District Overview
The Holyoke Public Schools are committed to ensuring a highquality education for all. We have invested in recruiting and retaining diverse topquality educators who inspire bold thinking recognize student potential and encourage all students to work towards their goals. In Holyoke we are committed to becoming an antiracist district by focusing on:
- AntiRacism Training for All Staff Members
- Policy Review and Revision
- Facilitating School Visits Through an Equity Lens
- Establishing the Holyoke Race and Equity Team
- Establishing Equity Indicators for Accountability of HPS Employees Students
- and Partners
We know that students do their best when they pursue their passions so we have designed multiple pathways where all students graduate prepared to excel in college career and
community leadership. Holyoke Public Schools (HPS) serves 5400 students (of which over 80 are Latinx) in 12 schools and employs nearly 1500 District was placed into
receivership by the State of Massachusetts in Spring 2015 because of struggling performance and has since implemented a Turnaround Plan that has led to expanded choice programs (such as dual language STEM and early college) and new opportunities for students to explore the arts sports sciences and local and world cultures. Since 2015 the District has experienced numerous accomplishments for instance:
- doubling access to PreK programming
- 10point graduation rate increase
- 85 percent increase in access to early college programming
- 9point increase (to 22 in hiring teachers of color
DEAN OF STUDENTS ROLE OVERVIEW / KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The district believes that schools are the units of change and that school leaders are vital to school success. TheDean TechnicalHigh School Dean of Students will support the Principal to effectively lead manage and oversee all functions of the school. Under the direction of the Principal s/he will have the responsibility to:
- Build and cultivate a highperforming positive and collaborative school culture in support of students:
- Maintain high expectations for the achievement of all students particularly the traditionally underserved student populations (i.e. students with disabilities limited language proficiency and low socioeconomic status) in collaboration with the school leadership team
- Support teachers to hold all students to high and consistent behavioral expectations
- Serve as a resource to teachers in terms of issues of discipline relationships with students classroom management and school culture
- Serving as the point person for discipline/culture issues
- Supervise breakfast lunch inbetween class transitions activity period/office hour and dismissal making sure that students are always where they are supposed to be and ensuring a professional school culture at these times.
- Manage before and after school detention
- Foster positive student culture and climate and build positive relationships with individual students
- Develop relationships and behavior plans with those students who need help by coaching supporting and compelling these students towards increasingly positive behavior.
- Organize student activities including clubs pep rallies prom community service projects etc. and Coordinate student leadership opportunities (e.g. student council) and organize student activities and incentives
- Support school implementation on Restorative Justice in collaboration with the Director of Student Support and Student Support Team.
- Serve as the primary formation and discipline authority for students support teachers with students who are being disruptive in class remove students (as necessary) and assign appropriate consequences.
- Manage and operate a safe efficient and effective learning environment:
- Lead the development and implementation of a multitiered system of socialemotional and instructional supports for all students.
- Develop and execute systems and procedures (e.g. student behavior management systems schedules interventions PD food services transportation) that promote teaching and learning.
- Monitor students attendance rates and employ strategies and incentives to increase attendance in collaboration with clerks and members of the Family and Community Engagement team
- Track behavior statistics discipline interventions and outcomes on an individual student level and on a schoolwide level and maintain uptodate digital data and be able to communicate information both orally and in written format.
- Analyze schoolwide trends behavior and class transitions and develop and lead initiatives to address challenges.
- Work collaboratively with the guidance department related service provider family and community engagement staff partners and other individuals to ensure that students and families receive appropriate level of support services.
- Partner with families and community members:
- Build relationships and engage frequently with parents and community members as critical partners in school improvement.
- Demonstrate an appreciation of cultural and language differences and the resulting needs of students.
- Participate in formal and informal meetings and conferences with principal parents students and members of the community.
- Facilitate outreach to community leaders and organizations for the purpose of developing resources community service projects and building partnerships with community members.
- Specifics:
- Report to theDean Technical High School Principal.
- Have a high degree of trust and autonomy with accountability to outcomes.
- Maintain uptodate digital data and be able to communicate information both orally and in written format.
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:
Experience skills traits and beliefs:
- Excellent managerial skills with proven success managing and coaching a team of professionals to ambitious goals
- Strong communication skills both written and verbal with the ability to guide and inspire teachers school staff school leaders and central office staff toward a common goal
- Exceptional interpersonal skills with a track record of motivating and support students and working collaboratively with staff families and partners to build consensus and deliver exceptional results
- Outstanding problem solving skills
- A commitment to high expectations for all students particularly the traditionally underserved student populations (i.e. students with disabilities limited language proficiency and low socioeconomic status) and unwavering belief that all students can excel
- Ability to be a bold innovative and engaging change agent and culturecreator; a leader with a track record of inspiring and motivating those around them
- Bachelors degree and Masters degree in Education or related field
- Certified (or in the process of obtaining certification) in Massachusetts as a teacher counselor director or principal
- Experience as an educator and teacher leader in an urban setting
- Experience leading supervising and/or directing other professionals
- Preferred: bilingual (English/Spanish)
- Preferred: strong cultural competence in working with students and families of Puerto Rican descent
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Salary and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience. This will be a 205 day position.