Dean of Students

Overview

Hamilton County Schools, located in Chattanooga, TN, is working to ensure that all students thrive and experience a future without limits. We are committed to excellence for every student and are seeking outstanding leaders, teachers, support staff, and district employees who desire to make a difference in the lives of students. With nearly 75 schools, we are confident that you can find your place in Hamilton County.

Learn more about working for Hamilton County Schools e.org and get to know us and our strategic plan, Opportunity 2030.

Hixson High School has served the greater Chattanooga area since 1908. Grounded in the core values of Community, Opportunity, and Excellence, we are dedicated to fostering all students to learn, lead, and serve. At the heart of our recorded success is our faculty, which includes many alumni who have come home to serve their school community. Twenty percent of our teaching staff attended Hixson High School themselves.

Hixson High offers diverse opportunities: athletics, fine arts, Future Ready pathways, Air Force JROTC, and Special Olympics programs ensure students are active contributors to our school community. With access to Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment classes, our students can connect with early post-secondary opportunities. Through our groundbreaking Ignite program, our regular education and exceptional education students connect with each other.

Our school community reflects the diversity of Chattanooga. Of our 890 students, 52.7% are white and 42.3% are Black, Hispanic, or Native American. Over half are economically disadvantaged; 15.3% have identified disabilities; and 8% are English Language Learners. This diversity makes strong student-to-student and teacher-student connections more essential than ever.

Supported by dedicated families, community partners, and a strong alumni network, Hixson High School is a 2025 Tennessee Reward School and has achieved Level 5 academic growth each year since 2022–2023.

The Dean of Students will collaborate with school administrators, teachers/staff, parents, and selected LEA personnel to ensure that all students are successful in the academic and community environments. The Dean of Students will think critically about ways to solve disciplinary and attendance issues, including academic and non-academic issues, in order to ensure that students are getting the support they need to maintain and/or improve high levels of academic performance.

The Dean of Students will engage in instructional conversations, training, and learning opportunities that focus on supporting teacher learning and student achievement. The Dean of Students will lead with an instructional presence.

• Communicate with families and work collaboratively with the school's Family Partnership Specialists and School Counseling staff.
• Impact student achievement in the core academic areas by providing guidance and supporting students who are experiencing difficulty with study habits, attendance, and behavioral expectations.
• Serve as a resource to staff by supporting the school action plan, quality instruction, and implementation of high-quality instructional materials.
• Lead school-wide culture and climate programs such as:
  School-Wide Positive Behavior Initiatives and the Anti-Bullying Program. Facilitate training for students, teachers, and parents to help strengthen the school and community partnership.
• Develop individualized student plans to support students with making positive choices.
• Create and coordinate education supports to meet the needs of students.
• Support and monitor students regarding academic, behavioral, and social behaviors.
• Facilitate meetings for the purpose of meeting curriculum guidelines and/or ensuring that state mandates are achieved.
• Attend school leadership meetings, and other meetings or professional development opportunities with student support strategies.
• Participate in parent-teacher conferences.
• Monitor student growth and progress.
• Plan and implement talk structures that support student discourse, both academic and behaviorally focused.
• Work with mentor teachers and teachers to ensure that…