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 About BPE

BPE’s mission is to drive exceptional outcomes for all students by developing great teachers and great schools. For three decades, BPE (formerly the Boston Plan for Excellence) has devised solutions to the toughest challenges faced by Boston’s students and teachers by weaving together expertise in teacher training and school development. We believe ambitious teaching (which we define as instruction that consistently engages all students in rigorous content) requires not only effective teachers, but also systems that support great teaching and methods for continuous improvement. We have prepared over 500 teachers for Boston’s public schools through the nationally recognized and replicated Boston Teacher Residency program, and have pioneered scalable, cutting edge data tools and whole school improvement strategies. Today, we are redesigning schooling for students and teachers by creating neighborhood-based Teaching Academies.

Teaching Academy Schools   

BPE has embarked on a strategy to create and run a network of neighborhood-based, PreK-12 Teaching Academies: schools which provide access to ambitious teaching to ensure significant achievement for all students and a rich training ground for new teachers. In 2012, in partnership with a powerful community organization (the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative), BPE launched the Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter School (DSNCS), an in-district Horace Mann charter school which will ultimately serve 325 students in grades PreK-5. We are now building out the preK-12 pathway and will open a second campus in 2015, an innovative 6-12 academy committed to preparing students to successfully face rigorous higher education coursework, career challenges, and the globally competitive workforce of the 21st century. The school design will feature an integrated curriculum that bridges academic learning with career readiness, and will leverage Boston’s unique position in higher education and industry to provide students with access to authentic real-world experiences, while cultivating key critical thinking and communications skills.

Position Description

The Principal will work closely with a team from BPE and will play a lead role in designing the school’s academic model, recruiting and selecting faculty, building strong family and community partnerships, and managing effective teams to drive results in service of the school’s mission and vision as a BPE Teaching Academy. As the school leader, the Principal is responsible for achieving outstanding student outcomes through collaboratively developing and implementing a shared vision for excellence in teaching and learning. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated the ability to drive dramatic academic success as a leader in an urban, public school, and is energized by the notion of founding and leading an exemplary school.

Key Competencies

• Strong academic leadership skills and a deep commitment to improving the quality of public education in urban communities. The Principal will be work with BPE and the school leadership team to implement a school model that accelerates the learning of all students.  • Effective organizational leadership skills, including, but not limited to the following: • Recruiting and developing high-quality, high-impact leaders, instructors, and support staff • Managing a school focused on executing with urgency and delivering high-quality instruction that leads to high levels of academic achievement for all students • Fostering a reflective, collaborative culture that values innovation, positive thinking, accountability, and performance while promoting the BPE philosophy and mission • Promoting a culture of collaboration where families and community-based partners are active participants in supporting the academic and social development of all students • Strong accountability orientation. The Principal will develop and implement accountability practices to evaluate the effectiveness of curriculum, instruction, operations, and school culture in order to constantly improve practice and drive school and student achievement.    

School Start-up Responsibilities

• Recruit and select highest quality instructional and support staff, with the support of the BPE recruitment team. • Lead the development of all school structures, including but not limited to: the instructional system (curriculum, assessment, pedagogical approaches), schedule, professional development system, parent/community partnerships. • Build strong connections with community partner organizations. • Oversee the recruitment of students and families to the school. • Plan an intensive summer institute to induct all teachers and staff into the culture, approach, practices and expectations of the school.

School Leadership Responsibilities

• Drive a culture of excellence, characterized by high levels of transparency, shared leadership, collaboration, organization and efficiency. • Represent the school to the local and broader communities. • Supervise the alignment, coordination and delivery of instruction, curricula and programming across grade levels and content areas. • Encourage and initiate continued improvement of teaching practice and curriculum in coordination with coaches and teaching faculty. • Implement professional development programs consistent with teachers’ instructional goals and students’ learning needs. • Promote an educational philosophy and school climate that encourages collaboration and teamwork on the part of all teachers and students. • Employ a variety of processes for gathering, analyzing and using data for administrative decision-making and teaching practice. • Promote the development, implementation, attainment, and reporting of specific and measurable goals for student achievement. • Develop an effective plan for allocation of fiscal resources, including planning and submitting annual school budgets. • Promote effective communications and interpersonal relations among staff, parents, students and community members. • Maintain effective discipline and fosters a safe learning environment. • Identify intellectual, physical, social and emotional needs affecting students’ success in school, and takes steps to direct and coordinate the efforts of partner organizations, teachers and parents with services, as necessary. • Monitor and report on state and federal requirements. • Oversee the maintenance of accurate and timely student and teacher records for reference and reporting.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree and valid principal license in Massachusetts. • Minimum of three years of experience as a school leader (preferably principal-level) in an urban, public school setting. • Educational expertise, including, but not limited to, knowledge of curriculum, instructional practice, student learning styles, and student assessments. • Leadership experience with staff management including, but not limited to, the hiring, evaluation, and development of teaching faculty. • Strong and tested ability to develop excellent teams and participate effectively on teams; a collaborative management style. • Proven ability to prioritize, balance, and complete complex projects in the face of competing deadlines. • Experience working with and aligning teachers, parents, and community organizations to promote student learning. • Acute attention to detail and project completion. • Administrative skills, including organizational, operational, and fiscal experience • Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills • Strong partnership-building skills • Sense of humor!

Compensation

Salary commensurate with experience. Generous benefits package, including group health, dental and life insurance, retirement plan, and vacation allowance.

To Apply

Please visit http://bpe.atsondemand.com/ to submit an application for consideration.

BPE is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.