Position Title: Executive Principal, School Year 2016-2017, Elementary-Level
Location: Paul A. Dever Elementary School, Boston, MA (Dorchester Neighborhood)
Reports to: Founder & Executive Director, Blueprint Schools Network (or his designee)
Overview
About Paul A. Dever Elementary School
The Paul A. Dever Elementary School (Dever) is an elementary school (pre-Kindergarten through
Grade 5) in Boston Public Schools that serves families from diverse cultural, economic, and
linguistic backgrounds. With talented and committed teachers and leaders, individualized supports
to meet students’ diverse learning needs, a supportive and caring learning environment, and a
culture of high expectations for academic excellence, we ensure all students are prepared to
succeed in college, careers, and beyond.
Dever is located on the historic Columbia Point peninsula in the Dorchester neighborhood of
Boston. The school is connected by a footbridge to the McCormack Middle School and neighbors
institutions such as the University of Massachusetts Boston and the John F. Kennedy Presidential
Library and Museum. Dever is accessible by public transportation (0.6 miles from the JFK/UMass
MBTA station).
Dever's status as a Level 5 turnaround school provides the autonomy to implement innovative and
research-based practices in order to rapidly accelerate student growth. Dever's turnaround
priorities are to: 1) Rapidly accelerate all students’ language development in English and providing
families with the opportunity for content-rich Spanish language development for their students;
2) Improve instructional quality and maximize time for core instruction; 3) Use data to drive
instruction; 4) Establish a culture of high expectations and college and career readiness;
and 5) Hire and cultivate high-performing and high-potential staff.
Dever Student Community 2015-2016:
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473 students in Grade K1 (Pre-K) through Grade 5
50% English Language Learners
14% Students With Disabilities
60% Hispanic, 30% Black, 7% Asian, 3% White
87% considered “high need” by MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Highlights and resources of our school include:
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Extended school day (7:30am-3:30pm) and alternative school calendar
Two weeks of summer professional development for staff
Weekly early release days for students to accommodate extra staff professional
development and collaborative planning
1:1 Student-to-Chromebook access
Spanish language program
Small-group math tutoring through the Blueprint Math Fellows Program
Therapeutic Learning Community serves 40 students with emotional disabilities
Partnerships with organizations such as Achievement Network, City Connects, Playworks,
Wediko, Home for Little Wanderers, and more
About Blueprint Schools Network (“Blueprint”)
Blueprint’s mission is to promote educational equity and improve life outcomes for students by
partnering with school districts to plan, implement and monitor school improvement initiatives. Our
strategic framework arose from an unprecedented analysis of more than 100 schools that identified
five core, research-based strategies driving student achievement, common to high performing
schools. These strategies include:
1. Ensuring every student has an excellent teacher and a school leader committed to their
success;
2. Increasing instructional time;
3. Setting clear, consistent standards for academic achievement and establishing a schoolwide focus on preparing all students for college;
4. Collecting assessment data frequently to monitor each student’s academic progress and
tailoring instruction to meet the needs of all learners; and
5. Providing daily, small group tutoring to students using highly qualified and well-trained
instructors.
Our work with schools across the country has shown that positive change is possible when these
five core strategies for school improvement are implemented together as a comprehensive
package. Our culture is defined by talented and mission-driven people working together to
accomplish great things. We value students first, integrity, sustainable results, diversity,
collaboration and humility.
Blueprint is NOT a charter management organization (CMO). We do not believe that a single rigid
approach to school design and structure can consistently meet the needs of all children. Rather,
we believe that our core strategies must be continually adapted, implemented and monitored to
most effectively meet student and adult needs within the context of each unique school and
community. The Executive Principal for the Dever will be expected to work alongside Blueprint
leadership and contribute to ongoing design and implementation initiatives.
About the “Level 5” Designation
In the fall of 2013, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Mitchell D. Chester
named Dever a Level 5 turnaround school based on chronic under-performance. Blueprint was
appointed by the Commissioner to become the Receiver for the Dever beginning in the 2014-2015
school year. This designation provides a significant opportunity to transform the school from one
of the lowest performing in the state to an extraordinary school with sustained high performance.
The authorities and flexibilities granted through the turnaround plan empower Blueprint, as stateappointed Receiver, to implement an ambitious and accelerated reform agenda so that students
receive the quality of education that they need to succeed.
Blueprint is looking for an Executive Principal to lead, implement and achieve the vision, mission
and strategic goals for an elementary school that is operating in the spotlight of an unprecedented
state-wide education reform movement. As a Level 5 school leader, you will have the opportunity
to drive rapid and dramatic instructional improvements by leveraging specific autonomies including
but not limited to, hiring and staffing decisions, scheduling, and budgeting. The Executive Principal
will join a professional network of other Level 5 School leaders and key stakeholders from the MA
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. On campus, you will be supported by a
School Leadership Team comprised of academic, school culture, and operational leads. The
Executive Principal will also be expected to partner with and leverage the leadership, academic
and operation teams within Blueprint Schools Network. She/he will be able to regularly partner
with a dedicated Data Analyst, the Blueprint Human Capital Team as well as collaborate with
proven school leaders who have served as Chief Academic Officers and proven turnaround
principals within Blueprint school partner districts.
Responsibilities of the Executive Principal
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Support and supervise the design of rigorous, standards-based instruction with measurable
outcomes
Implement an observation and feedback cycle that ensures continuous improvement in
teaching and learning
Analyze student achievement results to identify areas of need and inform school
improvement efforts
Develop, plan and administer a professional development plan to address identified areas
of need to include grade level Common Planning Time (CPT) and whole school staff
professional development during the summer and after school
Foster a collegial environment that supports teacher leadership, collaboration, and growth
Ensure a safe and nurturing environment for students (Grades K1 through 5, including a
Therapeutic Learning Community designed to support the needs of students identified with
emotional disabilities), staff, and families
In partnership with the Blueprint Human Capital team, oversee the recruitment and hiring of
diverse, highly-qualified staff
Strategically align people, time, and money to drive student achievement
Apply teacher and staff performance management systems (for a staff of approximately 80
employees) in a way that ensures a culture of continuous improvement, support, and
accountability
Oversee teacher and staff performance evaluation including but not limited to observations,
coaching, mentoring and training
Oversee the operations of the school in partnership with the School Leadership Team,
which requires the principal to be at the school continuously from 7:15 am to 5:15 pm,
Monday through Friday (in addition, the principal is expected to lead weekly administrative
meetings and these meetings may periodically occur outside of traditional hours)
Meet with Blueprint Schools Network on a regular basis
Actively advocate for and engage family and community
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
Manage partnerships
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Essential Attributes and Experience
Experience
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Prior experience as a principal required
A minimum of two-plus years of teaching experience highly preferred
Demonstrated experience in English Language Development (ELD) and Sheltered
English Immersion (SEI) strategies highly preferred
Experience working within an urban and/or turnaround school highly preferred
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Ability to define problems, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions to address the
school’s prior underperformance through a renewed sense of urgency, innovation, and
unrelenting drive for excellence to ensure all of Dever’s students receive the high quality
education they deserve
Ability to communicate directly and frequently with diverse groups (students, staff,
parents, community) in order to build relationships and maintain a climate of respect
Ability to routinely gather, collate, retain, and/or classify data for approximately 500
students and 45+ teachers
Ability to interpret and execute the directives from Blueprint Schools Network
Attributes
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Self confident, flexible and open to feedback
Facilitator and team builder
Highly organized and thoughtful in approach
Analytical and consultative
Open and collaborative
Able to multi-task, and recognize priorities
Excellent communication skills both oral and written
Other Requirements
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Master’s Degree from an accredited institution
Massachusetts Principal Licensure by the time of appointment required
Massachusetts SEI endorsement preferred
English/Spanish bilingual preferred but not required
Ability to meet the daily schedule requirements outlined in the Level 5 Working Conditions
document (10 hour workday (7:15 am to 5:15 pm), 5 days per week)
Adept and fluent with technology and proficient with MS Office
Compensation
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The Executive Principal will receive a market-driven salary established by Blueprint based
on the competitive external market segment and in recognition of the responsibilities and
related schedule of a Level 5 principal
If selected for this position, you will be employed by Boston Public Schools
This position is benefits eligible through Boston Public Schools
To apply for the Executive Principal position, please online www.blueprintschools.org/careers.
The application deadline is April 15, 2016; however, applications will be reviewed upon receipt
and on a rolling basis. Therefore, interested candidates are encouraged to apply for immediate
consideration. Please be advised, candidates selected to move forward for initial screening will be
asked to provide a data sample.
Blueprint Schools Network and all applicable school districts are Equal Opportunity Employers and do not discriminate on the basis of
sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, cultural heritage, ancestry, political belief, age, marital status, pregnancy,
physical or mental disability or veteran status.