Student Support & Culture Specialist - Anticipated Opening

Who Are We? Prospect Hill Academy Charter School is a highly successful urban PK-12 public school located in Somerville and Cambridge. We enroll over 900 students from cities and towns throughout the greater Boston metro area. Our inclusive and restorative school celebrates and serves a diverse community - with 87% BIPOC, 27% ELL, and 16% of our students qualifying for special education services. Our mission is to prepare all students for success in college, foster responsible citizenship, and inspire a lifelong love of learning - as we believe academic achievement opens doors and creates opportunities for our students. We center the values of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion in our work. Our approach to instruction is founded on culturally sustaining, inquiry-based, and student-centered practices. To invest in the growth of our educators, we offer comprehensive professional development, instructional coaching, and mentorship. Our campuses foster a collaborative team environment with extraordinary educators who are committed to ongoing learning, reflection, and professional growth. What does the Student Support & Culture Specialist at Prospect Hill do? The primary role of the Student Support & Culture Specialist is to provide both proactive and responsive student and staff support that reinforces a positive school culture and helps all students meet schoolwide expectations and feel a sense of safety and belonging. Specific Responsibilities The Student Support & Culture Specialist will be a key member of the Middle School Student Support Team, as well as the 6-12 Critical Support Team, with the following responsibilities:

Middle School Student Support Team:
• Attend weekly meetings and participate in data analysis and collaborative problem-solving around school culture and student behavior patterns
• Support the development and facilitation of professional development around school culture and SEB student support
• Collaborate in development and implementation of student support plans
• Part of a team that leads and supports the facilitation of restorative conversations or circles, aligning to the norms and practices established by the team
• First responder to MS support email requests for classroom support
• Support family engagement efforts by sharing responsibility for consistent family communication, especially with highest needs students
6-12 Critical Support Team
• Support critical level student concerns in grades 6-12
In addition to their role on the teams above, the Student Support & Culture Specialist will provide consistent, daily presence in the school building, ensuring both proactive and responsive support in the following ways:
• Support the implementation of schoolwide Tier 1 SEL practices through proactive and strategic presence in classrooms and collaboration with teachers
• Support Tier 2 behavior/student support plans
• Observe and collect data on student/classroom behavioral dynamics
• Proactively communicate, reinforce, and model hallway expectations for both students and staff during transitions
• Offer a weekly club that supports SEL growth with a small group
• Work with SEB team to develop other group-based opportunities for student support that are responsive to student data
• Work with SEB team to develop safe, supportive, consistent expectations for all transitions and time outside of the building (caf, park, courtyard)
• Lead member of lunch/recess/arrival/dismissal duty team, providing feedback and guidance for adjustments to team around strong practices for facilitating safe and orderly lunch/recess/arrival/dismissal
What Knowledge, Skills, and Experiences are needed for this role?
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• 2 years experience working with middle school students
• Strong interpersonal, organizational and communication skills, with the ability to connect with students and staff effectively
• Knowledge of youth development and positive behavior reinforcement strategies
• Excellent problem-solving and conflict resolution abilities
• Commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within the school community
• Commitment to Prospect Hill Academy’s educational mission and values
• Commitment to and experience working with students from diverse backgrounds with diverse profiles
• Willingness to work collaboratively with a dedicated staff and involved parent body
Our students and families are diverse, and we are committed to hiring educators who reflect the wonderful diversity of our students. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply to work at Prospect Hill.