Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools & College/Career Readiness (SY25-26)

Founded in 1647, Boston Public Schools (BPS) is the country's oldest public school district. With approximately 49,000 students from over 114 different countries, and nearly 10,000 employees (including 4,800 teachers), BPS is the largest school district in Massachusetts, with a diverse portfolio of schools. With 34 diploma-granting secondary schools and programs, the BPS Office of Secondary Schools (OSS) houses Career and Technical Education, Educational Options, International Baccalaureate & Advanced Placement, Early College Programs, School Counseling Services, Postsecondary Initiatives & Partnerships, and the Reengagement Center. Boston Public Schools established the Office of Secondary Schools to collaborate with leaders and their teams to offer a suite of academic and planning resources, develop strategies to accelerate students' learning, and open access to advanced coursework and multiple pathways to high school completion and postsecondary entry. Today, OSS continues to use an asset-based approach to engage with Heads of Schools, teachers, staff, students, families, and community members in providing tiered-level support focused on learner-centered programs and services that promote college/career readiness and life success.

The Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools and College & Career Readiness oversees the work of OSS and reports to the Chief of Schools for BPS. The individual must believe we can create a system " that every child, in every classroom, in every school of the Boston Public Schools system has the same opportunity to achieve greatness within them as anybody else." Currently, the district is developing strategies at the high school level to deliver on the promises of a quality guarantee in Academics, Facilities, Enrichment, and student and family support. The Assistant Superintendent will provide ongoing vision, leadership, and management of the OSS cross-departmental team responsible for redesigning secondary school programs and pathways and establishing alignment and coherence across new and existing initiatives. In addition, the Assistant Superintendent will be responsible for working across district departments to implement the BPS Vision of a Graduate, a set of foundational core values informed by students, school leaders, and other BPS and the City of Boston stakeholders. While the OSS team has focused on adding implementation capacity across high schools, new efforts around grade reconfiguration call for programs to be interpreted and extended to students earlier in the continuum.

The person leading this work must firmly commit to racial equity and eliminating racial disparities in access and achievement. They must be prepared to support program directors in developing and implementing systems and structures across the secondary schools and build programs to include a target focus on equitable access by increasing participation of Black, Latinx, Males, English Learners, and Students with Disabilities. In addressing this goal, the Assistant Superintendent will be responsible for building a system of change to include visioning, skill development, incentives, and resources in a well-defined strategic plan for the programs and pathways aligned to the redesign of secondary schools grades 7-12. This ensures that inclusive opportunities are made available to all, and support will be provided to achieve a shared definition of success.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Systemic Strategy for Redesigning Secondary School Structures, Pathways, and Programs

• Drive and advance bold strategies for secondary school redesign, and serve on the district-level executive leadership team to advise and make recommendations to the Chief of Schools, Superintendent, and department heads that advance the work of OSS.
• Inform facility upgrades, where needed, to accommodate the expansion of high-quality college and career pathways.
• Facilitate strategies that extend beyond the boundaries of high schools with a focus on the vertical alignment with middle grades.
• Approve all proposals for new school systems, designs, and pathways put forth by the program directors.
• Convene key district departments, including but not limited to Academics, Counseling Services, Engagement, Legal, Transportation, Special Education, and the Office of English Language Learners, to review the district systems, policies, and practices needed to align core components of a well-constructed strategic plan for OSS services.
• Work with Data & Accountability to monitor and track year-to-year progress metrics for established and emerging OSS programs. Metrics to include 4-5 year graduation rates, participation in anytime/anywhere learning, GPA of 2.7 or higher, an individualized success plan, and participation in rigorous coursework (completion of MassCore and enrollment in advanced coursework).
• Convene secondary school leaders and central office departments to analyze data to identify trends, opportunities for improvement, and other ways to strengthen school programs.
• Establish a formal process between the district and school leadership to develop a strategy for consistency in program implementation.
• Work with the Business Office to establish a financial sustainability plan for OSS staffing and funds needed to supplement program costs across schools.
• Create opportunities for sharing redesign practices among the collaborative networks and school leaders' professional learning sessions.
• Collaborate with the Office of Civil Rights to facilitate equity round tables and ensure the use of the Racial Equity Planning Tool across high schools for new initiatives and policies.
• Create a system with program directors to review each school's pathways expansion proposal for alignment with the OAG policy.
• Initiate new systems with the Office of Family & Community Advancement and Welcome Services to increase the diversity of students accessing high school pathways, including examination of the assignment and placement process.
• Build a system for coordination across OSS staff as they plan for and launch new program models.
• Initiate a working group to review secondary school selection and enrollment processes which lead to greater equity and access to high-quality pathways.

City-wide Coordination and Visionary Leadership

• Lead implementation of the BPS Vision of a Graduate across stakeholder groups and schools.
• Represent the Superintendent's priorities for secondary schools at local, regional, and state convenings.
• Leverage relationships with the Mayor's Policy Office, City Council Committee on Education, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), New Skills-Boston/Edvestors, Boston Opportunity Agenda, and other constituencies to support OSS leaders with the incubation of new school experiences and achieve the district's goals for secondary schools
• Support program directors in establishing renewed alliances with the philanthropic community and align resources needed to support and sustain expansion efforts over time.
• Maintain regular communication with cross-sector stakeholders about progress related to pathways vision, design, and implementation across BPS.

Supervision and Evaluation

• Supervise and lead the office of secondary schools and its direct reports.
• Incorporate an accountability system and departmental dashboard to regularly evaluate the progress of the program's impact on student and school success.
• Create a system for ongoing communication, collaboration, and professional learning across members of OSS sub-departments.

Additional Responsibilities

• Set an articulated strategic direction for programs, services, and pathways related to high school redesign that combines OSS sub-departmental focus areas.
• Activate current OSS strategic plan for BPS, emphasizing open enrollment/comprehensive schools in the Secondary School Redesign to increase rigor across subjects, graduation rates, and college entry.
• Expand the number of quality pathways and programs based on BPS' strategic plan.
• Produce written reports with supporting evidence submitted monthly to the Equity & Strategy division to implement strategic plan priorities related to programs and pathways.
• Maintain compliance with DESE grant funds received for department initiatives.
• Performs such other tasks and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Chief of Schools, Superintendent, or Senior Deputy Superintendent of Academics.

Qualifications - Required:

• Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in a related field
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in an urban school or district-based leadership position.
• Valid DESE certification for Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent or eligible to obtain one within the first year of employment
• Previous experience as a Principal/school administrator
• Evidence of an ability to articulate a commitment to equity-focused work and rigorous coursework in closing opportunity and achievement gaps.
• The ability to examine programs, policies, and systems through a racial equity lens.
• Familiarity with national, State, and District educational goals and standards.
• Experience in leading instructional and curriculum development and implementation to meet students' needs.
• Strong management capabilities evidenced by successful experience in program planning and implementation, marketing, budgeting, or program evaluation.
• Demonstrate leadership qualities and interpersonal attributes necessary to work effectively with diverse groups of students, families, teachers, administrators, and external partners.
• Demonstrate commitment and leadership in eliminating racial and achievement disparities.
• Ability to examine programs, policies, and systems through a racial equity lens.
• Excellent technological skills to create efficient systems for communications and familiarity with Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets; Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel; and other relevant Google and Microsoft software.
• Successful experience measuring outcomes, troubleshooting, and producing desirable results.
• Experience with budget planning and development, proposal development, assembly, and submission.
• Strong organizational, oral facilitation, and written communication skills.

Qualifications - Preferred:

• Doctoral Degree in Education or Educational Leadership
• Minimum of 15 years of experience working in the K-12 sector, transforming educational experiences for students.
• Previous district administrator leadership experience
• Previous knowledge or experience with Boston or Boston Public Schools.

TERMS: Managerial, E91 ($173,911)

The Boston Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, does not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, age, criminal record (inquiries only), disability, homelessness, sex/gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetics or military status, and does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals' dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.