Director of History & Ethnic Studies (K-12)

Holyoke Public Schools•Holyoke, MA

About The Position

Reporting to the Executive Director of Academics and serving as an integral member of the District Central Office Leadership Team, the Director of History and Ethnic Studies is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the district’s History and Social Science program for grades K–12, with a particular focus on the Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Frameworks, including the Ethnic Studies Standards and Practices. This is an ideal position for an instructional leader with deep content knowledge in history, civics, and ethnic studies, and experience coaching educators to deliver culturally responsive, inquiry-based instruction. The Director will support instructional leaders and educators across the district to ensure that all students engage in rigorous, inclusive, and meaningful learning experiences that reflect diverse histories, identities, and perspectives, in alignment with the district’s strategic priorities and turnaround plan.

Requirements

Strong knowledge of the Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Frameworks, including Ethnic Studies standards, and demonstrated success improving student outcomes in an urban or diverse school setting.
Deep understanding of culturally responsive teaching, inquiry-based instruction, and the role of history and ethnic studies in advancing equity and civic engagement.
Experience coaching, supervising, or leading high-performing instructional teams at the department, school, or district level.
Demonstrated ability to design curriculum, align instruction to standards, and use data to drive continuous improvement.
Proven ability to manage complex initiatives and lead through change.
A bold, innovative, and engaging leader with a track record of inspiring educators and building strong instructional cultures.
Excellent managerial and coaching skills, with success leading teams toward ambitious goals.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and motivate diverse stakeholders.
Exceptional interpersonal skills and a collaborative leadership style.
A deep commitment to educational equity and an unwavering belief in the potential of all students.
An advanced degree in education, history, social studies, ethnic studies, or a related field is required.
Massachusetts Supervisor/Director license required.

Responsibilities

Sustain high expectations for all students and strengthen the consistency and rigor of classroom instruction by overseeing the implementation of the Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Frameworks, including Ethnic Studies, across grades K–12.
Lead the development, implementation, and refinement of district-wide history and ethnic studies curricula, instructional resources, and assessments aligned to state standards.
Collaborate with the Executive Director of Academics and the Teaching and Learning team to design and deliver high-quality professional development for principals, assistant principals, department heads, and teacher leaders.
Provide embedded professional learning for educators through classroom modeling, co-teaching, lesson design, and curriculum planning.
Support secondary department heads and school leaders in strengthening history, civics, and ethnic studies instruction at the middle and high school levels.
Work with the Data Strategist to analyze student achievement and instructional data at the district, school, classroom, and student levels to inform curriculum decisions and professional learning.
Support the implementation of a data-informed system of assessment and progress monitoring using multiple measures to evaluate student learning and instructional effectiveness.
Stay current on research and best practices in history education, ethnic studies, culturally responsive pedagogy, and civic education, and apply this learning to district initiatives.
Ensure professional learning is sustained, coherent, and aligned to district priorities and school-based needs.
Support principals in the recruitment, screening, and hiring of effective history and ethnic studies educators.
Develop, manage, and monitor the History and Ethnic Studies budget within the Teaching and Learning Team.
Oversee the selection, adoption, and implementation of curriculum materials and instructional resources aligned to district goals and state standards.
Collaborate with the Director of English Language Learners to design inclusive instructional approaches and pathways that support multilingual learners in history and ethnic studies classrooms.
Partner with the Pupil Services team to ensure high-quality, accessible instruction for students with disabilities.
Serve as a thought partner to school leaders on curriculum planning, resource allocation, and instructional improvement
Contribute actively to a collaborative, reflective, and equity-centered professional culture across the district.
Collaborate with the Family and Community Engagement team to ensure clear, accurate, and inclusive communication with families regarding history and ethnic studies curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
Support partnerships with families and community organizations to enrich curriculum and learning experiences.