Associate Principal (Secondary) - INTERNAL ONLY, Salem Public Schools, Salem, MA [SY 2026-2027]

Salem Public Schools•Salem, MA

10h•Onsite

About The Position

Salem Public Schools is seeking an Associate Principal (Secondary) to serve as a key instructional and operational leader. This role works in partnership with the Principal to ensure high-quality teaching and learning, a culture of belonging, and strong family and community partnerships. The Associate Principal will bridge the responsibilities of an Assistant Principal and Principal, taking on schoolwide leadership for instructional improvement, assisting with staff supervision, equity-focused culture-building, and operational systems. This position involves building and managing systems for student support, academic excellence, and positive school climate and safety. The role is full-time, full-year, requiring on-site presence before and after school, and potentially on some weekends, evenings, and vacations to support transition activities. The ideal candidate will prioritize students, strengthen teaching and learning, demonstrate innovative thinking, engage families and the community as partners, and foster professional environments that value collaboration, data use, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Master's Degree Required
Required Massachusetts teaching certification/licensure as a School Principal/Assistant Principal (5-12)
Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement (Required within 1-year of start date)
Minimum of five (5) years of Teaching, Administrative or Assistant Principal experience (urban public school setting preferred)
Demonstrates a high degree of energy and a genuine interest in students and their success
Experience working in an urban public school or charter school setting preferred
Strong desire to work within a turnaround, extended day, urban educational program
Experience working with students & families of diverse ethnic backgrounds
A comprehensive knowledge of curriculum, instruction & assessment as they relate to instruction and pedagogy
Proficiency with technology (blended learning, teacher/family communication suites (Parent Square), Google G-Suite Apps, etc.) desirable
Bilingual candidates and candidates of color strongly encouraged to apply
Current authorization to work in the United States

Nice To Haves

urban public school setting preferred
Experience working in an urban public school or charter school setting preferred
Proficiency with technology (blended learning, teacher/family communication suites (Parent Square), Google G-Suite Apps, etc.) desirable
Bilingual candidates and candidates of color strongly encouraged to apply

Responsibilities

Serves as acting principal when the principal is not in the building, making building-level decisions on instruction, safety, and operations.
Co-develop and implement a School Improvement Plan that sets the direction for school improvement efforts (for secondary includes focus areas such as graduation pathways, college readiness, and school culture).
Collaborate with principal and other members of the school leadership team to ensure that all students leave school ready for the next level whether that is high school, higher education, or career pathways.
Leads and plans middle school to high school transition events - develops outreach materials, coordinates events, organizes Summer Bridge and establishes systems to ensure a smooth transition from 8th to 9th grade.
Oversees after school credit recovery as well as alternative scheduling and the community office.
Carefully monitors on-track indicators: credits earned, attendance, behavior trends, course failures, etc. for students who benefit from these services.
Coordinate standards-based data collection and interventions, reviewing priority standards and addressing reteaching needs across teams.
Analyze student achievement results to identify areas in greatest need of improvement and to inform school improvement efforts.
Work with the principal to ensure that the learning needs of all students__Special Education, Multilingual Learners, and General Education__are met.
Analyze other data such as attendance patterns, graduation projections, early warning indicators, and assessment data and communicates data trends to staff and department heads to improve instructional outcomes.
Effectively supervise the classroom teams, content-based coaches, reading specialists and other support staff.
Support and supervise the design of rigorous, standards-based instruction with measurable outcomes.
Institute immediate targeted interventions and monitor their effectiveness.
Conduct daily classroom observations to analyze instruction, supervise staff, and provide feedback to ensure continuous improvement in teaching and learning.
Engage in continuous learning and on-going professional development with principal cabinet.
Facilitates staff meetings to further support SPS’ commitment to anti-racism.
Lead and support PLCs, professional development, and coaching cycles.
Oversees after school programming including daily supervision of staff member(s) facilitating detention.
Assists with supervision of operations related to athletics, fine arts, clubs, and extracurriculars.
Assist with the recruitment and retention of a diverse staff.
As a leadership team, align the use of people, money, and materials to the school's instructional priorities.
Assist with budget alignment to instructional priorities.
Help develop systems for optimal use of time by creating schedules/procedures that maximize instructional time and provide sufficient meeting time for all teams.
Deflect activities that prevent staff from focusing on student learning during team time.
Help with the management of school, facilities, and operations.
Comply with the state and federal laws, policies and collective bargaining agreements.
Assist with the supervision arrival, dismissal, lunch, recess, and emergency procedures.
Serve as acting principal as needed.
Prepare reports, handbooks and communications.
Support field trips, extracurriculars, and special events.
Strengthen teacher and staff capacity to cultivate and sustain meaningful partnerships with families of diverse backgrounds and with community members that support student achievement and student well being.
Work with the leadership team to establish two-way communication tools for parents in their respective languages.
Seek and develop strategic partnerships that will provide students with access to extracurricular and out of school time activities that add value and help drive academic success.
Attend, participate in and support PTO/parent advisory groups.
Along with the principal, represent the school with partner agencies, community organizations, and universities.
Lead and oversees RISE meetings and RISK review to ensure fidelity to protocols and follow-up to ensure that student needs are met.
Oversees restorative practices, peer mediation, and interventions for repeated behavior issues.
Promote a positive, inclusive, identity-affirming school climate.
Lead or co-lead schoolwide culture systems (ex: houses, recognition programs, restorative practices).
Help to oversee attendance and student conduct systems focused on relationships and growth.
Ensure students and families receive needed supports.
Develops professional development for all staff focused on improving student culture, support and engagement.
Maintain visibility and accessibility to students, staff, and families.
Identify key levers that foster accelerated school improvement/turnaround.
Demonstrate high expectations for all students and staff and a commitment to providing the support required to attain them.
Demonstrate cultural competencies and antiracist leadership through behaviors and decision-making.
Establish a collegial environment that honors and encourages staff's continuous learning.
Assists with managing conflicts and foster consensus building.
Foster teacher leadership through delegation, shared leadership and decision-making.