The Natick Public Schools Seek a

Interim High School Vice-Principal of Teaching and Learning

We invite you to explore a career with Natick Public Schools.

The Natick Public Schools educate approximately 5,300 students from Pre-K through age 22. We are an innovative, supportive, and high-performing district whose outstanding staff provides high quality services for our diverse students and their families from Natick and Boston. Natick Public Schools is a community dedicated to all students achieving high standards in a safe, trusting, respectful environment where learning is exciting, dynamic, and engaging, and where connectedness and belonging are valued and actively cultivated. We are home to families that speak almost 60 different languages and our student population is approximately 29% Students of Color and 71% White students. With a graduation rate of 97% and 90% of our students attending post-secondary schools, we are proud of our commitment to excellence in educating students to be informed and successful citizens of a global world. 

We enthusiastically welcome educators to our district who seek and thrive in a diverse environment that focuses on the whole child in a strengths-based approach. Please partner with us in our mission to support the diversity of our school community, promote and deliver equitable practices for all of our staff, students, and families, and create meaningful connections that enable everyone to feel included and thrive.

Education: Master’s required, preferrably in Educational Administration

Professional Certification: 

• DESE certification as a Principal/Assistant Principal (9-12)
• SEI Endorsement for Administrators

Specialized Knowledge: 

• Strong foundation in student-centered pedagogy
• Knowledge of the developmental needs of adolescents and young adults
• Thorough understanding of theories and teaching methodologies along with a sophisticated understanding of the academic, social, and emotional needs of high school students
• Working knowledge the Massachusetts Standards-Based curriculum
• Working knowledge of the principles of UDL
• Working knowledge of SEL instruction and supports
• Thorough understanding of and commitment to the principles and practices of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice as they relate to student, staff, and community engagement and cultivation
• Expertise in using data to inform practice.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience teaching in a diverse public high school preferred
• Experience working with students with disabilities/special abilities preferred
• Experience working with students who are English language learners preferred
• Experience in leadership roles
• Experience supervising and evaluating staff
• Experience with Google Suite (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Classroom, etc.) and PowerSchool preferred

Skills

• Demonstrated aptitude for work to be performed
• Bilingual skills, especially in Spanish and Portuguese, are highly desirable
• Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff and the community.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form. 
• Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and School Committee policies.
• Candidates should have a passion for working with students, families, and colleagues
• Candidates must be flexible and collaborative
• Candidates must be able to multitask in a fast-paced, supportive environment that nurtures student growth
• Candidates must be organized and able to meet ongoing, time-sensitive deadlines for work production
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Superintendent may find appropriate and in conformity with state certification requirements.

• Phone, intercom, personal computer and software applications as outlined above, scanner, copy machine, calculator, camera, printers and fax machine.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.

Student Success: The Vice Principal promotes the academic, interpersonal and behavioral success of students. This includes the following…

• Coordinates efforts with the Principal, teacher leaders, teachers, guidance counselors, parents, the SRO and other community members to improve inappropriate student behavior, and communicates effectively with parents, teachers and staff about student behavior and progress.
• Provides centralized supervision and control of student disciplinary matters and student attendance. 
• Mediates student-staff-parent conflicts, including implementing the school's bullying policy with fidelity.
• Track student attendance and work closely with students, parents, staff and the SRO to promote full attendance.
• Track student academic performance and proactively managing students who are struggling; partner with students, families and staff to meet all graduation requirements on time.
• Actively participate in RTI Case Management, raising concerns about students who are struggling. In partnership with the other members of CST, design and implement a plan of action and track success.
• Maintain detailed and timely disciplinary records in accordance with the Student Handbook and required by law.
• Other duties, where assigned, to support the success of Natick High School students.

Staff Leadership

In collaboration with the Principal, Department Heads, Department of Student Services, and the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Innovation, promote outstanding teaching and learning by all staff. This entails…

• With the Principal,
• Sets clear expectations and standards for excellent teaching and professionalism.
• Ensures that fair, thorough and timely teacher evaluations are conducted.
• Plan summer training and professional development full-days and half-days during the school year.
• Supervising and evaluating a cohort of staff in the building, as determined by the Principal.
• Contribute to the successful implementation of Natick High School’s teacher induction and mentorship programs.
• With the Principal and Department Heads, further the continuous professional development of every teacher so that he/she is able to successfully produce increasingly high levels of student achievement, including:
• Prioritize staff training needs and to organize a plan for individual and staff-wide professional development; to oversee the implementation of the plan and to revise as necessary in response to student and teacher needs.
• Develop a menu of internal and external professional development opportunities.
• Supports teacher use of UDL practices through targeted support.
• Manage and oversee all student intern pairings, including student teachers.
• Plan and implement New Teacher Orientation for the HS new staff in August.
• Other duties, as assigned, to support the success of Natick High School teachers and staff.

Community Leadership

• Maintains close liaison and working relationships with community youth activities, police, court officials, and other supporting agencies.
• Keeps parents informed in writing, email and by telephone of discipline, academic and attendance issues.

School Leadership

• Works with administrators, faculty, and students in the development of standards of behavior and school rules and regulations.

• Maintains current library of state and federal school law and relevant legislation bearing on the operation of public schools as well as precedent setting case law decisions especially as they pertain to attendance, discipline, and liability issues. 
• Initiates legal actions in matters of attendance and enforcement of relevant laws; refers acts of criminal offense to law enforcement agencies and coordinates same with local fire and police departments.

• The Vice Principal shares leadership and presence at school events. The duties include but are not limited to:

  • Enforce appropriate student behavior at games, dances and other student events.
  • Show interest and support in all student activities, including those that do not draw a crowd.
  • Manage event staff.
  • Help to manage and lead Class Night, Open House, Graduation, 9th Grade Orientation and other major events.
  • Supervise breakfast, lunch and/or morning or afternoon bus pickup.

Data Analysis

The Vice Principal ensures the effectiveness of data collection in each department to help teachers use data to further improve the quality of instruction, and gathers and analyzes data to assess progress on school goals. The duties include but are not limited to:

• Using various technology suites to pull data and to create graphic representations of data; Use of Google Sheets and other analytical tools.
• Support department heads in analyzing the results of local, state and national student assessment data to improve student performance.

Scheduling

The Vice Principal is an integral part of the Scheduling Team for the building, in addition to scheduling teacher duties, study halls, student privileges among other pieces.

• Use of Power School to create student schedules, teacher schedules, room schedules, duties and other needs.

Other duties, as assigned by the Principal or the Superintendent.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the job satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: 

• move about the classroom, school, school grounds, office, and/or off-site locations. 
• On some occasions, it may be necessary to move quickly across even or uneven surfaces; 
• remain in a stationary position for periods of time; 
• operate a computer and other school/office productivity machinery (i.e., iPad, copy machine, computer printer, assistive technology, etc.); 
• read material from a computer monitor as well as handwritten or printed matter with or without visual aids; 
• position oneself to maintain files and access school/classroom/office materials;
• communicate with others so that information received and given is understood and accurately communicated;
• communicate and collaborate effectively with students, parents, and other staff members in person, via video conference, on the telephone, and/or in writing;
• observe details at close range
• in the school setting, ensure the safety of students;
• multitask and meet multiple demands from several people;
• may need to teach and support students with life skills development such as eating, cleaning, and toileting 
• lifting up to and including 25 lbs
• the noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud.

• Formal application
• Rating of education and experience
• Oral interviews 
• Reference check
• Strong record of work performance in current and previous roles required
• Successful completion of Criminal Records Check (C.O.R.I.), Sexual Offender Record Check (S.O.R.I.), and fingerprints.

The Natick Public Schools do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, religion, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, physical and intellectual differences, immigration status, homeless status, or any other class protected by law.