SY21-22 Kiley Prep Middle School Assistant Principal

Grade Level: 6-8 

Leading in SEZP

SEZP is seeking leaders and educators who are excited and ready to make an impact in a collaborative, engaging, diverse, and high energy environment. We are seeking leaders who believe teachers are activists - promising instructional access, rigor, advocacy, and a tenacious commitment to anti-racism for all students. SEZP leaders are expected to:

• Create a safe, purposeful school environment that prioritizes learning for all students
• Collaborate with other leaders, teachers, and partners to ensure instruction is meeting the needs of all students
• Ensure that instruction meets the needs of all students, including students with special needs, English Language Learners, and students performing below grade level
• Build relationships and communicate regularly with students and their families to solicit input and share academic progress
• Engage in learning about issues of racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion in education to examine your own biases; reflect on how those biases affect you, your students, and their families; and plan and deliver instruction in a culturally responsive way
• Participate in and learn from regular professional development opportunities before and during the school year

In addition, the Assistant Principal will act in the capacity of a school administrator and assist the Principal in the performance of duties noted under the following categories:

Leadership 

• Articulates the vision and mission of the school and the district.
• Reviews, evaluates, and revises instructional programs using relevant data.
• Knows and encourages appropriate uses of instructional technologies.
• Involves staff in preparing and implementing professional development plans that are related to high student achievement.
• Understands the principles of mentoring and peer coaching.
• Promotes activities that honor academic excellence.
• Implements the school's and district's goals.

Administration

• Demonstrates effective oral and written communication skills.
• Uses effective methods of personnel selection, supervision, and evaluation.
• Identifies, implements, and evaluates content-based instruction based on the MA Curriculum Frameworks.
• Practices relevant fiscal management policies and procedures.
• Uses technology appropriately: as an organizational tool for record keeping and scheduling; as a communication tool; data collection and accountability; and educational research.
• Assists in the improvement of instructional programs. 
• Provides support and leadership in implementing standards-based classrooms.
• Understands plant facilities and equipment management.

Equity

• Assures presence and quality of educational practices and programs that address the needs, interests, and abilities of all students.
• Understands, models, and encourages the belief that effort is a key factor in achievement.
• Helps all students see themselves as unique individuals responsible for their own actions.
• Follows and helps train teachers to use the district’s Code of Conduct.
• Understands, uses, and supports the use of intervention services for students.
• Assures high academic expectations for all students.
• Holds teachers, students, and self to high standards of performance and behavior.

Community Relations

• Involves families and other community members in developing the vision, goals, School Improvement Plans, and programs for the school/district.
• Promotes partnerships among staff, families, the business community, and other 
  community groups and uses community resources to enhance instruction.

Professional Responsibilities

• Is familiar with the district’s student support services.
• Knows multiple strategies to assess student performance.
• Understands organizational change, school-based management, and school restructuring.
• Understands federal, state, and local laws and regulations including laws on disability, civil rights and responsibilities, issues of liabilities, and requirements of due process.
• Participates in parent conferences, PTO work, and community relations.
• Takes an active part in professional organizations.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university preferred
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university required
• Licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Education as a School Principal/Assistant Principal at the appropriate level preferred
• A minimum of five (5) years of successful classroom teaching experience preferred
• Leadership experiences-chairman of teacher’s committees, school counselor, officer of professional or community organizations, school administration, SEA career ladder positions, etc. preferred
• Experience in positions of responsibility in professional and community groups preferred

If you meet some of the qualifications above, we encourage you to apply or to reach out for more information. We know that historically marginalized groups – including people of color, women, people from working class backgrounds, and people who identify as LGBTQ – are less likely to apply unless and until they meet every requirement for a job. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.

We encourage you to reach out to SEZP@springfieldempowerment.org if you have questions about the role or your qualifications. We are happy to help you feel ready to apply!

Benefits

SEZP offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience; salaries for new teachers start at $50,500. Teachers in SEZP qualify for benefits (personal/sick days, retirement, health insurance, etc.) offered to other teachers in the Springfield Public Schools.

In addition, there are several opportunities unique to SEZP schools to increase earnings above base salary. While not guaranteed, those opportunities currently include, but are not limited to:

• Advanced and Master Teacher positions: These are awarded following an application process that typically takes place each winter, and come with salaries of up to $87,000
• Expanded Learning Time stipends at some schools, based on the yearly schedule
• Annual stipends for Capstone Projects associated with national-level professional development opportunities, following an application and selection process
• Empowerment Academies: Intervention and instruction opportunities we implement during February, April, and summer breaks, following an application and selection process

Positions will be filled on a rolling basis; applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. Please contact sezp@springfieldempowerment.org with any questions.

About the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership

While Massachusetts is consistently ranked as one of the top states for education results in the country, we have one of the highest and most persistent opportunity gaps. The Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP) - established in 2015 as a collaboration between Springfield Public Schools (SPS), the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and the Springfield Education Association (SEA) – seeks to improve the longitudinal life outcomes of the more than 5,000 students in our eleven middle and high schools.

As a “zone” of schools within the city of Springfield, SEZP’s approach draws on a deep and embedded partnership with the school district and local teachers’ union, while harnessing the flexibility and innovation found in autonomous school models. As a result, each school within SEZP is accorded significant school-based autonomies - in curriculum, talent, calendar, schedule, and budget – while being held accountable for realizing achievement gains for historically marginalized students. In all of our work, SEZP is in pursuit of equity and anti-racism – acknowledging the systemic oppression our students and families encounter daily and working to disrupt these provision gaps urgently and courageously.

Nondiscrimination Statement

The Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, age, disability or military service or marital status. The Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate in admission to, access or treatment in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation, disability or homelessness.

Title IX Notice of Nondiscrimination

Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex in admission, administration of its educational programs or activities or employment. Springfield Public Schools is required by Title IX and its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 not to discrimination on the basis of sex in admission, administration of its educational programs or activities or employment. The Senior Administrator of Human Resources, Kathleen O’Sullivan, Springfield Public Schools, 1550 Main St. Springfield MA, 011103, 413-787-7100, ext. 55428, has been designated as the employee responsible for coordinating Springfield Public Schools efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under Title IX. Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 to Springfield Public Schools may be referred to Kathleen O’Sullivan or to U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 400 Maryland Ave., SW Washington, DC 20202-1100, telephone 800-421-3481.