DISTRICT OVERVIEW

Holyoke Public Schools (HPS) serves 5,400 students in 12 schools and employs nearly 1,500 people.  The District was placed into receivership by the State of Massachusetts in Spring 2015, due to struggling performance well below the state average. Dr. Stephen Zrike Jr., a seasoned Massachusetts educator, was selected as Receiver to lead this exciting turnaround effort, which includes significant autonomy and flexibility from the traditional school system. Since being in receivership, the District has experienced many promising successes, including an 8-point increase in graduation rates and 29-point decrease in the number of students who drop-out. HPS has also extended the school day for students in preschool to 8th grade, expanded choice programs such as dual language and personalized learning, and offering new opportunities to students, such as computer science and many other enrichment programs. For more information about the HPS Turnaround Plan, please visit: https://www.hps.holyoke.ma.us/turnaround/.

Job Description: 

• Be flexible in order to meet the school administration’s needs and readily adapt to the needs of the classroom. 
• Arrive 20 minutes early to review all materials and make sure you’re prepared before the students arrive in the classroom. 
• Reports to the main office upon arrival at school. 
• Create and enforce structured discipline and classroom control. 
• Establish a safe and positive environment for all students and staff members. 
• Assume responsibility overseeing student behavior in the classroom and surrounding areas in order to assure health, welfare, and safety of all students.  
• Protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities. 
• Honor the teacher and school policies, procedures, and schedules. 
• Report all incidences of students, including injuries, accidents, illnesses, and behavioral problems to the appropriate authority immediately or as soon as is reasonably possible. 
• Implement lesson plans and instructions left by the absent teacher. 
• Utilize all academic class time to continue the students’ learning progress. 
• Engage all students in lesson through interactive, effective teaching methods to maintain progress in the teaching curricula. 
• Organize students and classroom for effective instruction. 
• Complete a Substitute Teacher Report Form for the regular classroom teacher at the end of every assignment. 
• Return all instructional materials, equipment, and keys to proper location at the end of the day. 
• Perform other related duties as assigned by building administrator(s) in accordance with school/division policies and practices.

Qualifications:

• Must possess a minimum of 60 college credits.
• Must be willing to work a minimum of 3 days per week.
• Communication Skills with parents
• Commitment to ensuring academic success for all students
• Experience working in an urban setting, preferred
• Experience working with diverse student populations, preferred
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply student performance data to instructional planning and execution
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; excellent teamwork skills 
• Bilingual applicants (Spanish) strongly encouraged to apply