District Overview

Holyoke Public Schools (HPS) serves 5,500 students in 11 schools and employs nearly 1500 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.  In the first year, the District saw a 7-percentage point increase in proficiency in English Language Arts and a 4-point gain in Math, and attendance rates are up across the District.  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/.

As HPS pursues its vision of a pathway for every students, HPS is engaging in a middle school redesign, including opening a 6th-8th grade Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Academy in Fall 2018. We selected the STEM focus, based on community input, research and alignment with our high school redesign.  Our 2015 family survey indicated significant support and interest in more STEM opportunities for students.  STEM is highly engaging, hands-on learning that promotes strong problem solving and communication skills, which are needed through school and in all occupations.  Additionally, the fastest growing and highest earning occupations are in the STEM fields, according to the U.S. Labor Department.     

The Academy will be co-located with Dean Technical (which will be known as Holyoke High - South Campus, effective Summer 2018) at 1045 Main Street.  The Main Street location has many advantages, including a facility with high-tech equipment and collaborative learning spaces, and a strong connection to our high school academies, two of which are STEM-focused and will launch next fall.  (To read more about the high school academies and high school redesign, visit https://www.hps.holyoke.ma.us/turnaround/high-school-redesign/.  Most of the students attending the school will reside in the current E.N.White School zone, and we will open up a few seats for choice across the District.  In year 1, we anticipate the school serving 150 students, growing up to 225 students in the years to come.  A STEM Academy Task Force is meeting this winter to solicit input from the broader community and make recommendations to Dr. Zrike and the new principals on the design and structure of the STEM Academy.

Position Overview

Holyoke Public Schools (HPS) is recruiting a visionary and action-oriented leader to be the Founding Director or Founding Principal of STEM Academy.  (We are still determining the exact role and reporting structure.)  The Director is charged with driving exceptional academic achievement and positive school culture.  The Director is accountable for student and staff performance, with a particular focus on improving student performance on state assessments, fostering student curiosity and engagement in STEM and promoting a fluid student pipeline into the high school academies.

This is an ideal position for an innovative, yet focused, leader with a proven track record of improved student achievement and outcomes, problem-solving and change management.  The Director will build and manage a fast-paced and dedicated team that works together to provide the children and families of the Holyoke Public Schools with the highest possible level of education and service pursuant to the district’s turnaround plan, with a particular focus on the middle school experience.  

Responsibilities are aligned to the Turnaround Plan and include, but are not limited to:

Drive instructional leadership:

• Enhance the consistency and rigor of classroom instruction through implementing the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, which include Common Core Standards
• Support and inspire educators to continuously improve planning and instruction through coaching, feedback, resources, training, and evaluation
• Build a data-driven culture that utilizes data to understand student needs through ongoing data analysis and segmentation, providing analytical insight to inform strategy, intervention design, and implementation, in collaboration with high school principals and leadership teams
• Partner with school and district leaders at the secondary level in the shared goal of strengthening the quality of instruction and offering a  more personalized and rigorous learning experience for middle school students

Build and cultivate a high-performing and collaborative school culture:

• Establish a culture where school staff exhaust all possibilities for student success
• Maintain high expectations for the achievement of all students, particularly the traditionally underserved student populations
• Build and develop a school instructional leadership team that effectively cultivates a high-performing and student-centered school culture
• Effectively plan and lead meetings and professional development (PD) sessions that prioritize high-quality instruction
• Lead the development and implementation of a multi-tiered system of social-emotional and instructional supports for all students
• Support the development of a culture that builds many opportunities for student voice and decision making

Manage and operate a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment:

• Develop and execute systems and procedures (e.g., student behavior management systems, schedules, interventions, PD, food services, transportation) that promote teaching and learning
• Manage a human capital system (e.g., hiring, induction, evaluation, coaching, development) that ensures high-quality teaching in every classroom
• Build and manage a budget that prioritizes teaching and learning while controlling costs
• Adhere to district policies and state/federal regulations (e.g., special education, ELL services)

Partner with families and community members:

• Solicit input and design a school experience reflect of the hopes and dreams of the STEM Academy Task Force
• Build relationships and engage frequently with parents and community members as critical partners in school improvement
• Oversee the implementation of strategies to keep students on track to graduate
• Seek to thoroughly understand the diverse culture and backgrounds of students and families

Ensure organizational effectiveness:

• Ensure effective and efficient operations of all aspects of a school, in collaboration with the Dean / HHS – South Campus staff
• Adhere to district policies and state/federal regulations

The candidate must be available in the later winter and spring to engage with HPS in the planning and founding of the school.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:

Experience, skills, traits, and beliefs:

• A minimum of five years of managerial experience required, with a track record of effective school leadership
• A strong understanding of Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
• A proven track record of using individual student and school-wide assessment data to drive student achievement gains in an urban setting
• Experience recruiting, hiring, developing, coaching and managing high-performing teams to achieve ambitious goals
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to guide and inspire teachers and school staff toward a common goal
• Outstanding critical thinking skills and 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 visionary leader with a track record of inspiring and motivating those around them
• An advanced degree in education, administration, business or related field required
• Administrator/Director/Principal license required
• Bilingual and experience as a math or science teacher preferred

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Salary and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience.