Co-Curricular and Athletic Director - Deering High

Position Type:
ADMINISTRATORS/ATHLETIC / CO-CURRICULAR DIRECTOR

Date Posted:
9/21/2026

Location:
Deering High School

Date Available:
ASAP

Closing Date:
Open until filled
TITLE: Co-Curricular and Athletic Director - Deering High School

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Deering High School seeks a Co-Curricular Director to help lead a positive, inclusive, and academic-focused school community. Under the guidance of the Principal and aligned with the District strategic priorities, the Co-Curricular Director supports a culture of equity, academic excellence, and student well-being. Deering has a successful history of distributed leadership, meaning that you both will actively contribute to setting a vision and strategy for the school beyond your immediate areas of responsibility and that you will be asked to partner with all members of our school community as you lead.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

We seek a well-rounded leader who can contribute to all aspects of the school, including culture, instruction, safety, and operations. Ultimate division of administrative responsibilities has flexibility to match the successful candidate's strengths, experience, and interests, so please share what you bring to the role. The following is a potential portfolio:

• Develops, oversees and manages the budget for all athletics and activities.
• Supervises, evaluates, and hires all coaches and advisors.
• Administers all regulations of the Maine Principals Association (MPA) and Southern Maine Activities Association (SMAA) including student eligibility, all paperwork and permissions, policies, practices with the co-curricular department and coordination and collaboration with all league Co-Curricular Directors.
• Collaborates and coordinates with the City Rec department and other City staff for field time, practice time and space availability.
• Works with the athletic Booster organization.
• Manages compliance with Title IX laws and regulations.
• Oversees transportation for athletic events and field trips.
• Attends local, district, state and league meetings - representing Portland High School.
• Organizes events including Open Houses, meet the coaches, and other award events.
• Understands and knows laws and regulations guiding work in schools including district policies.
• The successful candidate must have the ability to use, navigate and learn several technology platforms in use by the district and the league.

No matter the specific responsibilities, Portland Public Schools and Deering look to our administrators to be:

1. Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Champions

• Promote an inclusive school culture of diversity, equity, belonging, and anti-bias practice
• Model cultural humility, ongoing personal reflection and growth, and a commitment to all cultures, languages, and identities
• Recognize, respond to, and redress inequities and experiences that conflict with the district's vision of diversity, equity, and belonging

2. Culture & Community Builders

• Build healthy, beneficial, and respectful relationships across the school community, including families and community members
• Model ongoing self-awareness, self-reflection, and a mindset of continuous learning and development
• Promote a positive and safe learning environment which embraces mutual respect and empowers all members of the learning community
• Support the cultivation of a positive, inspiring, inclusive, and nurturing school culture, including the implementation of Culturally Responsive PBIS and Restorative Practices
• Be an enthusiastic ambassador for and representative of the school across a range of settings, including occasionally representing the school at events

3. Instructional Leaders

• Be a strong educator with a clear vision of ambitious teaching and learning in a variety of settings
• Guide curriculum, instruction, and assessment aligned to high standards and driven by data
• Enact and spread the school's shared vision of instructional excellence and a culture of learning for both students and staff ,
• Supervise and coach teachers, provide actionable feedback, and lead PD
• Build capacity within school-based instructional leadership teams

4. Data Strategists

• Support disciplined data collection, monitoring, analysis, and reporting routines, including reporting out by subgroups and overseeing test administration
• Analyze data for all areas of responsibility and use data to set and monitor progress towards ambitious goals
• Help instill and maintain a school-wide culture of ongoing use of data to inform decisions

5. Talent Managers

• Support recruiting, hiring, development, and retention of strong and diverse staff
• Accurately evaluate teacher performance against district tools and communicate feedback that yields actionable growth
• Serve as a regular presence in classrooms to monitor and improve instructional effectiveness
• Foster staff autonomy and ensure distributed leadership

6. Operations & Logistics Experts

• Exhibit strong management skills, including effective verbal and written communications, engaging in difficult conversations, personal time management, project management, and meeting facilitation
• Identify and respond to emergent school needs and provide real-time leadership during unplanned events or crises.
• Manage day-to-day operations and systems for safety, efficiency, and learning, assuring adherence to policy and state and federal law
• Support scheduling, facilities, and resource allocation to achieve building goals

COMPETENCIES:

• Change Agent Mindset: Sees education as a relentless effort towards improving students' lives, believing in their ability to make a difference and inspiring others to do the same; not satisfied with the status quo
• Leadership Orientation: Takes strong and principled positions, leans into difficult conversations and decisions, balancing authority with humility, and encouraging innovation
• Student-Centered: Keeps student needs central to every action and decision
• Relationship-Oriented: Recognizes the deep importance of relationships, builds rapport and trust, navigates diverse personalities, and values authentic collaboration
• Coaching Orientation: Champions and advocates for staff, provides actionable feedback, appreciates efforts, and views mistakes as learning opportunities
• Resourceful: Optimizes available resources and networks confidently to broaden impact
• Highly Responsive: Flexible and able to adjust when faced with unexpected, real-time problems
• Strong Communicator: Shares clear, thoughtful, well-defined information, including in-depth data presentations, and synthesizes findings effectively

ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Working knowledge of pertinent curriculum standards, techniques for integrating and adapting curriculum, and effective instructional practices
• Understanding of the teaching and learning process, including the ability to provide instruction that reflects multiple perspectives and trauma-informed practices that engage culturally diverse populations
• Thorough knowledge of Portland Public Schools (PPS) policies and procedures and state and federal regulations and laws
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to connect with diverse stakeholders
• Ability to motivate staff and foster strong morale and performance
• Value for linguistic diversity; candidates who speak another language bring added value to the classroom, school, and district culture and diversity
• Ability to manage multiple work streams and projects effectively
• Ability to serve as Principal in the absence of the Principal and as designated Administrator when needed

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university with an emphasis in supervision, educational administration, school curriculum, or a closely related field
• Five years of successful coaching experience
• School-based or district leadership experience, preferred
• Other combinations of applicable education, training, and experience which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position may be considered

CREDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Maine State Athletic Director 215 Certification
• Certified (or certifiable) as Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrator

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Attendance at evening and weekend school activities, events, or other community events and functions, as required

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS:

• Schedule: Full Year, Full Time, 1.0 FTE
• Assignment: Permanent
• Overtime: Salaried position, not eligible for overtime
• Contract:
• Salary: Based on experience & education as per CBA (25-26 range was $101,338-$124,742; 26-27 range will be higher)
• Benefits: Generous benefits package, including 25 vacation days per year and full health and dental benefits (see here)
• Reports to: Principal