Mission Statement: 

Middletown Public Schools cultivates the brilliance in each student.

Values and Belief Statements:

Empowerment: Middletown Public Schools empowers its students with the knowledge and skills to create lives brimming with purpose, passion and fulfillment.

Community: Middletown Public Schools harnesses the power of community by fostering an environment of mutual understanding and appreciation.

Growth: Middletown Public Schools encourages a culture of growth and exploration, inspiring lifelong learners.

Authenticity: Middletown Public Schools embraces each person’s authenticity and cultivates an inclusive culture that brings about a sense of belonging. 

Broad Function:

The Middle School Principal will lead, inspire, and manage a diverse school community, fostering a safe, inclusive, and academically rigorous environment for students in grades 6 through 8. The Principal is responsible for the overall management of the school, including instructional leadership, student performance, staff development, and community engagement. 

This position requires a dynamic, collaborative leader who is deeply committed to promoting the academic, social, and emotional growth of young adolescents. The ideal candidate will advance equity and excellence across all aspects of the school while cultivating an inclusive and supportive environment that respects and values the diverse backgrounds of students and staff.

Key Responsibilities/Essential Functions:

Leadership and Management:

• Promotes data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement in instructional practices. 
• Supports, mentors, and evaluates teachers, encouraging innovative practices and professional growth.
• Champions diversity, equity, and inclusion principles in curriculum, instruction, and school culture.
• Provides visionary leadership to create a school culture that prioritizes equity, inclusivity, and respect for diversity.
• Develops and leads school initiatives that promote an understanding of cultural differences and reduce achievement gaps among students from diverse backgrounds.
• Supports all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, or background, to feel valued and supported in their learning environment.
• Cultivates an environment of trust and collaboration among staff, students, and families, with a focus on culturally responsive leadership practices.
• Leads the implementation of policies and practices that advance equity and access in all aspects of school life, including discipline, academic support, and extracurricular opportunities.
• Leads the school leadership team, ensuring that decisions reflect the shared vision of the school community and prioritize student success.
• Collaborates with other school leaders and district personnel to align initiatives and share resources.
• Acts as a mentor to assistant principals and other school leaders, helping to develop the next generation of school leadership.
• Creates systems for staff feedback and input, fostering a culture of transparency, trust, and continuous improvement.

Instructional Leadership

• Leads and promotes the development and implementation of a rigorous and inclusive curriculum aligned with state and district standards.
• Encourages innovation and the use of best practices to engage students in a variety of learning modalities.
• Oversees the evaluation of academic programs, regularly reviewing student performance data and providing feedback to teachers for continuous improvement.
• Strives to ensure effective use of educational technology to enhance student learning outcomes.

Student Development and Support:

• Promotes programs and policies that support the academic and social-emotional development of students from all cultural backgrounds and identities.
• Oversees programs so that all students receive differentiated support based on their unique needs, including students with disabilities, English Language Learners (ELLs), and students from historically marginalized communities.
• Addresses and resolves student disciplinary issues in a fair and equitable manner, taking into account cultural differences and the need for restorative practices.
• Promotes an anti-bullying and anti-racism culture through proactive education and by addressing incidents when they arise.
• Provides resources and support for students to develop a positive sense of identity, self-worth, and respect for others.

Staff Supervision and Development:

• Assists in the hiring of new building employees.  Trains, and evaluates teaching and support staff with an emphasis on diversity, equity, and cultural competency.
• With demonstrated knowledge of current teacher evaluation methodologies, and Professional Learning Committees, PLCs, proactively meets with staff to ensure District teaching and learning methods are implemented correctly.
• Meets with staff on a regular basis to ensure understanding of school climate and culture.
• Actively shares climate and culture data with staff and develops action plans to address areas for improvement.  Seeks out feedback regularly. 
• Proactively fosters a professional development program that enhances teachers’ ability to implement culturally responsive teaching strategies and address the needs of a diverse student body.
• Proactively encourages staff to engage in ongoing reflection and learning about their own cultural biases, and provide resources for improving cultural competence in the classroom.
• Supports staff in creating inclusive classrooms where every student can thrive, regardless of their cultural or linguistic background.
• Encourages a collaborative, team-oriented atmosphere where staff share best practices, resources, and strategies.
• Leads regular professional development sessions that focus on effective teaching practices, DEI issues, and the social-emotional development of students.
• Fosters an environment of shared leadership where staff take ownership of school-wide goals and initiatives.

Curriculum and Instruction:

• Strives to ensure that the school’s curriculum is inclusive, representative of diverse cultures, and reflects a commitment to equity.
• Collaborates with instructional leaders to design and implement curriculum and instruction that meets the needs of all learners, including culturally relevant materials and pedagogical strategies.
• Proactively collaborates with district leaders, including those from the Office of Teaching and Learning, to support and enhance curriculum development, instructional practices, and student achievement across the district.
• Supports the integration of culturally responsive teaching practices to ensure that students see themselves reflected in the curriculum.
• Provides guidance on the equitable assessment of student progress and achievement, ensuring all students have equal access to academic success.

Communication and Community Relations:

• Fosters open, transparent communication with families and the broader community, particularly underserved communities, to build trust and encourage engagement.
• Actively engages with local community groups, families, and organizations to understand the needs of diverse populations and ensure the school is responsive to those needs.
• Implements strategies to increase family involvement in school events and decision-making processes, particularly for families from marginalized communities.
• Promotes and hosts school events that celebrate cultural diversity, global awareness, and inclusivity.

Equity and Cultural Competency Initiatives:

• In collaboration with District leaders, leads efforts to identify and address inequities in school policies, programs, and practices, and create a school improvement plan focused on closing achievement gaps.
• Uses data to monitor student progress and outcomes, with particular attention to disparities among different demographic groups, and adjusts practices to address disparities in a proactive manner. Works with District leadership to align initiatives at the building level. 
• In collaboration with District leaders, strives to ensure that all staff members receive ongoing training in cultural competency, diversity, and anti-bias education to create a school climate that embraces diversity in all its forms.
• Develops and implements school-wide initiatives that celebrate cultural diversity, promote inclusion, and ensure that students of all backgrounds feel safe and supported.

Budgeting and Resource Management:

• Strives to ensure that resources are allocated in a way that promotes equity, particularly in providing support to underserved student groups.
• Actively collaborates with district leadership to secure funding for programs that support cultural competency, diversity education, and inclusive practices.
• Oversees the daily operations of the school, ensuring that all aspects of the school run smoothly and efficiently.
• Manages the school budget, allocating resources effectively to support both student needs and staff professional development.
• Ensures compliance with all local, state, and federal policies, regulations, and laws.
• Works with custodial, maintenance, and support staff to maintain a clean, safe, and conducive learning environment.

Compliance and Reporting:

• Strives to ensure that the school complies with all relevant state and federal equity and inclusion mandates, including Title IX, IDEA, and other civil rights laws.
• Reports on the school’s progress in advancing equity, inclusion, and diversity to district leadership and the school community.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, Administration, or a related field required.
• Valid Connecticut State certification, Intermediate Administration or Supervision  (092) required.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of teaching experience, with at least 2 years in a leadership or administrative role required.  
• Preferred experience at the middle school level.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and cultural competency.

Skills and Abilities:

• Deep knowledge of culturally responsive pedagogy, inclusive practices, and social justice issues in education.
• Proven ability to lead and support teachers in the development and implementation of effective, engaging, and standards-aligned curricula.
• Ability to provide mentoring and coaching teachers, guiding them in improving instructional techniques and classroom management.
• Ability to lead instructional teams, facilitate collaborative planning, and promote the sharing of best practices among staff.
• Strong communication skills to effectively engage with staff, students, parents, and the community about instructional goals, progress, and outcomes.
• Ability to monitor and address disparities in student achievement and implement strategies to close achievement gaps.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing equity and inclusivity in educational practices, ensuring that all students, regardless of background, have access to high-quality instruction and learning opportunities.
• Knowledge of culturally responsive teaching strategies and how to implement them to support a diverse student body. etc.
• Strong leadership skills with an ability to inspire and motivate diverse teams.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with a demonstrated ability to engage with a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to analyze data to inform decision-making and drive improvements in educational outcomes.
• Experience in developing and delivering professional development focused on equity, cultural competency, and inclusion.

Salary & Compensation:

• Commensurate with MSAA CBA. 

Physical and Mental Demands / Work Environment:

• The physical demands and environmental characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Must be mobile with the ability to get from one location in the office or work site(s) to other locations in the office or work site(s)
• Ability to sit or stand for long periods of time required.
• Ability to lift or carry objects less than thirty (30) pounds required.
• Ability to perform manipulative skills such as writing and typing required. 
• Ability to see and read objects closely, such as wiring, labels on equipment, reading/proofreading a report, using a computer monitor, filing and/or retrieving information from a filing system and verifying the accuracy of financial information required. 
• Ability to hear normal sounds with background noise, as in using a telephone or radio, distinguish verbal communication and communicate through speech, including using a radio required. 
• Ability to learn and acquire an understanding of new information, methodologies and techniques and how they apply to school goals and operations required. 
• Memory adequate to perform tasks/assignments given over long periods of time required. 
• Ability to concentrate on a task for more than 60 minutes required. 
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals required.