A Day In The Life Of A Dean Of Culture And Instruction At Summit Public Schools
Ernesto's day, similar to past Americorps work, begins early with mindfulness and morning duty, "greeting students and making sure that I'm a presence in supporting them," before moving through classroom observations, coaching, lunch supervision used for student relationship-building, and concluding with after-school professional development. The schedule reflects a commitment to both student well-being and teacher support.
Education, Leadership, Student Support, Mentorship, Communication
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ernesto Umaña
Dean of Culture & Instruction
Summit Public Schools
UC Riverside, 2011
Harvard University, Master in Public Policy
Political Science, American Studies
Education
Human Resources (HR)
HSI Grad, Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, LGBTQ, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. A Dean of Culture and Instruction is often the first to arrive and last to leave campus, setting a positive example for students.
2. The role involves a mix of direct student interaction (morning duty, lunch supervision), teacher collaboration (classroom observations, coaching), and administrative tasks (meetings).
3. Professional development and mentorship of teachers is a significant part of the role, suggesting a commitment to continuous improvement within the school environment.
Transcript
What does the day in the life of a dean of culture and instruction look like?
As an Americorps volunteer, my role usually means I'm the first on campus and the last to leave. When I arrive, I take some time for mindfulness to prepare myself mentally for whatever the day may bring.
I typically start with morning duty, greeting students and being a supportive presence as they begin their school day. After that, I may attend a series of weekly meetings or pop into classrooms to observe how things are going.
When teachers have preparations to make, I schedule coaching conversations with them. Lunchtime serves as both my lunch break and supervision time for students. I use this period to build relationships with students I don't know and to deepen existing connections.
At the end of the day, there's more supervision, and sometimes I facilitate professional development for our group of teachers after school.