Position: Upper School Principal, Grades 6-8
Rindge Avenue Upper School

Key Responsibilities:
The Principal is responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of the school by ensuring that educators, staff, partners and volunteers provide a nurturing, safe, and supportive environment where the self-esteem of young people are enhanced, independence is encouraged, and individuality is respected. The Principal is committed to fostering equity, inclusion and belonging and leading their school community in becoming an anti-racist school community through a shared vision, aligned goals and courageous conversations. The Principal is committed to high expectations for all and values school as a place of community, strong family partnerships, and collaborative relationships with educators.

The Principal reports to the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education and is responsible for working collaboratively with the Executive Leadership Team and other school and district leaders to ensure we meet and achieve our organizational goals and objectives, and that we cultivate leaders within our schools who can become leaders in the future. Specific responsibilities include:

Instructional Leadership:

• Set high expectations for high quality instructional practices at all levels.
• Develop and implement the school improvement plan in collaboration with the school leadership team that is aligned to the district's strategic plan.
• Guide the development and implementation of effective curriculum, instruction and assessment, along with target interventions, leading students to become self-directed learners prepared for success in high school, and future college and career success.

Technical and Professional Knowledge :

• Evaluate and oversee the development and implementation of instructional programs and activities.
• Develops and implements an effective daily schedule and student activities.
• Recruits, hires, supervises, develops, and evaluates educators and school staff.
• Implements all relevant district, state and national policies, regulations and procedures.

Proactive Leadership :

• Facilitates proactive and effective two-way communication with families and staff.
• Ensures effective onboarding orientation for students, families, staff and volunteers.
• Conducts frequent and ongoing classroom observations with curriculum leaders to monitor, coach and support educators and staff.
• Coaches and develops the Assistant Principal in becoming an instructional leader.
• Plans effective and relevant professional development that is aligned to the district's vision and focused initiatives.
• Conduct educator and staff evaluations (goal setting, observe, feedback ) to ensure support and continuous improvement for educator and staff professional practice.
• Responsible for reaching improvement targets as outlined by the district.

Critical Thinking :

• Analyzes and reports on student performance assessments as a basis for curriculum improvement and staff development needs.
• Implements effective data team meetings aligned with the district's data team meeting framework.

School Culture :

• Establishes and leads a culture that results in a love of learning, student agency, and a full range of student learning and growth.
• Builds an engaged, respectful and inclusive school community.
• Creates, leads and maintains a culture that encourages team members to innovate in an effort to ensure that equity gaps are eliminated and college and career readiness is an expectation and reality for all students.

Managerial :

• Leads the selection, supervision, and evaluation of educators and staff.
• Manages the approved budget.
• Monitors the school facility maintenance, service and needs.
• Monitors custodial services to ensure a clean, healthy, and safe learning environment.
• Prepares and/or oversees the preparation of required reports and maintains all appropriate records including accurate discipline and attendance records.
• Delegates responsibility to appropriate staff members to ensure consistent practices and procedures throughout the school community.

Facilitation :

• Uses appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to guide individuals and groups to task accomplishments.
• Plans and executes monthly staff meetings aligned to district and school improvement goals.
• Facilitates problem solving with individuals and groups.
• Counsels with parents and staff to resolve problems and concerns.

Parent/Family Connections :

• Builds and maintains positive and engaging relationships with families.
• Works cooperatively with families to strengthen the educational program for their children.
• Actively engage and collaborate with the School Council to ensure school growth and improvement.
• Respects each family's uniqueness and access to school and district services and supports for all children and families.

Professionalism :

• Upholds and enforces district policies, administrative procedures and school rules and regulations.
• Maintains appropriate work habits, including regular and punctual attendance, and maintains appropriate relationships with other staff and leaders.
• Strives to communicate the positive aspects of CPS to the public in word and deed.
• Attend all required district leadership meetings and professional development.
• Continue professional growth through participation in regional and national professional development and leadership organizations.

Student Growth and Stability :

• Fully implement CPSs curricular, assessment and learning systems used by educators, staff, students and families.
• Hire highly qualified, skilled and diverse instructional and non-instructional staff.
• Develop systems and structures that support student growth and achievement.

Perform all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Strong commitment to the mission, vision, goals and objectives of CPS and to working with young children from racially and culturally diverse communities and their families.
• Master's degree from an accredited college or university, with graduate level courses in school administration and educational leadership with a minimum of five years of successful teaching experience in a middle or high school setting.
• Success working in an urban setting with students from diverse racial, ethnic, linguistic and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Massachusetts DESE licensure or eligibility for licensure: Principal 6-8.
• Knowledge of and experience with student centered curriculum, instruction and assessment.
• Proven track record of sound judgment, communication and creative problem solving skills.
• Energetic, flexible, collaborative and proactive.
• Leadership experience preferred.

Salary :
In Accordance with the Principal Salary Schedule: $145,028.85 - $159,293.58

Work Year :
210 days

Cambridge Public Schools is committed to slowing and/or stopping the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, as a condition of employment with Cambridge Public Schools, all new hires will be required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 no later than their first day of work. Written requests for either a religious exemption from this requirement based on sincerely held religious beliefs, or for a medical exemption based upon clear documentation from a medical provider should be submitted to the attention of the Chief Talent Officer.

How to Join Our Team:
Please upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills, experience, and commitment to equity in education meet the qualifications of the position as well as stating how you heard about this opportunity.

At the Cambridge Public Schools, we are committed to cultivating an environment where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are embraced, acknowledging that a team reflecting diversity of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and veteran status allows us to serve our communities better. To that end, we welcome and encourage applicants to bring their authentic selves when considering employment opportunities within our school district.