Assistant Principal: Southbridge Middle School

Southbridge Public Schools serve approximately 2,200 students across six schools—and we’re in the midst of an exciting and measurable transformation.  In particular, our secondary schools are on a trajectory of rapid improvement.  This brief video,  Southbridge Middle School Celebrates Recent Improvement, highlights the results of a process of improving culture, climate, and instruction that empowered Southbridge Middle School to take dramatic steps forward even in the challenging aftermath of the COVID pandemic.  Over the past couple of school years, SMS has continued to thrive and has been recognized for outstanding student achievement gains in Math, and by the University of Connecticut as a PBIS success story.  We are now also seeing the same kind of transformative change at Southbridge High School, with culture & climate among both staff and students improving dramatically in the current 2024-25 school year, and we are confident that significant academic gains will soon follow.  

This success is no accident—it’s the result of passionate educators, high-quality curriculum, targeted professional development, and a deep commitment to providing a better education to children in a community that has long been under-served.  We are a district with many high-needs students, but they prove to us on a daily basis that when we provide them with high expectations and consistent support, they can excel.  Most of all, our students thrive when the adults in our schools unite as a team to provide a safe and positive climate, when we uphold high expectations for both behavior and academics, and when we show our kids that we believe in them, we care about them, and we will never give up on them.  

If you’re an educator who wants your work to matter—who wants to be part of a team that believes deeply in growing people and improving student outcomes—Southbridge is a place where you can see the impact of your efforts every day.

Role & Responsibilities

The Southbridge Secondary Level Assistant Principal (AP) will report to either the Southbridge High School or  Middle School Principal, assist in leading the school, and will serve as the Principal’s proxy, when necessary. The AP is a member of the school-based leadership team and works closely with the Principal to plan and implement all facets of pedagogical operation, including instructional support services, the administration and improvement of the general academic program.

Working collaboratively with the Principal, the Receiver, and other central office leadership staff, the AP ensures that Southbridge Schools use all available resources to meet or surpass yearly achievement goals. Under the guidance and supervision of the Principal, the AP supports the day-to-day operations of the instructional programs.

Primary responsibilities include:

Teacher Development and Evaluation 
• With oversight from the Principal, lead instructional staff to achieve high performance through goal setting, collaborative work and evaluation
• Plan and lead professional development sessions, fostering a culture of collaboration and commitment to all students 
• Collaborate with the Principal to evaluate school staff
• Advise, support, and mentor individual teachers and administrators to improve instruction through:
• Daily classroom observation and feedback
• Curriculum, unit, and lesson collaborative planning and review
• Comprehensive and evolving professional development programming

Student Achievement
• Assist the Principal with the research, design, and alignment of scope and sequence, and curriculum with standards
• Improve instruction and learning outcomes for students
• Responsible for monitoring the progress of graduation rates and developing programs to address drop-out prevention.
• In partnership with the Principal, evaluate school performance data to make holistic and individual recommendations for improving instructional practices

• Facilitate data-driven analysis and discussions with instructional staff regarding student performance

Culture and Climate
• Foster a safe, respectful, and collegial climate for teachers and students that allows all members of the Southbridge Middle School community to focus on learning

Management and Leadership
• Embody and advocate the mission, vision, and strategic direction of the district
• Work with parents and the community to achieve maximum involvement in and support of student performance
• Serve as a key member of the Southbridge Middle School leadership staff
• Supervise school wide events and daily operations, as assigned 
• Other duties as assigned by the Principal and/or Receiver

Qualifications
The ideal candidate for this position will have the following qualifications and characteristics:

• Bachelor’s degree (required); Master’s degree (preferred)

• MA DESE Principal/Assistant Principal License (5-8) OR (9-12)  (required)
• Minimum of 3 years of teaching experience with a track record of success improving the academic achievement of disadvantaged students. 
• Strong instructional leadership skills and a record of showing leadership in a variety of situations, such as in academics, school culture/climate, and operations
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with students, parents, and colleagues
• Commitment to ensuring academic success for all students
• Belief in the necessity of high behavior expectations and consistency in upholding those expectations
• Vision for instructional excellence that requires deep thinking and engagement from all students
• Shared dedication to Southbridge’s mission and values
• Excellent teamwork, communication, initiative, urgency, cultural proficiency and positivity
• Bilingual/Spanish language skills strongly preferred

Equal Opportunity Employer

Southbridge Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, gender identity, disability, religion, age, or sexual orientation.