Deputy Superintendent of Student Services
POSITION SUMMARY
The Deputy Superintendent of Student Services serves as a key member of the Superintendent’s executive cabinet and is responsible for designing, aligning, and leading a coherent system of student services that is fully integrated with the district’s Instructional Core.
This role ensures that all students—particularly multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and other high-needs populations—have equitable access to rigorous, grade-level instruction.
The Deputy Superintendent leads the strategic alignment of special education, multilingual learner services, social-emotional learning, and student supports with Tier 1 instruction, ensuring that services are embedded within classroom practice rather than operating as parallel systems.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Instructional Systems Leadership
- Lead the integration of student services with the district’s Instructional Core to ensure equitable access to rigorous instruction
- Ensure all supports (SPED, ML, SEL) are aligned to and strengthen Tier 1 instruction
- Establish and monitor clear expectations for grade-level rigor, scaffolding, and student engagement
Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
- Design and implement a coherent MTSS framework prioritizing strong Tier 1 instruction
- Ensure interventions supplement—not replace—core instruction
- Monitor effectiveness of supports through student experience and instructional data
Professional Learning & Adult Development
- Design and oversee professional learning systems that build educator capacity in:
- Instructional planning
- Scaffold design
- Language development
- Ensure PLCs are structured, focused, and aligned to the Instructional Core
- Support lesson study and practice-based inquiry cycles
Leadership Development
- Coach and develop principals to lead instructional improvement
- Ensure principals are equipped to:
- Lead effective PLCs
- Provide aligned instructional feedback
- Monitor rigor and student engagement
Instructional Coherence & Accountability
- Establish consistency across schools through:
- One planning protocol
- One walkthrough tool
- Aligned feedback systems
- Monitor instructional quality and reduce variability across classrooms
Data-Driven Improvement
- Use data to identify gaps in access to rigorous instruction
- Lead system-level decisions based on instructional trends—not just outcomes
- Partner with Data & Accountability to ensure actionable insights
Family & Community Engagement
- Build strong partnerships with families and community organizations
- Align engagement efforts to improve:
- Attendance
- Student engagement
- Equitable access to rigorous learning
Compliance & Operations
- Ensure full compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations (SPED, civil rights, bilingual education)
- Oversee departments providing student support services
- Maintain required district plans and reporting structures
QUALIFICATIONS
- Massachusetts licensure as a Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent
- Master’s Degree in Special Education required
- Doctorate preferred
- Minimum of five years of successful teaching experience in urban schools
- Minimum of five years of successful administrative leadership experience
- Experience as a principal or central office administrator required
- Experience at the middle level required
- Demonstrated expertise in:
- Special education and inclusive practices with social emotional learning expertise
- Multilingual learner education
- MTSS frameworks
- Instructional improvement in urban settings
- Proven ability to design and lead professional learning systems (PLCs, coaching, etc.)
- Strong understanding of the Instructional Core and equitable access to rigor
SUCCESS METRICS
Success in this role will be measured by:
- Increased consistency of grade-level instruction across classrooms
- Improved effectiveness of scaffolds and supports for diverse learners
- Strong implementation of PLCs focused on instructional planning
- Reduction in variability across schools
- Increased student engagement in thinking, talking, and grade-level work
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:
- This is a 12 month position
- The nature of this position requires hours beyond the regular school day. The person filling this position will prioritize completing the necessary tasks and set hours accordingly.
SALARY: $185,000 - 197,000