DISTRICT OVERVIEW

Holyoke Public Schools (HPS) serves 5,400 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 school year 2015-16, 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/.

Holyoke Public Schools believes that all students have the right to an excellent education; our Speech and Language Pathology Assistants are crucial to ensuring all of our diverse learners have success in academics and life. Speech and Language Pathology Assistants provide direct services and treatment for students within the school setting, with communication disorders that adversely affect the student’s educational performance. The Speech and Language Pathology Assistant is a valuable member of the Team and supports the generalization of skills taught into the student’s educational program. 

Job Description: 

• Provide direct therapy to students of all ages through implementation of small group and/or inclusion intervention focused on listening, speaking, reading, writing, auditory memory/processing, executive functioning, and social thinking/pragmatics skills to support academic and social competencies
• Provide consultation to general education and special education staff regarding student needs and best practices
• Assist Speech and Language Pathologist with evaluations, as needed
• Participate in Individual Education Program (IEP) meetings, as directed
• Assist in the implementation and progress monitoring of IEP goals
• Meet all district, state and federal requirements for the program to which you are assigned, including IEP and Progress Report deadlines
• Create a positive educational environment for all students using a multi-tiered system of supports
• Use professional quality communication skills to convey information to the student’s team
• Remain current with accepted and appropriate instructional theory, practice and research. Including engaging in regular and strategic professional development to stay current in best practices for diverse learn

Personal Qualities of Top Candidates:

• Commitment to Equity: Passionate about closing the achievement gap and ensuring that every child, regardless of background or circumstance, receives an excellent education.
• Leadership: Coaches, mentors, and challenges others to excel despite obstacles and challenging situations.
• Focus on Data-Driven Results: Relentlessly pursues the mastery of instruction based on student performance, and is driven by a desire to produce quantifiable student achievement gains.
• Adaptability: Excels in a constantly changing environment and adapts to flexibility in shifting projects or priorities to meet the needs of a dynamic transformation effort.
• Teamwork: Increases the effectiveness of surrounding teams through collaboration, constant learning and supporting other; sensitive to diversity in all its forms; respects and is committed to learning from others.

Qualifications: 

• Bachelors degree and Licensure from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Prior experience teaching social/pragmatics preferred
• Demonstrate collaborative teaching ability
• Experience working with students with disabilities
• Bilingual Preferred

Compensation and benefits

• Salary and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience