The Holyoke Public Schools are committed to ensuring a high-quality education for all. We have invested in recruiting and retaining diverse top-quality educators who inspire bold thinking, recognize student potential, and encourage all students to work towards their goals. In Holyoke, we are committed to becoming an anti-racist district by focusing on:

• Anti-Racism Training for All Staff Members

• Policy Review and Revision

• Facilitating School Visits Through an Equity lens

• Establishing the Holyoke Race and Equity Team

• Establishing Equity Indicators for Accountability of HPS Employees, Students, and Partners   

We know that students do their best when they pursue their passions, so we have designed multiple pathways where all students graduate prepared to excel in college, career, and community leadership.  Holyoke Public Schools (HPS) serves 5,400 students (of which over 80% are Latinx) in 13 schools and employs nearly 1,500 people.  The District was placed into receivership by the State of Massachusetts in Spring 2015, because of struggling performance, and has since implemented a Turnaround Plan that has led to expanded choice programs (such as dual language, STEM, and early college) and new opportunities for students to explore the arts, sports, sciences, and local and world cultures. Since 2015, the District has experienced numerous accomplishments for instance: 

• doubling access to PreK programming 
• 10-point graduation rate increase
• 85 percent increase in access to early college programming
• 13-point increase (to 26%) teachers of color

The Dean of Management and Operations will help lead the school’s efforts to create a positive, structured, consistent, and caring school culture grounded in school systems that support students acquiring the academic and social-emotional skills they need to be successful in school. This position will ensure the physical environment and day to day operations of the school are driven by this goal and reflect this focus.

 

Responsibilities for this role include, but are not limited to:

 

Operations Leadership

• Design and manage all school operational systems, including but not limited to arrival and dismissal procedures; transitions between classes; school-wide food systems; uniform checks and dispersal; student enrollment; coverage for absent staff members, and more.
• Assist in presenting professional development and other training for staff around key operational routines and procedures such as arrival, dismissal, lunch, and school activities. 
• Work closely with the front office clerk to ensure fidelity of all data systems, including attendance, enrollment, and report cards systems.
• Oversee the food service team and serve as the point person for transportation. 
• Maintain and regularly update the school’s handbooks (family, staff, student, crisis management).
• Represent the school on the District Crisis Team and maintain the safety protocols for the school. 
• Manage the hiring process (screening candidates for specific school roles such as clerks, paras, etc.) and schedule all interviews.
• Work closely with the Head Custodian to ensure a clean, safe, and culturally responsive school environment.
• Develop and implement all testing procedures and schedules, including MCAS.
• Work closely with the district IT department to ensure access to 1:1 technology for students and staff members.
• Use data to drive improvements in systems and operations.

School Climate & Culture

• Build and implement operational systems and procedures and day to day data systems which protect the sanctity of instructional time and reinforce a positive school culture. 
• Ensure the physical space reflects the school’s values and mission, regularly performing audits and providing feedback to the leadership team.
• Be highly present and visible during school hours. 
• Model the school’s core values and standards for professional behavior.
• Work closely with school counselors and student support staff to implement PBIS, respond to challenging student behavior, and/or provide resources to students and families.

 

Family & Community Engagement

• Create and maintain a school-wide calendar for staff and families. 
• Coordinate all external partnerships which participate in providing clubs and extracurricular activities for students.  
• Build and foster relationships with community leaders and organizations, including maintaining a robust database of community organizations.
• Work closely with the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Coordinator to respond to student and family concerns and/or provide necessary family supports or referrals for services.
• Oversee the full implementation of the Principles and Procedures for Providing Interpretation and Translation Services to Parents and Guardians who have limited English proficiency (LEP). 

 

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:

 

Experience, skills, traits, and beliefs:

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred or 5-7 years of management experience in an urban organization
• Experience in school based operations or in operations at a high performing organization preferred 
• Strong technical skills, experience in MS Excel/Google Sheets, MS Word/Google Docs, and MS Powerpoint/Google Slides
• Proactive, strategic problem-solver who is able to work successfully in a fast-paced environment, often while balancing competing priorities
• A proven track record of working collaboratively and productively with all stakeholders – students, teachers, school staff, and parents, particularly in an urban environment
• A strong understanding of school and district level systems
• Highly organized and able to think strategically and innovatively, in order to continuously improve school operations
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Belief in a structured school environment that promotes a positive culture of achievement
• Ability to be flexible, have a growth mindset, and be a team player!
• A commitment to high performance standards and unwavering belief that all students can excel
• Alignment with the HPS core values and equity commitments

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:  Salary and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience.  Refer to the HPS/HEA agreement on the Human Resources webpage for ranges.