Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education

Position: Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education 

Reports to: Superintendent of Schools 

Overview of Cambridge Public Schools:

Cambridge is a vibrant, diverse city as well as a central hub of the nation’s innovative economy. Educating approximately 7,000 students preK–12 , the Cambridge Public Schools consists of diverse and dedicated faculty, cutting-edge technology and innovative programs. While each of the CPS school communities is unique, they are joined in a shared vision of rigorous, joyful and culturally responsive learning. Over 30% of CPS students speak a language other than English at home, and more than 70 languages are represented across the district. Our schools proudly embrace this linguistic and cultural diversity while striving to establish high expectations for all students.  

The Opportunity:

The Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education provides senior-level leadership and oversight for all academic, instructional and school-culture outcomes across Cambridge’s secondary portfolio, including the Upper Schools (Grades 6–8), Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (CRLS), which includes the CPS High School Extension Program (HSEP), and the Rindge School of Technical Arts (RSTA) within  CRLS.

As a key member of the Superintendent’s Cabinet, the Assistant Superintendent serves as the primary supervisor and coach for secondary principals, ensuring that every school provides an equitable, rigorous, and supportive learning experience for all students. This leader drives school improvement efforts, aligns secondary systems with the district’s strategic plan, and fosters strong partnerships with families, staff, and community stakeholders.

The Assistant Superintendent plays a central role in advancing CPS’s commitment to racial equity, inclusion, and belonging, and leads with a focus on student engagement, strong instruction, and responsive school cultures.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Alignment

• Provide leadership, coaching, and supervision to secondary principals with an emphasis on instructional quality, student engagement, family partnerships and standards implementation.
• Lead the development and implementation of processes that advance academic excellence, school culture, and equitable student outcomes across all secondary schools.
• Oversee the design, implementation, and monitoring of School Improvement Plans (SIPs), ensuring alignment with the district’s strategic plan and priorities.
• Partner with senior district leaders to support the Superintendent in achieving districtwide goals and managing cross-functional initiatives.

Instructional Leadership & School Improvement

• Guide the development and implementation of effective curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices across Grades 6–12.
• Establish and monitor strong routines of data analysis to assess progress, identify disparities, and inform instructional and operational decisions.
• Ensure the strategic use of school-based resources to meet instructional needs and advocate for adequate supports at the system level.
• Support the engagement and growth of school leadership teams in developing, implementing, and monitoring goals tied to student outcomes.

Talent Management & Leadership Development

• Recommend for hire, supervise, evaluate, and develop secondary principals and other direct reports.
• Lead the district’s hiring processes for secondary school leader vacancies.
• Oversee and support district-level directors working in instructional, student support, and school-improvement roles connected to secondary schools.
• Provide professional learning for principals to strengthen leadership practice, instructional expertise, and capacity to lead equitable school communities.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Build strong relationships with families, staff, students, and community partners to ensure transparent communication and collaborative problem-solving.
• Represent the Superintendent and CPS in civic, state, higher-education, and community forums and partnerships.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to advance school and district priorities.
• Address and facilitate timely and effective solutions to school-based issues as they arise.

Operations, Planning & Oversight

• Lead Grades 6–12 programmatic budget planning, ensuring that resources are aligned to teaching, learning, and student-experience priorities.
• Ensure full implementation of district, state, and federal policies related to curriculum, instruction, leadership evaluation, safety, and compliance.
• Serve as an advisor to the Superintendent on matters related to secondary education, data trends, and school performance.
• Fulfill additional responsibilities as assigned by the Superintendent.

Your Skill Set: 

You are an equity-driven, strategic, and relational leader who:

• Demonstrates a clear vision for educational excellence and what high-quality secondary schools look like in practice.
• Approaches leadership with strong emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and cultural humility.
• Builds trusting, authentic, and productive relationships with principals, educators, families, and students.
• Communicates clearly and concisely, both in writing and in verbal presentations.
• Makes timely, data-informed decisions and navigates complexity with confidence and clarity.
• Is visible, accessible, and present in schools.
• Leads with a sense of urgency, persistence, and commitment to closing opportunity gaps.
• Models continuous improvement, follow-through, and reflective practice. 

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Educational Leadership or a related field required; Doctorate preferred.
• At least ten (10) years of experience in public education, including experience as both a classroom teacher and a principal, preferably in an urban district.
• Massachusetts DESE licensure, or eligibility for licensure, as Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent.
• Demonstrated success in leading school improvement, supervising school leaders, and advancing equitable outcomes for students.

Terms of Employment: This is a full-time, 12-month  exempt position. Frequent evening and weekend work is required to fulfill the role's responsibilities. As an exempt employee, this position is not eligible for overtime compensation under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). 

The successful candidate will be available to begin work no later than July 1, 2026. The Superintendent’s appointment of this position will be subject to a vote of approval by the Cambridge School Committee. 

How to Join Our Team: 

Apply online at www.cpsd.us. Please upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter outlining how your skills, experience, and commitment to equity in education align with the qualifications of the position and indicating how you learned 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.

Salary : $201,663 - $225,791