Esperanza Academy seeks an accomplished and mission-aligned Assistant Principal to serve as a key instructional leader responsible for strengthening teaching and learning across the school. Reporting to the School Principal, the Assistant Principal ensures high-quality curriculum implementation, effective instructional practice, and data-informed decision-making schoolwide. The role is central to setting and reinforcing high academic expectations and ensuring instructional coherence across grades and content areas.

The Assistant Principal maintains a strong, visible presence in classrooms and collaborates closely with teachers, instructional leaders, and support staff to analyze student data, strengthen instruction, and implement responsive academic supports. In addition, the Assistant Principal supports faculty development, student support systems, and school culture, while partnering with families to advance student learning. The Assistant Principal contributes to a safe, joyful, and inclusive environment where middle school girls are challenged academically, supported holistically, and empowered to grow as confident learners and leaders.

About Esperanza: For more than two decades, Esperanza has paired rigorous academics with a long-term commitment to its students, supporting them through middle school, high school placement, college navigation, and early career development. As the school moves into its new home and expands its reach, Esperanza is positioned not only to serve more students and families, but also to contribute to national conversations about what equitable, justice-centered education can look like.

Key Responsibilities

Academic Leadership

• Lead, develop, and continuously improve the school’s academic program, setting and reinforcing clear, consistent expectations for rigorous, curriculum-aligned instruction across all grades

• Partner closely with the Principal and Academic Support Coordinator to ensure instructional coherence, strong tiered supports, and alignment with schoolwide academic goals

• Maintain a sustained, visible presence in classrooms through regular observations and instructional feedback

• Lead department and grade-level meetings focused on instructional alignment, shared practices, student work analysis, and data-driven goal setting

• Analyze student performance data, including classroom assessments, MAP data, and screening tools, to inform instructional decisions, interventions, and program improvement

• Manage assessment and testing programs, including oversight of incoming student screenings

• Oversee grading practices, comment-writing, report cards, and progress reports to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment with academic expectations

Faculty Support and Professional Development

• Mentor and support faculty through targeted feedback, coaching cycles, and aligned professional growth opportunities

• Plan, facilitate, and assess professional development for new and returning staff based on instructional priorities and curricular needs

Student, Family, and School Culture Support

• Promote a safe, joyful, and inclusive learning environment that supports students’ academic, social, and emotional development

• Participate in student support teams and school committees to address academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs

• In partnership with the School Principal, co-manage student leadership programs that reinforce responsibility, engagement, and restorative justice practices

• Partner with families through student-led conferences and ongoing communication, engaging them as active collaborators in academic planning, interventions, and student support to advance student learning goals

Operational and Administrative Responsibilities

• Support safe and efficient daily school operations in partnership with the School Principal, including supervision, scheduling, staffing coverage, and policy implementation

• Assist in maintaining compliance and systems integrity by supporting student records management, safety protocols, required trainings, and adherence to best practices.

• Collaborate with the School Principal to support schoolwide systems and programs, including after-school activities, technology and materials management, and continuous improvement of operational processes.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s Degree in Education, Educational Leadership, or a related field strongly preferred.

• Minimum of three (3) years of successful teaching experience, ideally at the middle school level.

• Prior experience in instructional leadership, coaching, or administration strongly preferred.

• Commitment to restorative practices and equity-driven education.

• Demonstrated expertise in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

• Strong ability to analyze data and translate insights into instructional action.

• Collaborative leadership style and comfort working within a shared academic leadership model.

• Excellent communication, organization, and relationship-building skills.

• Ability to balance high expectations with care, empathy, and support.

• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish strongly preferred.

About Esperanza Academy

Esperanza Academy is a tuition-free, all-girls, middle school, built on justice and centered in joy. We celebrate, support, and inspire each student to embrace their brilliance. Our program empowers girls to redefine what is expected of them, to counter societal limitations, and to take on challenges that will positively impact the trajectory of their lives in Lawrence, MA and beyond.

Connections working at Esperanza Academy