Easton

JOB ALERT!

The Director of Special Services provides professional leadership in organizing, administering, supervising and evaluating the effective delivery of special education services, guidance, counseling, out-of-district-placements, 504 plans and nurses; must be able to inspire staff and collaborate with many stakeholders to support the needs of students with disabilities to ensure equal access to all programs; must have a proven history of responding effectively to student and family needs by providing a comprehensive array of services in coordination with outside providers and must be committed to the work of Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging. Apply via School Spring.

Easton Public Schools

Melissa Medeiros
Director of Human Resources
48 Spooner Street, North Easton, MA 02356
508-205-5900 x12125
mmedeiros@easton.k12.ma.us
https://www.easton.k12.ma.us/staff/employment_opportunities.php

Profile:
Student Enrollment: 3,554
No. of Staff: 600
Approximate number of teachers hired annually: 5-10
Approximate No. of Paras/Aides Hired Each Year: 5-10
Accessible by Public Transportation or Commuter Rail? No

How many schools do you have at each grade level?
Elementary- 2
Blanche A Ames- PK-2 Richardson Olmsted- Gr. 3-5

Middle- 1
Easton Middle School- Gr. 6-8

High School- 1
Oliver Ames High School- Gr 9-12

Contact:
Melissa Medeiros
Director of Human Resources

The vision of the Easton Public Schools is to provide a relevant, rigorous learning experience in a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment which empowers students and educators to embrace curiosity, think critically, develop positive relationships, and exhibit resilience.

Core Values (and Beliefs)

Students are at the center of our decision making; therefore, we value:

Continuous Growth

● We hold high expectations for ourselves and others
● We know that learning never ends
● We understand that valuable learning can come from mistakes or failure

● We must persevere to reach our goals

Safety and Respect

● We deserve the safest and most supportive learning environment
● We respect the safety and boundaries of others
● We are diverse learners, and all learners can thrive
● We embrace and honor our differences with empathy and understanding

Communication and Collaboration

● We clearly communicate our questions and concerns
● We share our views with respect and with the appropriate source

● We know teamwork is not always easy, but it is worth the effort
● We have a collective responsibility for the education of all children

Leading by Example

● We understand that others are watching and learning from us

● We are all models of integrity and respect
● We are accountable for our own actions and decisions
● We value what we can learn from others

 

EPS offers great professional development opportunities for all staff through Easton University. EU is a publication that is published 4 times a year with workshops, conferences and courses for staff to participate in. EPS also promotes individual PD opportunities that staff may be interested in and encourages their learning.

Blanche A Ames PK-2 Elementary School will be opening in January 2023. The building was designed for our youngest learners with the idea that everything will be accessible to everyone. The history of Blanche Ames and all her accomplishments are embedded throughout the building. The new school will serve many generations to come.

 

What is Easton like to work and/or live in?

Easton is in Bristol County and is one of the best places to live in Massachusetts. Living in Easton offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Easton there are a lot of parks. Many young professionals live in Easton and residents tend to lean liberal.

 

What kind of support does Easton offer new teachers?

The community within the Easton Public Schools believes in and supports the continued growth and development of teachers new to the district through its Mentor Program. The goal of this program is to connect a novice teacher with a veteran teacher upon whom he/she can rely on for assistance, guidance and support throughout their first year and second year of teaching. The mentor program provides for ongoing collaboration and reflection between mentor and protege as well as district administrative support in the form of monthly workshops.

All Massachusetts school districts are expected to develop an induction program that must include a mentoring component for teachers in their first year of practice. Mentoring programs have been shown to help solve or reduce problems faced by new teachers as well as help retain promising teachers. The regulations define the components of mentoring programs to include:

❏ An orientation program before or at the beginning of the academic year for beginning teachers and all other incoming teachers (may include those new to the district, school, or role).

❏ Assignment of all beginning teachers to a trained mentor within the first two weeks of the school year (or, where applicable, date of hire).

❏ Assignment of a support team that shall consist of, but not be limited to, the mentor and an administrator qualified to evaluate teachers.

❏ Providing release time for the mentor and beginning teacher to engage in regular classroom observations and other mentoring activities.

The mission of the Easton Public Schools Mentoring Program is to help novice teachers orient themselves to their school and community, improve their practice, and effectively impact student learning in an atmosphere that is collegial and non-judgmental. By sharing both challenges and successes with a mentor, the novice teacher learns that roadblocks in the classroom are normal; and with their mentor’s support, they gain the confidence to overcome these challenges.

 

What general attributes does Easton seek in new teachers?

Collaborative, Creative, Reflective, Resilient, Effective Communicator, Culturally responsive

 

How does Easton demonstrate that it is committed to teacher diversity?

As a part of our Strategic Plan, the Easton Public Schools is committed to recruiting, developing and continuously supporting high quality educators who are examples of best practices, collaboration, and investment in the whole child. This includes recruiting and developing diverse educators with varied educational and professional backgrounds. EPS has partnered with higher education institutions to recruit and develop BIPOC staff including providing graduate program opportunities to staff members.

 

Any tips for teachers who are interested in applying to Easton?

Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are at the core of our values. It is important to know how to ensure that all students are represented in all we do. Equity with intentionality should always be at the heart of the work.