Interim Dean of Students (Anticipated)

DISTRICT OVERVIEW Holyoke Public Schools (HPS) serves 5,300 students in 11 schools and employs nearly 1000 people. This is an exciting time of change and transformation at HPS, as the District realizes its vision of becoming Holyoke families’ first choice for their children’s education. Although there are many strengths within the District and many students graduate college and career ready, last year, HPS was placed in receivership by the State of Massachusetts, due to chronically struggling performance well below the state average. The State appointed Dr. Stephen Zrike, a seasoned Massachusetts educator, as Receiver, to lead this exciting turnaround effort, which includes significant autonomy and flexibility from the traditional school system. For more information about the HPS Turnaround Plan, please visit: http://www.hps.holyoke.ma.us/turnaroundplan.htm.

This is an ideal position for an innovative, yet focused leader with a passion for improving student achievement and outcomes, problem-solving and change management. The Dean of Students will help the Principal build and manage a fast-paced and dedicated team that works together to provide students and families with the highest possible level of education and service pursuant to the district’s turnaround plan.

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. The Holyoke High School Dean(s) 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 high-performing, 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 socio-economic 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, in-between 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 multi-tiered system of social-emotional 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 school-wide level and maintain up-to-date digital data and be able to communicate information both orally and in written format.
  • Analyze school-wide 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 the Holyoke High School Principal.
  • Have a high degree of trust and autonomy, with accountability to outcomes.
  • Maintain up-to-date 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 socio-economic status) and unwavering belief that all students can excel
• Ability to be a bold, innovative, and engaging change agent and culture-creator; a leader with a track record of inspiring and motivating those around them
• Bachelor’s degree, and Master’s 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.