SY25-26 J.F. Kennedy Middle School Student Support Coordinator

Springfield Public Schools•Springfield, MA

32d

About The Position

In 2015, the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Springfield Public Schools partnered to form the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP). SEZP is committed to ensuring that the middle and high schools in "The Zone" are engaging environments where teachers receive the supports they need to grow professionally, and students have the opportunity to acquire the academic and personal skills to succeed in the college or career of their choice. Each SEZP school has the autonomy to craft and implement its own, unique vision for success and receives support from an ecosystem of national-caliber partners. Furthermore, Teacher Leadership Teams at each school ensure that teacher voice is heard and that there is strong communication between school administration and staff. The Student Support Specialist will work with a team to ensure that students demonstrate dramatic student achievement gains and internalize the school's values. The Student Support Coordinator will help lead the school's efforts to create a positive, structured, consistent, caring, and disciplined school culture. We are seeking team players committed to the SEZP mission, high expectations, and their own professional growth. While Massachusetts is consistently ranked as one of the top states for education results in the country, we have one of the highest and most persistent opportunity gaps. The Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP) - established in 2015 as a collaboration between Springfield Public Schools (SPS), the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and the Springfield Education Association (SEA) - seeks to improve the longitudinal life outcomes of the more than 5,000 students in our eleven middle and high schools. As a "zone" of schools within the city of Springfield, SEZP's approach draws on a deep and embedded partnership with the school district and local teachers' union, while harnessing the flexibility and innovation found in autonomous school models. As a result, each school within SEZP is accorded significant school-based autonomies - in curriculum, talent, calendar, schedule, and budget - while being held accountable for realizing achievement gains for historically marginalized students. In all of our work, SEZP is in pursuit of equity and anti-racism - acknowledging the systemic oppression our students and families encounter daily and working to disrupt these provision gaps urgently and courageously.

Requirements

Associate's degree from an accredited college or university (preferred)
1-2 years of relevant work experience;
A deep desire to work with educationally underserved student populations and their families;
An unwavering commitment to the academic success and personal development of our students;
An eagerness to set ambitious, challenging, and tangible goals, and a relentless drive to achieve them;
An ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and a capacity to remain calm and focused when faced with unexpected challenges;
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including strong public speaking skills;
A sense of humility;
Experience in an urban setting