Assistant Principal - Moore Middle

Job Description

TITLE: Assistant Principal - Lincoln Middle

POSITION OVERVIEW:

We are seeking a dynamic and dedicated Assistant Principal with a demonstrated commitment and ability to cultivate a positive, inclusive culture; to continually improve teaching and learning; and to efficiently manage systems and logistics. The Assistant Principal plays a pivotal role in ensuring rigorous, engaging, and joyful learning experiences for all students, fostering an environment that supports the intellectual, physical, social, and emotional wellness and development of individuals.

Working under the direction of the school principal and guided by District Teaching and Learning Priorities and the School Success Plan, the Assistant Principal is an integral member of the school's leadership team. This role involves administering and supervising the total school program, providing educational leadership for students and staff consistent with the educational goals of the community, and contributing to a collaborative culture of high expectations dedicated to student growth, achievement, and social-emotional well-being.

Among your partners in this work will be the Principal, Culture and Climate Coordinator, Instructional Coach, and a team of teachers serving in departmental leadership roles.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Assistant Principal will serve as a dedicated and developing leader in our district's commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Belonging (DEB) at the school, classroom, and curriculum levels, and contribute across the following areas:

1. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion:

• Demonstrate a commitment to the district's vision of equity by internalizing DEB priorities and policies to recognize, respond to, and redress inequity
• Model behaviors to reinforce an equity-based, diverse, and inclusive culture
• Reflect on personal biases and commit to personal DEB growth and cultural humility
• Address experiences that conflict with stated DEB priorities, values, and beliefs, and respond with strategies to decrease reoccurrences
• Cultivate a culture of inclusion and belonging, with awareness and understanding of the impact on a community of diverse needs
• Communicate a commitment to the dignity and contribution of all cultures, languages, and identities

2. Culture and Community Builder

• Build healthy, beneficial, and respectful relationships across the school community, including families and community members
• Model ongoing self-awareness, self-reflection, and a mindset of continuous learning and development
• Promote a positive and safe learning environment which embraces mutual respect and empowers all members of the learning community
• Support effective communication of district priorities with all stakeholders
• Help create and sustain an organizational culture that promotes collective efficacy and high instructional and professional expectations
• Support the cultivation of a positive, inspiring, inclusive, and nurturing school culture, including the implementation of Culturally Responsive PBIS and Restorative Practices

3. Instructional Leader

• Ensure that all strategy and instructional design, delivery, and decision-making is centered around active and rigorous student learning and high expectations
• Enact the school's shared vision of instructional excellence, guided by research-based instructional practices
• Ensure assessments, curriculum, and instruction are aligned to outcomes that produce high-quality grade-level learning, interdisciplinary and critical thinking, closing opportunity gaps, and social-emotional learning
• Build and support school-based instructional leadership teams
• Provide coaching, supervision, and evaluation of teachers, offering actionable feedback to improve instructional performance
• Lead professional development activities

4. Data-driven and Goals-Based Instructional Strategist

• Support and deliver data-driven instruction through the analysis of comprehensive, relevant, and accurate data
• Refine and implement goals-based management skills to set ambitious and measurable school- and classroom-level goals
• Help instill and maintain a school-wide culture of ongoing accountability checks
• Support disciplined data collection, monitoring, analysis, and reporting routines
• Lead efforts to track academic outcomes by student subgroups, with a particular focus on minimizing achievement and opportunity gaps
• Oversee test administration and the collection, management, and use of data for school improvement

5. Talent Manager

• Collaborate to cultivate and engage candidates, serving as an enthusiastic school ambassador to attract effective and diverse staff
• Assist in the selection, hiring, and retention of high percentages of strong staff
• Serve as a regular presence in classrooms to monitor and improve instructional effectiveness
• Accurately evaluate teacher performance against district tools and communicate feedback that yields actionable change
• Foster supported staff autonomy and ensure distributed leadership

6. Operations Expert:

• Exhibit strong management skills, including effective verbal and written communications, engaging in difficult conversations, personal time management, project management, and meeting facilitation
• Support management of school operations including financial, human, facility, and technological resources effectively, efficiently, and strategically
• Help manage operational design, implementation, and time to maximize instructional learning and drive student growth and achievement
• Ensure school safety and adhere to Title IX procedures

COMPETENCIES:

• Change Agent Mindset: Sees education as a relentless effort towards improving students' lives, believing in their ability to make a difference and inspiring others to do the same; not satisfied with the status quo
• Leadership Orientation: Takes strong and principled positions, leans into difficult conversations and decisions, balancing authority with humility, and encouraging innovation
• Student-Centered: Keeps student needs central to every action and decision
• Relationship-Oriented: Recognizes the deep importance of relationships, builds rapport and trust, navigates diverse personalities, and values authentic collaboration
• Coaching Orientation: Champions and advocates for staff, provides actionable feedback, appreciates efforts, and views mistakes as learning opportunities
• Resourceful: Optimizes available resources and networks confidently to broaden impact
• Highly Responsive: Flexible and able to adjust when faced with unexpected, real-time problems
• Strong Communicator: Shares clear, thoughtful, well-defined information, including in-depth data presentations, and synthesizes findings effectively

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Working knowledge of pertinent curriculum standards, techniques for integrating and adapting curriculum, and effective instructional practices
• Understanding of the teaching and learning process, including the ability to provide instruction that reflects multiple perspectives and trauma-informed practices that engage culturally diverse populations
• Thorough knowledge of Portland Public Schools (PPS) policies and procedures, the PPS curriculum, and state and federal regulations and laws
• Ability to motivate, encourage, and work with staff to ensure outstanding performance and good morale
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent human relations skills; the ability to connect and work effectively with administrators, colleagues, central office, school-based staff, students, and families
• Value for linguistic diversity; candidates who speak another language bring added value to the classroom, school, and district culture and diversity
• Ability to manage multiple tasks effectively
• Interest in all aspects of managing a large high school/middle school (depending on placement)
• Ability to serve as Principal in the absence of the Principal and as designated Administrator when needed

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university with an emphasis in supervision, educational administration, school curriculum, or a closely related field
• Five years of successful teaching experience required
• Five years of successful experience working with middle school students is preferred
• Two years of school-based teacher leadership experience is preferred
• Two years of experience in a district office setting may be substituted for experience requirements
• Other combinations of applicable education, training, and experience which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position may be considered

CREDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Meets Maine certification requirements related to Assistant Building Administrator certification (045)
• Maine State CHRC authorization (more info) **
  • **if you already have an active administrator certification, you do not need a separate CHRC as this clearance is tied to your teacher certification

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Attendance at evening and weekend school activities, events, Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meetings, or other community events and functions, as required.

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS:

• Calendar: Full Year
• Schedule: Full Time (1.0 FTE)
• Assignment: Permanent
• Overtime: Salaried position, not eligible for overtime
• Contract: Part of PAA union (new contract being ratified and will be posted here)
• Salary: Based on experience & education as per CBA (25-26 range was $101,338-$124,742; 26-27 range will be higher)
• Benefits: Generous benefits package, including 25 vacation days per year and full health and dental benefits (see here)
• Reports to: School Principal

ABOUT MOORE:

Lyman Moore Middle School is one of three middle schools serving the diverse and amazing student population in Portland, ME. At Moore we believe that each individual brings skills, talents, and gifts to our community. When we learn to put these skills, talents, and gifts together we are able to accomplish more as a community. So, you are Moore, and we are MOORE TOGETHER.

--
Portland Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws.

Welcome to ATX Learning

Maine's largest school system has 10 elementary schools, three middle schools, and four high schools serving nearly 7,000 students in kindergarten through grade 12, as well as about 4,700 adult learners.

The district takes full advantage of its location in a vibrant city with a thriving arts life. Schools draw on the resources offered by museums, theaters, local businesses and the city's colleges and universities.

Portland has a highly trained teaching staff. Many teachers hold advanced degrees. All of the district's teachers continue their education by pursuing professional development activities on a regular basis.

The district provides technology to support instruction, including laptops for each student in grades seven through 12 and wireless access at all schools.

Volunteers, parent-teacher organizations and businesses donate generously of their time and money to the district - an estimated 100,000 hours per year.

Graduates of the Portland Public Schools attend the country's top colleges and universities. See www.portlandschools.org for colleges attended by recent graduates.

The Portland Public Schools gives parents an array of program choices. The district as one of the first in the country to offer project-based Expeditionary Learning from kindergarten through 12th grade.

High school students have access to one of the broadest selections of Advanced Placement courses in Maine. Qualified high school students may take up to two college courses with tuition paid by the state. A regional arts and technology high school provides hands-on courses in growth fields such as health care, robotics and "green" construction.

More than 60 languages are spoken by students attending the Portland Public Schools. Multilingual students represent about a quarter of the district's enrollment. The district's diversity prepares all students for their roles as world citizens.

Portland residents can pursue lifelong learning and professional success through the academic, jobs skills and enrichment courses offered by Portland Adult Education.

Most of Portland's middle and high school students participate actively in co-curricular activities such as athletics, drama, music and service clubs. Portland students regularly excel in academic and athletic competitions at the regional, state and even national level.

See a list of recent honors, awards and recognition for the Portland Public Schools at: www.portlandschools.org. Join Portland ME Public Schools on Facebook. A focus on service learning-connecting the schools to the wider community-results in students undertaking many projects that benefit greater Portland.