Our Mission
"Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School of Excellence prepares kindergarten-through-5th grade students of Springfield for academic success and engaged citizenship through insistence on rigorous, challenging work. The school incorporates Dr. King's commitment to the highest standards in scholarship, civic participation and the ideal of the beloved community.
Background on MLKCSE
Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School of Excellence (MLKCSE) is a stand-alone free and public charter school serving 360 students in grades K through 5 in Springfield, Massachusetts. MLKCSE was founded in 2006 and is dedicated to fighting the opportunity gap in Western MA. We are committed to providing each and every one of our students with the quality education they deserve.
MLKCSE is a Title I school. Our MLKCSE students are 28% African American and 64% LatinX. 100% of our students qualify for free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch. 25% of our students are Emerging Bilingual students and 14% of our students have special needs.
Our school is meeting or exceeding targets for most (93%) accountability measures. Overall, our school performs better than 60% of elementary and middle schools statewide at the 61st percentile. MLKCSE is ranked one of the six charter schools in Massachusetts to be meeting more than 75% of the criterion-reference targets. MLKCSE ranked as the 4th highest charter school in the State for our math performance.
The Role
The scope of the responsibilities of the Dean of Instruction includes the following:
Lead Curriculum and Assessment Development
Develop and execute high-quality, standards-based school curriculum and instructional content consistent with the philosophy, values, and mission of MLKCSE
Ensure that the students' learning experiences are exciting and rigorous
Clearly articulate student performance goals for each grade level and work with teachers to set measurable student goals in individual classes
Continuously monitor student achievement by analyzing independent work, benchmark assessment results, and other quantitative and qualitative data points to target interventions
Attend and facilitate productive content team meetings
Participate in required collaborative curriculum development, grade-level activities, meetings, professional development, and school-wide functions
Lead a clear process for Identifying students who are not meeting benchmarks and plan appropriate interventions, tiered small groups, and/or one-on-one targeted intervention and support to students
Promote Positive School Culture
Work closely with the leadership team to develop a positive, structured, achievement-oriented, and creative school culture
Lead the implementation of values integration and character development within the classroom community
Be highly present and visible during school hours, relentlessly ensuring the school has a strong culture
Support execution and coordination of cross-school instructional and cultural initiatives
Recognize and celebrate exemplary student achievement and behavior, communicating with families of students on a regular basis
Cultivate productive relationships with all members of the school community, including faculty, students, and families
Provide consistent and high academic and behavioral expectations for students
Integrate the teaching of social-emotional program skills into both formal and informal teaching moments with students and model this for teachers
Coach and Facilitate Teacher Professional Development
Lead, coach, and supervise a portfolio of teachers
Plan, implement, and provide ongoing professional development and feedback to all staff, focusing on building positive student relationships, student culture, and classroom community.
Support teachers in developing their classroom management and instructional practice (unit and lesson planning, lesson execution, and collection and use of assessment data).
Assess teacher and student performance
Conduct classroom observations and follow-up with targeted feedback and support to help teachers become even more effective around classroom management, key school-wide routines and procedures, content knowledge, and instructional delivery; tailor coaching plans to teacher's needs.
Facilitate weekly content meetings to analyze student work, review classroom assessment data, and plan for strong instruction
Communicate teacher performance to the Academic Director, highlighting teachers in need of Academic Director coaching due to insufficient performance.
Complete quarterly, mid-year, and end-of-year teacher performance evaluations.
Organize summer training and professional development days in coordination with other Deans and the Academic Director
Recognize and celebrate staff professional growth and success
Provide formal and informal feedback on observations, lesson plan review, curriculum design, and more
Develop and support a culture of reflective practice among teachers
Lead coaching and development of Associate Teachers
Provide Operational Support and Collaboration
Teach classes when necessary, for coverage purposes or professional development of teachers.
Collaborate with the Leadership Team regarding daily schedule, class schedule, and student placements
Ensure completion of report cards and progress reports.
Participate in the teacher recruitment and hiring process, in collaboration with the Academic Director
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree required Master's Degree in related field of study preferred
Valid MA Teaching required Administration license preferred
2 or more years of experience in a direct education supervisory/senior leadership/management role
Our community and students are diverse, and we are committed to reflecting that diversity in our staff. We strive to have the most diverse applicant pool possible and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply for any position at MLKCSE. By fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, we provide the best educational experience to prepare our students for a future reflective of the world we live in.