About the Position:

The Assistant Principal of Chelsea Opportunity Academy serves as the instructional, operational, and cultural leader of the school along with the Principal. This role requires a leader who can both uphold the school's unique model and guide its continued evolution in collaboration with students, staff, families, and district partners. The Assistant Principal is responsible for contributing a clear vision for student success, ensuring high-quality teaching and learning, fostering a nurturing and culturally responsive environment, and maintaining the flexible systems that allow COA students to balance school, work, and family. This is a highly relational leadership role in a small school community where visibility, presence, and partnership with staff and students are essential.

Job Responsibilities:

The Assistant Principal retains supports oversight, progress monitoring, supervision, and evaluation of all administrators, educator teams, and staff responsible for implementing the following:

Vision, Culture & Community

• Fostering a collaborative, student-centered culture grounded in shared leadership and the school's values.
• Setting and sustaining the vision for instruction, social-emotional learning, and the holistic development of students in an alternative setting.
• Building and refining systems that uphold COA's flexible, trauma-informed, and relationship-based model.

Instruction & Professional Learning

• Aligning academic curriculum with state standards, culturally responsive practices, and CASEL competencies.
• Coaching, supervising, and evaluating teachers and leaders using state performance standards and rubrics.
• Leading the creation and implementation of effective professional learning that supports staff growth and aligns with school and district priorities.
• Conducting classroom observations with actionable, targeted feedback.

Family, Community & Partnerships

• Supporting strong family engagement through communication, partnership, and culturally responsive outreach. Working beyond the use of digital communication and messages to embrace face to face meetings, home visits, and regular phone calls.
• Collaborating with community organizations to expand opportunities and supports for students.

Operations, Systems & Strategic Planning

• Developing and monitoring annual budgets aligned to school improvement goals.
• Leading and operationalizing the master schedule, ensuring flexible pathways for students.
• Overseeing local, state, and federal assessments and leveraging data (including ACCESS, MCAS, and benchmarks) for decision-making.
• Managing school policies, discipline systems, and the continued integration of restorative practices.

General Leadership

• Overseeing student relations, personnel management, facilities, and community relations.
• Carrying out other responsibilities as assigned by the Principal.

Qualifications Required:

• Master's Degree and MA DESE Principal license require
• Minimum 6-8 years of professional experience, including at least 5 years of effective teaching
• Experience working with culturally diverse student populations
• Demonstrated leadership abilityExperience with curriculum development and assessment (Understanding by Design, Performance Assessments, Instructional Rounds)
• Demonstrated competence in staff supervision and evaluationProven ability to build strong partnerships with families and community organizations
• Ability to prepare and administer an annual school budget
• Knowledge of state and federal education laws
• Ability to implement district policies and procedures
• Citizenship, residency, or work visa required

Qualifications Preferred:

• Bilingual Spanish and English (highly preferred)
• Experience as a Principal, Assistant Principal, or comparable leadership role
• Experience working in alternative, competency-based, or nontraditional school models

Terms:

In accordance with the provision of the district's contract with the Chelsea Administrations' Association (CAA), 215Days. See CAA Salary Scale and Contract on our website: https://www.chelseaschools.com/Page/2517. The Chelsea Opportunity Academy operates on a flexible daily schedule for students. Instructional staff are expected to be in school from 9:00AM until 3:50PM.