DECA was started in 2003 with a group of like-minded individuals who believed that all children - Dayton’s children - deserved the opportunity for a rock-solid education. Our team created DECA, the first early college high school in Ohio. DECA’s mission hasn’t changed since we opened our doors; we prepare students for college and beyond. DECA’s singular focus continues to be the goal of preparing students for college- academically, socially, emotionally, and financially. Quality schools do not result from flavor-of-the-month or sloganeering reforms. Rather, DECA’s journey is one of steady growth and careful attention to achievement and culture. We pay attention to critical partnerships among parents, teachers, and the community, all working toward the same goals. We strive to have little contradiction between our actions and our words. We focus on results. The trajectory of our students’ lives, and often their families’ lives, change because of DECA. Building a stellar school system is complicated work amid competing demands and pressures. Teaching at DECA requires GRIT, PASSION, CREATIVITY, and DEDICATION. We seek revolutionary thinkers who believe that education changes lives and have a deep commitment to serve the marginalized in the city of Dayton.