Collins Middle School - Background

The Collins Middle School is located on 29 Highland Avenue in Salem Massachusetts. Serving approximately 688 students grades 6-8 with a staff population of 118. The Collins small class sizes, school-within-a-school teacher teams, and dozens of electives ensure that every student is inspired to learn and prepared to achieve. CMS has an extended learning time model that ensures students have the ability to delve deeply into core subject matter as well as providing critical opportunities for experiential learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to ensure that scholars have the critical thinking skills needed for the jobs of the future. CMS also provides an accelerated math program to prepare our scholars for the advanced Math programs at the High School. Our teachers and staff promote a college bound culture that includes visits to private and public colleges and universities as part of their Collins experience.

Who is Salem Public Schools?

Here in Salem, great leaders are passionate about urban education, drive student achievement, reflect, respect, and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools seeks individuals who are able to serve all of our students, regardless of ability or language. Applicants who have experience teaching in urban schools, hold dual certification, and have bilingual skills are encouraged to apply.

What You'll Do:

We seek a highly effective elementary principal with a track record of success. We seek an instructional leader who also possesses an exemplary managerial, instructional and operational skill-set. The leader must be committed to the belief in the potential of all students. We seek a leader who is committed to the ideals of collaboration, innovation, and who will do whatever it takes ensure that all our young learners attend a top-tier school.

Instructional Leadership

• Leads with integrity, courage, vision, hope, and compassion
• Models belief in the potential of every student to achieve at high levels
• Demonstrates and effectively communicates non-negotiables, including a commitment to equity and high expectations for students
• Makes decisions based on research and proven best-practices
• Possesses strong knowledge of standards-based practices and what mastery of MA Curriculum Frameworks looks like
• Has a strong vision for quality, accessible instruction and the role technology plays in teaching and learning
• Fosters creative and innovative learning environment in which all students are inspired to excel
• Uses data to drive student growth and achievement
• Supervises and evaluates staff using performance standards
• Implements comprehensive student supports aligned to the needs and interests of all students
• Leverages expanded learning time to support the growth and learning of all students and as a lever for addressing achievement and opportunity gaps

Inclusive, Student-Centered Learning Environment

• Creates and maintains a welcoming and inclusive school climate
• Makes learning and the social and emotional growth of all students the core mission and organizing force within the school
• Leads staff in implementing positive behavioral supports and intervention strategies
• Establishes standards and expectations for proper student conduct
• Ensures that the learning environment is infused with the cultures and languages of the students, their families, and educators
• Employs an instructional model and approach to assessment that reduces barriers and optimizes levels of challenge and support to meet the needs of all learners
• Ensures access to high quality music and visual and performing arts programs as an essential part of the curriculum

Staff Development

• Builds, develops, and sustains effective leadership and teacher teams
• Recruits, hires, develops, and retains effective and caring teachers and other professional staff
• Creates and implements teacher leadership opportunities that enable educator voice and meaningful contributions to the work of the school
• Delivers actionable feedback about instruction and other professional practices via coaching and written observations; recognizes exemplary practice and addresses instances of underperformance
• Builds educators' capacity for effective data use

Family and Community Engagement

• Skilled in selecting and leveraging different communication tools (e.g. face-to-face, newsletters, social media) to help shape a narrative and deliver clear messages
• Promotes ongoing positive communication with parents and community partners, effectively involving them in the education of children
• Strengthens teacher and staff capacity to cultivate and sustain meaningful partnerships with families of diverse backgrounds and with community members that support student achievement and student well-being
• Establishes two-way communication tools for parents in their respective languages
• Seeks and develops strategic partnerships that will provide students with access to sports and extra-curricular activities that add value and help drive academic success

Management and Operations

• Recruits and retains a diverse workforce that reflects the backgrounds of students who attend the school
• Builds and manages a school budget and staffing model that is aligned to the school's mission and supports personalized learning strategies
• Seeks grants and other resources to enhance school programming
• Ensures that the facility plant is well-maintained and orderly
• Leverages schedules, calendars, and use of space to enable student-centered learning
• Builds a master schedule that capitalizes on expanded learning time to support core instruction, intervention, and enrichment
• Is a contributing member of the district Principals' Cabinet
• Attends School Committee meetings and other district events as directed by the Superintendent

What You'll Bring:

We are looking for candidates who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, are inspired by our mission and are highly motivated to change children's lives through education. You'll be right at home here if you are a reflective practitioner who values collaboration with colleagues and pushes yourself, your work and the people around you to the next level. We expect our SPS employees to:

• Hold a deep commitment to students and families and value diversity - The SPS community is vibrant, diverse in background, ethnicity, language, and perspective. You embrace and affirm the backgrounds of all members of the SPS community and view our diversity as a powerful resource that supports us each in learning and doing our best work.
• Hold high expectations for yourself, students, and colleagues - You see potential in all, especially our SPS students, and maintain high expectations for achievement, while providing the support necessary to meet that bar. You hold yourself to high expectations, modeling SPS values and seeking opportunities to continuously improve.
• Build authentic, caring relationships with colleagues, students, and families - You build strong relationships across students, families, and colleagues that are collaborative in nature and contribute to the individual and collective success of SPS. You partner with families and colleagues to make decisions in the best interest of students and learning.
• Embrace feedback - You are a reflective practitioner who learns from failure, using mistakes and challenges as opportunities for growth. You model persistence and growth mindset and thrive in a culture of feedback.

Job Requirements

Qualifications:

• 3+ years teaching experience, preferably in an urban setting serving a diverse population
• 1-3 years of leadership experience, preferred
• Master's Degree (Required)
• Applicants must hold a current and appropriate Massachusetts Department of Education license as a School Principal/Assistant Principal
• Minimum of five (5) years of Administrative or Principal experience and working in an urban public school setting preferred
• Demonstrated experience and expertise working with ELLs and students with disabilities
• Fluent in Spanish, preferred
• A relentless drive to improve the minds and lives of all students in and out of school

Candidates of color strongly encouraged to apply

Application Requirement: Applicants should submit a letter of interest, resume, certification, transcripts and three current letters of recommendation via http://www.schoolspring.com or by mail to: School Principal Vacancies Search Committee c/o Superintendent - Salem Public Schools, 29 Highland Ave., Salem, MA 01970

Expected Timeline:

First interviews with the school-based committee will take place during the week of February 25th.

Performative interviews will take place during the week of March 4th.

Position Type: Full-time

Equal Opportunity Employer
Salem Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws.

Contact Information
Alicia Palmer, Director of Human Capital
29 Highland Avenue
Salem, Massachusetts 01970
Phone: 978-740-1115
Fax: 978-740-1279
Email: apalmer@salemk12.org