Danvers

Five schools for grades K-5, one school for grades 6-8 and one school for grades  9-12.  Preschool programs are housed at 2 of the elementary schools.

Contact:
Mary Wermers
Interim Superintendent

Our vision statement:

In 2023, Danvers Public Schools is an inclusive community of learners that is respectful of individual differences, in which all students are valued for their unique strengths, talents, and challenges. A welcoming environment for students and families is evident and diversity is valued and celebrated.

All students are fully engaged and invested in their learning. They demonstrate personal responsibility and are achieving to their maximum capability. They are skilled communicators and problem-solvers who engage in collaborative inquiry, make effective use of technology and apply their learning in authentic, real-life situations. Graduates of Danvers Public Schools leave the school system feeling confident and well prepared to continue their learning in the wide array of college and career options available to them. They go on to become productive, responsible, caring citizens of the global community and achieve their definition of success.

Our priorities include:

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

• Provide culturally responsive learning opportunities
• Build sense of belonging for students, families, and staff
• Establish school environment where all feel valued, heard and affirmed
• Implement professional learning so that all adults working with students will strive to become anti-racist educators

Coherent Curriculum, Instruction & Assessments

• Develop high impact teacher teams to use Formative Assessment for Results (FAR) Cycle to monitor the learning of all students
• Focus on elementary reading
• Implement Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)

Safe and Supportive Learning

• Support all students in an inclusive, emotionally supportive and culturally responsive environment
• Focus on culturally responsive instructional practices
• Prioritize student safety
• Implement practices that build social emotional capacities within students, faculty and staff

Q. What is Danvers like to work and/or live in?
The Town of Danvers, incorporated in 1752, is located in southwest Essex County, about 20 miles northeast of Boston.  Danvers is primarily a residential community, occupying a land area of approximately 13.3 square miles, with an approximate population of 27,000.   The bulk of our industrial  and commercial activity is concentrated along Routes 1, 114 and 128 and Interstate 95. Downtown Danvers features a variety of retail and dining options.
Danvers is fortunate to have many open space and recreation opportunities including a vibrant marina, Endicott Park and a 4.3 mile rail trail that links schools, downtown Danvers, parks, residential areas, and trails in the neighboring towns of Peabody, Wenham, and Topsfield.
Our school community is driven by our four core values of caring, quality, commitment and collaboration. We strive to translate these values into our daily activities and actions while we focus on our yearly goals that prioritize student engagement through three pillars- diversity, equity and inclusion/coherent curriculum, instruction and assessment/safe and supportive learning.

Q. What kind of support does Danvers offer new teachers?
The Danvers Public Schools supports our new faculty and staff through a two-year induction program.   The first year of mentoring focuses on working with new teachers to provide support with getting to know district programs, policies, and procedures. The program, Off To A Great Start (OTAGS), is designed specifically to acclimate new teachers to the challenges, successes and nuances of teaching in the Danvers Public Schools.  The OTAGS program meets monthly with new teachers and their mentors participating in a year-long professional learning cohort.  During the second year, new teachers take a course called, Studying Skillful Teaching, taught by a facilitator from Research for Better Teaching (RBT).  Other support structures for new teachers are monthly Early Release professional learning sessions, Math and Literacy coaching as well as support from level-based Curriculum Directors and principals.

Q. What general attributes does Danvers seek in new teachers?
Our vision is for DPS graduates to go on to achieve their definition of success.  We look for new teachers whose teaching aligns with our vision and core values of caring, quality, collaboration and commitment.

Q. How does Danvers demonstrate that it is committed to teacher diversity?
The Danvers Public Schools has committed to recruiting, hiring, growing, and retaining a group of educators and staff who represent the diversity of the students in our district. Diversity, equity and inclusion themes are integrated into all the professional learning work we do as a district.  The Danvers Public Schools Curriculum Center staff is committed to planning and implementing professional learning experiences so that all educators in DPS will strive to become anti-racist educators.

Q. Any tips for teachers who are interested in applying to Danvers?
Apply in SchoolSpring and email the school principal.