Assistant Superintendent of Elementary and Middle Schools

Assistant Superintendent of Elementary and Middle Schools Reports to: Deputy Superintendent of Academics Supervises: Principals of Elementary and Middle Schools Work Year: Twelve-month administrative position (Full-Time, Exempt) Welcome to Lawrence Public Schools Lawrence Public Schools is committed to ensuring that ALL students successfully master the content and skills necessary to graduate from high school, college, and/or career ready. We achieve this by providing a standards-based, rigorous instructional program focused on academic achievement and the development of 21st-century skills, accompanied by a comprehensive system of support. These efforts are monitored and assessed regularly to ensure accountability to all stakeholders. Recruitment Overview Lawrence Public Schools seeks a dynamic and experienced educational leader to serve as Assistant Superintendent of Elementary and Middle Schools to oversee the district’s elementary and middle schools. The Assistant Superintendent Elementary and Middle Schools will play a critical role in supporting school leaders within a coherent district framework, balancing strong school leadership with clear expectations and accountability for results. The ideal candidate will bring deep instructional expertise, a commitment to equity, and a demonstrated ability to develop school leaders and drive meaningful improvement in diverse urban school settings. Lawrence Public Schools values strong school leadership and recognizes the important role principals play in shaping their school communities. Within a coherent district framework, schools exercise meaningful leadership in implementing instructional programs that meet the needs of their students. The Assistant Superintendent Elementary and Middle Schools supports this approach by helping principals translate district priorities into effective school-level practice while maintaining clear expectations and accountability for results. This role collaborates closely with academic and operational departments across the district to ensure schools receive coordinated and responsive support aligned with their improvement priorities. Position Overview Reporting to the Deputy Superintendent of Academics, the Assistant Superintendent of Elementary and Middle Schools oversees the district’s elementary and middle schools. This role provides an opportunity to work closely with principals to strengthen instructional leadership, support school improvement, and ensure strong outcomes for students across grades PK–8. The incumbent of this position will provide coaching, supervision, and strategic support to principals and their school leadership structures, including Teacher Leadership Teams (TLTs). Core Responsibilities Principal Supervision and Leadership Development ● Supervises and evaluates all elementary and middle school principals. ● Develops principals’ capacity as instructional leaders through coaching, feedback, and professional learning. ● Conducts regular school visits and leadership meetings to monitor instructional practice and school improvement efforts. ● Provides frequent, actionable feedback to strengthen principal leadership and school performance. ● Supports principals in developing and implementing school improvement plans aligned with district priorities. ● Develops individualized leadership development plans to strengthen principal effectiveness and leadership growth. Supporting School Leadership within a Coherent District Framework ● Supports principals in implementing district academic priorities while adapting strategies to meet the needs of their school communities. ● Helps ensure coherence across schools by aligning instructional practices, curriculum implementation, and improvement efforts with district expectations. ● Builds strong principal leadership capacity through coaching, professional learning, and regular feedback. ● Establishes clear performance expectations and accountability systems while providing differentiated support to schools. ● Promotes collaboration across schools to share effective practices and strengthen system-wide improvement. School Improvement and Instructional Leadership ● Supports principals, assistant principals, and Teacher Leadership Teams (TLTs) in strengthening instructional practices and improving student learning outcomes. ● Guides school leaders in analyzing student achievement data and identifying root causes of performance challenges. ● Assists schools in developing coherent improvement strategies that address instructional quality, student engagement, and academic growth. ● Supports schools in implementing high quality curriculum, instructional frameworks, and assessment systems while ensuring alignment with district expectations. ● Encourages culturally and linguistically sustaining instructional practices across schools. Continuous Improvement and Performance Monitoring ● Collaborates with school leaders to monitor school improvement through structured cycles of continuous improvement. ● Analyzes school performance data and provides strategic guidance to improve student outcomes. ● Differentiates support to schools based on performance data, leadership capacity, and implementation needs. ● Identifies systemic barriers to school improvement and works with district leadership and departments to address them. Building Collaborative Communities of School Leaders ● Develops strong professional learning communities among elementary and middle school principals. ● Facilitates opportunities for collaboration, shared learning, and exchange of best practices across schools. ● Encourages peer mentoring and collaboration among school leaders to accelerate improvement and innovation. Coordination of District Resources and Supports ● Collaborates with academic and operational departments to ensure schools receive coordinated and aligned support. ● Works closely with departments responsible for curriculum and instruction, student support services, operations, and other district functions to address school needs. ● Ensures that district initiatives are implemented effectively while remaining responsive to individual school contexts. ● Helps align district resources with schools’ improvement priorities and student needs. Equity and Access ● Supports schools in advancing equitable instructional practices and improving outcomes for all students. ● Ensures equitable access to high-quality instruction for multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and historically underserved student groups. ● Promotes inclusive school environments that support student engagement, belonging, and achievement. Leadership Pipeline and Talent Development ● Participates in identifying, recruiting, and selecting highly effective school leaders. ● Supports leadership succession planning and principal transitions when necessary. ● Assists in developing leadership pipelines that prepare future school leaders within the district. District Leadership Collaboration ● Collaborates with the Deputy Superintendent of Academics and district leadership to implement strategic priorities. ● Contributes to districtwide planning and continuous improvement efforts. ● Supports communication and alignment between schools and district departments. ● Represents the district in community meetings and stakeholder engagements as appropriate. ● Shares data and reports with district leadership to inform district strategic priorities and school improvement efforts. Qualifications Education ● Master’s degree in education, educational leadership, or a related field required ● Advanced graduate degree preferred Licensure ● Massachusetts educator licensure as Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent, or ● Massachusetts licensure as School Principal/Assistant Principal with eligibility for Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent licensure Experience ● Minimum of five years of successful leadership experience in education ● Minimum of three years of successful experience as a school principal preferred ● Experience supervising or coaching school leaders preferred ● Demonstrated success improving student outcomes in diverse educational settings ● Urban education experience strongly preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities ● Deep knowledge of effective instructional practices in literacy and mathematics ● Understanding of instructional strategies that support multilingual learners and students with disabilities needs ● Strong ability to lead school improvement and organizational change ● Demonstrated success coaching and developing school leaders ● Strong analytical skills with the ability to use multiple sources of data to inform decision-making ● Effective communication and facilitation skills ● Ability to navigate complex educational environments with sound judgment and professionalism ● Strong commitment to educational equity and belief that all students can achieve at high levels Leadership Competencies Successful candidates will demonstrate strength in the following areas: Instructional Leadership Supports principals and Teacher Leadership Teams in strengthening teaching and learning to improve student outcomes. Principal Coaching and Development Builds the leadership capacity of principals through coaching, feedback, and professional learning. Strategic and Systems Thinking Aligns school-level improvement efforts with district priorities while supporting principals in implementing strategies responsive to their school communities. Equity-Centered Leadership Promotes equitable access to high-quality instruction and improved outcomes for historically underserved student groups. Collaborative Leadership Builds strong partnerships with principals, district departments, families, and community stakeholders. First-Year Priorities In the first year, the Assistant Superintendent of Schools will focus on the following priorities: Strengthen Coherence Between Central Office and Schools Work closely with principals and district departments to improve alignment between central office initiatives and school-level implementation, ensuring schools experience the district as coordinated, responsive, and focused on improving teaching and learning. Build a Culture of Collaboration, Trust, and Communication Develop strong relationships with principals and school communities and foster a culture of open communication, shared responsibility, and professional collaboration across schools and district departments. Support Principals as Instructional Leaders Provide consistent coaching and professional learning that strengthens principals’ leadership of instruction and school improvement. Strengthen School Improvement Planning and Monitoring Establish clear routines for reviewing data, monitoring progress, and supporting schools in implementing effective improvement strategies. Promote Equity and High Expectations for All Students Support schools in improving outcomes for multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and historically underserved students. Measures of Success Success in this role will be demonstrated by: ● Improved student achievement and growth across elementary and middle schools ● Strengthened instructional leadership among principals and Teacher Leadership Teams ● Effective implementation of district academic systems across schools ● Strong school improvement planning and execution ● Increased collaboration and shared learning among school leaders ● Reduction of achievement gaps and improved outcomes for historically underserved students Salary Starting at $176,000 Non-Discrimination Statement Lawrence Public Schools is dedicated to maintaining a workplace and learning environment free from discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, immigration and immigration status or any other basis prohibited by law. We prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose discrimination or participate in investigations. All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of the required background check and availability of funding.