of Students at Yas American Academy on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi to commence from August 2024.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the highly successful Aldar family of schools and to help shape the future of Abu Dhabi’s leading school group.

Yas American Academy opened in September 2016 providing high quality education to the Emirate. The children are taught the Massachusetts Common Core Curriculum – tailored to be meaningful to children attending the school, alongside the local curriculum of Arabic, Islamic Studies and Social Studies. Facilities at the school are excellent and include a large astro-turf field, two swimming pools, well stocked library, a large multi-purpose sports hall, an auditorium and outdoor play areas.

We provide a warm, friendly and supportive environment where students enjoy learning and achieving in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.

In a short period of time the school has achieved outstanding levels of progress and attainment, supported by rigorous tracking of assessment data. We have highly dedicated and talented staff, mainly from the USA/UK, who work in partnership with parents to ensure success for all.

The successful candidates will be closely aligned with our core values and ethos and possess a genuine understanding and appreciation of the values of the region.

Main Duties:

• Direct and quality assure the activities of the staff and students and ensure a safe, orderly, and smooth functioning environment conducive to learning.
• Support and administer the annual school assessment and monitoring master schedule, working in conjunction with the school SLT and school department leaders.
• Collaborate with Principal and Vice Principal to supervise and evaluate teachers, supervisors and curriculum support staff as assigned.
• Provide leadership in screening and interviewing applicants including non-teaching positions, and/or recommending of applicants to be interviewed.
• Implement student achievement improvement efforts as mapped out in the school development plan and ADEK regulations and as directed by Aldar Education. This will include but not be limited to school improvement plans, standardized testing, remediation, collection and reporting of data as required, and the development of special schedules and testing procedures as necessary.
• Implement student achievement improvement efforts including directing the MAP/Exact Path student achievement plan, developing a progress-based testing schedule in coordination with the assessment coordination, establishing and overseeing the processes related to assessment and reporting student attainment and progress, data collection, students’ records, and archiving.
• Collaborate with the SLT team regarding new or changing instructional methods, materials, strategies, and programs.
• Assist, determine, develop and implement plans for staff CPD development for the building that facilitates professional growth and enhance the quality and efficiency of teaching.
• Assist in the completion and submission of all required reports, forms, and data requests on time to the designated sources.
• Work/meet with other administrators and staff to foster and participate in team collaboration and effectiveness.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the School Principal.

Minimum Qualifications: 

Bachelor Degree in Education or B.Sc degree with PGCE is essential. Desirable Master’s degree. 

Minimum Experience: 

• At least 6 years’ experience, including 4 consecutive years teaching performance exceeds standards and expectations as evidenced by performance appraisal
• At least 2 years’ experience in middle leadership role
• Experience of leading school initiatives that have led to improvement in standards and achievement.
• Experience working with parents and external agencies.

Job specific knowledge and skills: 

• With secure knowledge of teaching and learning and a track record of implementing effective strategies to raise standards and plug gaps in learning.
• Ability to work with data and be effective in using data to diagnose, intervene and evaluate impact upon learning.
• Ability to organize tasks
• Ability to handle multiple tasks
• Ability to exercise good judgment
• Must possess leadership skills
• Must appropriately handle confidential information

Personal/ Leadership Qualities: 

• Commitment to the ideals of international education 
• Ability to prioritize projects and tasks 
• Ability to initiate and manage change in the work environment 
• Ability to identify problems, achieve effective solutions, resolve conflict, motivate staff and foster collaboration, and promote sound decision making 
• Flexibility, patience and egalitarian approach

This job description is not all inclusive. Aldar Education reserves the right to amend this job description at any time. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are also mindful of our national development strategy and encourage UAE Nationals in their application at our company.

Aldar Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Offers of appointment are subject to satisfactory references and police clearance.