ABOUT BART CHARTER SCHOOL
Berkshire Arts & Technology (BART) Charter Public School is a nationally recognized, award-winning, college-preparatory, public middle and high school located in Adams, Massachusetts. As the only charter public school in Berkshire County, BART has consistently ranked among the top schools in Massachusetts for student academic achievement and growth. BART teachers and staff are committed to preparing students for college and a lifetime of learning.
At BART, we believe diversity strengthens our community. We believe that recruiting, supporting, and retaining a diverse faculty and staff is essential to providing an excellent and representative education for our students. We support equity through representative hiring practices and welcome applications from members of communities that have historically not
been represented in teaching and leadership positions in Berkshire County schools.
POSITION SUMMARY
BART’s Principal is essential to the success of the students, faculty, and staff. Serving as the chief academic affairs and student affairs officer and reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Principal must be a dynamic, passionate, and extraordinary educational leader.
We are searching for a Principal who will begin at BART on or before July 1, 2024. The individual we are looking for will be able to demonstrate impressive results, excellent judgment, and strong relationship skills through previous educational and instructional leadership. The Principal will collaborate with the Executive Director, setting high standards and leading BART’s faculty to improve instruction and educational outcomes for all students. The new Principal will join the Executive Director in creating and implementing a new multi-year strategic plan to advance the School’s work towards greater diversity, equity, and inclusion. The salary range, commensurate with experience, is $105,000 to $125,000 per year.
EXPECTATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Principal will be evaluated according to the following key responsibilities:
Instructional Leadership
- Build a school culture with systems and supports in place that motivates students to achieve their best and to work beyond their own expectations.
- Ensure that curriculum and instruction are driven by student performance data.
- In conjunction with the Assistant Principal and Instructional Leaders, promote instructional practices that are responsive to student needs and include multi-tiered systems of support.
- In conjunction with the Director of Special Education, align the delivery and supervision of special education with general education.
- Supervise Curriculum Accommodation Plans to meet the needs of diverse learners in the general education program.
- Promote programs, policies, and practices that address needs of the whole student—intellectual, social, emotional, and physical.
- Set benchmarks, monitor progress, and evaluate success of teachers and staff against individual and schoolwide goals.
Management and Operations
- Work with the Executive Director and other members of the School’s senior administration to ensure compliance with all state and federal laws and regulations.
- In conjunction with members of the School’s senior administration, plan, organize, and deliver exceptional professional development.
- Along with the Assistant Principal and Instructional Leaders, provide ongoing feedback to all faculty by way of classroom observations.
- In conjunction with other administrative personnel, develop necessary policies, procedures, and practices that ensure integrity of school culture (Employee Handbook, Student Handbook, etc.).
- In conjunction with the Assistant Principal and others, ensure supervision of the building and support for extracurricular activities and events.
- Manage closely with the Director of Finance & Operations and Executive Director the School’s operational budget, especially in regards to academic operations.
- Serve as a liaison with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on all instructional matters.
- Work with the Executive Director to ensure that instructional and mission-driven Accountability Plan goals are achieved.
Family and Community Engagement
- Effectively communicate school-wide goals, initiatives, and opportunities to families and the community.
- Welcome family and volunteer involvement through open-houses, school programs, listening sessions, and academic discussions.
- Support recruitment of a diverse student body by assisting with outreach and events, and welcoming students from all backgrounds.
Professional Culture
- Manage and professionally develop the faculty and academic and support staff with attention paid to the distinct needs of middle and high school staff.
- Foster a climate that supports student and staff success based on respect and appreciation for all; foster a learning environment built on teamwork and collaboration among staff, teachers, students, and families.
- Design, implement, and continually assess programs that enhance teacher performance (e.g., professional development, coaching) ensuring regular feedback and support.
- In conjunction with the Assistant Principal and other stakeholders, continuously review and revise as necessary behavior standards and expectations for students, creating supports to assist students to reach these standards and expectations.
- Develop and support an ongoing curriculum continuum that reinforces both the Core Values and the necessary skills to be successful as a student and a lifelong learner.
Perform all other duties as appropriately requested by the Executive Director.
