Dean of Student Life
Brooks School, North Andover, MA
School & Position Summary
The mission of Brooks School is to provide the most meaningful educational experience our
students will have in their lives. Established in 1926 in the town of North Andover, Brooks
provides an all-gender, college preparatory program for 350 students on a 270-acre campus
overlooking Lake Cochichewick. We strive to be a place where a diverse group of faculty and
staff want to learn, grow, and do their best work to support all aspects of a Brooks student’s life,
both in and out of the classroom. At Brooks, we recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote
regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status and other
protected statuses. Our school thrives because of our faculty and staff’s hard work, initiative,
dedication and compassion.
Brooks School is seeking a compassionate and collaborative-minded Dean of Student Life for
the 2026-2027 academic year. The ideal candidate is a clear communicator who champions
student voices and growth, makes community-informed decisions, and has the ability to partner
with various members of the school, including parents, faculty/staff, trustees, vendors, and
more. They must be a genuine “school person” who leads by example and chooses to engage in
the many aspects of student life even outside of their stated responsibilities. The ideal candidate
will work closely with the Student Affairs team, which consists of the Dean of Residential Life
and the Administrative Coordinator for Academic and Student Affairs, and partner with the
Chaplain and Dean of Community & Belonging. The team works with faculty and staff to
establish high standards for a holistic approach in supporting student life through educational
programs, policies, and opportunities. The Dean of Student Life should have exemplary
attention to detail, a commitment to restorative justice practice, and strong organizational and
communication skills. We especially welcome candidates skilled in culturally responsive
educational practices dedicated to fostering inclusivity and creating a sense of belonging within
our campus community.
Candidates with experience successfully coaching at the varsity level will be prioritized in
this process.
Major Responsibilities
The Dean of Student Life will:
● serve as counsel and sounding board to the Head of School and Associate Head of
School in support of our core values and mission
● supervise the Student Affairs team, which consists of the Dean of Residential Life, the
Assistant Dean of Student Life, and the Administrative Coordinator for Academic and
Student Affairs, while providing strategic guidance and daily oversight in all aspects of
student life
● oversee student leadership and other student programming, including advisory, clubs
and outside speakers
● manage the development of policies and practices for student life including expectations
for student behavior, which includes the annual review and revision of the Student Handbook
● oversee disciplinary processes, including facilitating Honor Board meetings, managing
Honor Board decisions, and communicating with families in partnership with the
Associate Head of School and Dean of Residential Life
● manage attendance, which includes elective (excused) and unexcused absences as well
as daily tracking of attendance, tardies, classroom/Chapel behavior, and dress code in
conjunction with the Dean of Residential Life and the Dean of Academic Affairs
● create seated lunch assignments twice a week and be a liaison with the dining hall to
communicate all changes to the schedule that might affect meal times.
● be present in the Deans’ Den during the academic day when not occupied by other
commitments
● manage the Student Resource Team (student review meetings)
● oversee the opening of school (e.g. registration, move-ins, orientations) in collaboration
with key leaders within the school
● engage in DEIB professional development and assist in forwarding the school’s
commitment to becoming an anti-racist institution
● Teach one class and coach one season
● Serve as an Administrator on Duty and live on-campus
● Advise up to 7 students beginning in the second year
Skills, Qualifications, and Competencies
● Experience as a school leader in a role associated with student life, preferably in a
boarding school environment
● Demonstrated ability to interact, build relationships with, and represent the school’s
interests among various constituencies, including students, faculty, and parents,
through:
○ Understanding of appropriate boundaries in working with adolescent students
○ Deep commitment to diversity and to cultivating an inclusive and equitable
school culture
○ Strong communication skills, including one-on-one conversations, group
facilitation, and writing.
○ Experience with healthy conflict resolution among students and adults
○ A sense of humor, warmth, and a willingness to bring joy to the work
○ Timely communication
○ Practiced patience, empathy, and flexibility
○ A sense of humor, warmth, and a willingness to bring joy to the work
● Willingness to be present at school events and respond to student events/concerns
outside of regular working hours.
● Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
Compensation Range
● $115,000 – $130,000
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee
encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations
may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Duties
are normally performed in an indoor environment. The noise level in the work environment is
usually moderate.
Physical demands include:
● Occasional lifting, bending and climbing stairs
● Frequent talking, listening, walking, sitting and standing
● Ability to perform multiple concurrent tasks and functions in a fast-paced working
environment
Travel
This role does not require travel but travel for professional development is encouraged.
Application & Candidate Information
Brooks School believes that realizing our mission requires intentional work to build and foster
diversity, equity, and inclusion for all members of our predominantly residential school. As
such, we seek a diverse candidate pool that includes those who are traditionally
underrepresented and less familiar with boarding school life.
All interested candidates should submit the following materials by email with attachments to
Associate Head of School Ms. Nina Freeman (nfreeman@brooksschool.org) by January 15, 2026.
Please include:
● A cover letter expressing why you are interested in Brooks and this opportunity
● A current resume
● Three professional references (including a current supervisor) and contact information;
references will not be contacted without your permission.
EEO Statement
The school will make any offer of employment contingent upon a candidate being authorized to
work in the United States, and successfully completing criminal offender record (CORI) and
sexual offender record (SORI) background checks.
Brooks School does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, sexual orientation,
disability or religion in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies,
employment policies, financial aid and loan programs, athletic programs and other
school-administered programs and activities
Brooks School