26-27 Director of Student Services

Somerville Public Schools•Somerville, MA

12d•$160,000

About The Position

Director of Student Services Position Summary: The Director of Student Services is an executive-level position that provides districtwide leadership to ensure that every student has equitable access to safe, supportive, and effective pathways for academic, behavioral, and social-emotional success. Serving as the district’s chief student-support officer, the Director oversees all systems, programs, and personnel that contribute to students’ physical safety, emotional well-being, and civil rights protections. This includes direct responsibility for student safety initiatives, crisis-response services, MTSS implementation, Section 504 compliance, restorative practices, behavioral and discipline systems, the coordination of clinical and counseling services, mental health, bullying prevention, social-emotional learning, and alternative education pathways. The Director serves as the district’s primary liaison to law enforcement, the fire department, and community agencies, working collaboratively with district leadership to ensure coordinated supports for students. A strong equity mindset—centered on closing opportunity gaps, supporting diverse learners, and strengthening inclusive practices—is foundational to this position.

Requirements

Deep knowledge of student services, counseling, mental health, and social-emotional development
Strong understanding of Section 504, civil rights requirements, and student discipline laws
Knowledge of Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) frameworks, Positive Behavioral Intervention Systems (PBIS), restorative practices, and alternative education pathways
Knowledge of various software systems including Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and Aspen/X2
Ability to supervise diverse teams and manage complex student-support systems
Ability to use data to diagnose needs, monitor progress, and drive continuous improvement across attendance, MTSS, SEL, behavioral, and safety systems
Skills in leading crisis response, safety planning, and emergency procedures
Demonstrated skill in implementing complex initiatives, managing multi-step program rollouts, and ensuring fidelity to district goals and expectations
Strong project-management and organizational skills, including the ability to coordinate multiple priorities, timelines, and stakeholders
Commitment to advancing equity, inclusivity, and student-centered practices
Massachusetts administrator licensure in one or more of the following required: Supervisor/Director, Principal/Assistant Principal, or equivalent
Minimum of 5 years of experience in a leadership role required

Nice To Haves

Ability to communicate in multiple languages preferred
Massachusetts licensure in one or more of the following preferred: School Counselor School Adjustment Counselor/Social Worker School Psychologist
Clinical experience working with students and families in an urban setting preferred

Responsibilities

Provide districtwide leadership for student physical and emotional safety, including crisis response, emergency protocols, and collaboration with law enforcement and community partners
Oversee building safety systems, such as fire drills, lockdown procedures, and door security, in partnership with Facilities, Transportation, and Safety Coordinator and the City of Somerville personnel
In collaboration with the Assistant Superintendent for Academics and the Director of Special Education, lead the implementation and continuous improvement of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) across academic, behavioral, and social-emotional domains to align student-support strategies with instructional goals
Coordinate and support weekly Student Support Team (SST) meetings across schools, ensuring alignment with district MTSS structures, consistent protocols, and effective progress monitoring
Provide districtwide leadership for student attendance systems, including chronic absenteeism reduction and coordination of the district’s Dropout Prevention Program and DESE SIMS reporting
Oversee Section 504 evaluation, accommodation, and documentation processes to ensure legal compliance and consistent practices
Coordinate therapeutic supports with outside agencies and vendors and their contracts
Direct the development and implementation of social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum, programming, and staff professional learning
Provide leadership for districtwide behavioral and discipline systems, ensuring consistent procedures, restorative practices, and equitable outcomes
Conduct quality assurance reviews of all documentation related to formal hearings, investigations, and compliance processes to ensure accuracy, consistency, and legal compliance
Oversee bullying prevention, discriminatory harassment response, and all student conduct processes
Lead the Social Emotional and Behavioral Crisis Team and ensure effective response systems for students experiencing emotional or behavioral crises
Oversee and contribute to the development of alternative education pathways, programs, and other nontraditional learning opportunities
Communicate effectively with families, staff, and community partners while maintaining appropriate confidentiality of student information when needed
Respond to and resolve escalated parent complaints, ensuring timely communication, accurate documentation, and equitable resolution
Develop and facilitate districtwide professional development on mandated student-safety and civil-rights topics, including bullying prevention, harassment, 51A reporting, Child Find, Chapter 222, Section 504, SEL, de-escalation, safety drills, cyber-safety, and vaping prevention
Supervise district counseling and mental-health services, including supporting school and district administrators who directly supervise counselor educators, school counselors, school adjustment counselors, social workers, deans of students, and attendance supervisors
Supervise and support Student Services personnel, including the Assistant Director, Facilities, Transportation, and Safety Coordinator, School Health Services Director, Mediation staff, and related teams
Serve as the district’s appellate authority for all student discipline cases under M.G.L. 37H, 37H½, 37H¾, and ensure full compliance with Chapter 222, including documentation, hearings, and parent communication
Serve as the District liaison to the City Health and Human Services Department, Staff and Clinical support
Serve as the District liaison to the MA Department of Children and Families (DCF)
Serve as the District liaison to the Somerville Fire Department
Ensure districtwide compliance with federal, state, and district policies related to student safety, civil rights, accommodations, and student support systems
Performs other duties consistent with the scope and responsibility of the position as assigned