Breakthrough Public Schools is a high-performing charter network serving scholars across five campuses in Cleveland. We operate as a unified system grounded in a shared academic vision and the Arc of the Year — our framework for adult development and instructional excellence that progresses from strong classroom environments to rigorous instruction, high-quality feedback, and culminating academic growth.

At Breakthrough, we believe great schools are built by great adults.

The Dean of Culture plays a critical role in ensuring school culture systems are executed consistently so that every student experiences a safe, structured, and supportive learning environment.

Scope of Work: Culture Systems Executor & Student Support Leader

The Dean of Culture supports the daily implementation of Breakthrough’s culture systems across the school.

This role exists to ensure:

• Strong execution of schoolwide behavior expectations
• Immediate support for teachers during instruction
• Structured and restorative student discipline responses
• Safe and orderly shared spaces throughout the school day

The Dean of Culture is not primarily a disciplinarian. The Dean of Culture is:

• Culture Systems Executor – ensuring expectations and routines are consistently upheld in alignment with Common Pictures and Breakthrough’s vision of excellence
• Teacher Support Partner – helping teachers maintain strong classroom culture
• Student Accountability Leader – guiding students through reflection and restoration
• Visible Adult Presence – ensuring safety and structure throughout the school

The Dean of Culture reports to the Lead Dean of Culture and works closely with the school’s culture team and leadership team.

Core Responsibilities

1. Culture Systems Implementation

The Dean of Culture supports consistent execution of Breakthrough’s schoolwide culture model.

This includes:

• Reinforcing implementation of Common Picture Playbooks across classrooms and shared spaces
• Conducting walkthroughs to monitor culture systems throughout the building
• Supporting teachers when expectations and routines need reinforcement
• Reinforcing schoolwide expectations, routines, and procedures with students
• Assisting with transitions, arrival, dismissal, lunch, and other high-traffic times
• Supporting proactive systems that promote student engagement and accountability
  
  

Culture systems should be visible, consistent, and predictable across the entire school.

2. Real Time Coaching (RTC) & Teacher Support

The Dean of Culture supports teachers in maintaining strong classroom environments.

This includes:

• Providing real time coaching (RTC) to teachers to strengthen classroom management practices
• Modeling effective classroom management strategies when needed
• Assisting teachers with behavior redirection and student de-escalation
• Reinforcing proactive strategies that support student engagement and regulation
• Supporting teachers in maintaining instructional momentum during challenging moments
  
  

Teacher support is immediate, practical, and focused on protecting instructional time.

3. Student Discipline & Restorative Practices

The Dean of Culture supports the school’s structured and restorative discipline systems.

This includes:

• Assisting with student disciplinary responses aligned with school policies
• Facilitating reflection conversations with students to address behavior
• Supervising students during reflection, reset, or accountability processes
• Supporting re-entry conversations with students returning to class
• Collaborating with teachers to ensure discipline responses maintain strong learning environments
• Documenting discipline incidents and maintaining accurate records
  
  

Student discipline emphasizes accountability, reflection, and restoration.

4. Student Supervision & Schoolwide Presence

The Dean of Culture plays a visible role in maintaining positive student behavior across the school.

This includes:

• Monitoring hallways, transitions, and shared spaces
• Supporting arrival, dismissal, lunch, and recess supervision
• Reinforcing schoolwide expectations with students
• Addressing behavior concerns quickly and consistently
• Building positive relationships with students that reinforce belonging and accountability
  
  

Strong adult presence helps ensure safe, calm, and structured environments.

5. Behavior Data Monitoring & Documentation

The Dean of Culture supports data collection and documentation related to student behavior.

This includes:

• Documenting discipline incidents in school behavior systems
• Supporting monitoring of referrals and behavior data
• Maintaining organized student behavior records
• Communicating trends or concerns to the Lead Dean of Culture
• Ensuring documentation aligns with school and network policies
  
  

Accurate documentation helps inform strong culture systems and student supports.

What Success Looks Like

A successful Breakthrough Dean of Culture:

• Ensures consistent implementation of Common Picture Playbooks
• Provides effective real time coaching (RTC) that supports teachers
• Responds quickly and effectively to student behavior concerns
• Maintains positive and productive student behavior across shared spaces
• Supports restorative discipline processes that strengthen accountability
• Builds strong relationships with students while maintaining high expectations
  
  

Most importantly:

Students experience safe, structured learning environments that allow them to focus on academic growth and personal development.

Skills & Qualifications

• Strong classroom management knowledge and student relationship skills
• Ability to respond calmly, emotionally constant, and effectively in high-energy school environments
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills
• Ability to provide clear, direct feedback to students and staff
• Commitment to restorative practices and student development
• Associate’s degree required; Bachelor’s degree preferred
• 2+ years of teaching experience preferred (urban education preferred)

Why Breakthrough

At Breakthrough Public Schools, leadership is not a title — it is a mindset.

We believe transformative schools are built by leaders who embody a clear set of mindsets that shape every decision, every interaction, and every outcome.

Our Deans of Culture lead with the following mindsets:

We Do Our Job.

• We take full ownership of results.
• We do not blame circumstances, systems, or people — we improve them.
• We ensure the work gets done at a high level because students are counting on us.

We Hold High Expectations.

• We believe all students can achieve at the highest levels.
• We define excellence clearly and refuse to lower the bar.
• We intervene quickly when performance slips — in ourselves and in others.

Kid Needs > Adult Needs.

• We make decisions based on what is best for students, even when it is hard.
• We prioritize long-term student success over short-term adult comfort.

We Communicate Openly and Honestly.

• We give direct, actionable feedback.
• We say what needs to be said in service of growth.
• We seek clarity and alignment rather than comfort.

We Remain Committed.

• We persist through challenge.

• We do not waver when the work is difficult.

• We understand that consistency — not intensity — drives transformation.

We Center Joy.

• We believe rigor and joy coexist.
• We create environments where adults and students feel purpose, belonging, and pride.
• We celebrate growth and progress along the way.

Breakthrough operates as a unified system across five campuses, grounded in a shared school model and a clear Arc of the Year for adult and instructional excellence.

We are seeking Deans of Culture who are relentless about outcomes, courageous in coaching adults, and unwavering in their commitment to students.

If you are energized by building strong teams, setting a clear bar, and driving meaningful academic growth for children — you will find your work here matters deeply.