Natick

Natick Preschool (156 students )

Elementary Schools (K-4)
– Bennett Hemenway (Ben-Hem) Elementary School (486 students)
– Brown Elementary School (496 students)
– Johnson Elementary School (136 students)
– Lilja Elementary School (410 students)
– Memorial Elementary School (434 students)

Middle School (Grades 5-8)
– Kennedy Middle School (891 students)
– Wilson Middle School (778 students)

High School (Grades 9-12)
– Natick High School (1,589 students)

The Natick Public Schools educate approximately 5,400 students from Pre-K through age 22. Our outstanding staff provide our diverse students and their families from Natick and Boston a high quality educational experience that is innovative, supportive, and high-performing. Natick Public Schools is a community dedicated to all students achieving high standards in a safe, trusting, respectful environment where learning is exciting, dynamic, and engaging, and where connectedness and belonging are valued and actively cultivated. We are home to families that speak almost 60 different languages and our student population is approximately 29% Students of Color and 71% White students. Our graduation rate is 97% and 90% of our students attend post-secondary schools. Our commitment to excellence enables our students to be informed and successful citizens of a global world. Of note is the fact that quite a few of our graduates from Boston and Natick choose to come back to Natick Public Schools to work, a testament to their sense of belonging and belief in the school system.
We enthusiastically welcome educators to our district who seek and thrive in a diverse and inclusive environment that focuses on the academic, social, and emotional well-being of our students and staff alike. Please partner with us in our mission to support the diversity of our school community, promote and deliver equitable practices for all of our staff, students, and families, and create meaningful connections that enable everyone to feel included and thrive.

Q: What’s Natick like to work and/or live in?
Natick was established as a Praying Town in 1651, but humans have lived on the land for thousands of years before the European Age of Exploration. In the 18th-century, English people colonized Natick and the town was swept up by the American Revolution. When the railroad came to Natick in 1834, the town changed from a small, rural village into a bustling industrial town. After 1945, Natick welcomed a housing boom and the development of new industries along route 9. Today, Natick is home to 36,000+ residents governed by a 180-member Representative Town Meeting which is a strong supporter of the public schools.
Natick is located 10 miles west of Boston. The town’s two commuter rail stations at Natick Center and West Natick provide easy access to/from Boston and Worcester. Proximity to the Mass Pike, Rt. 95, and Route 9 means that Natick is well-situated for commuting from a variety of areas.
Natick partners with many local and regional organizations who share our commitment to Social Justice:
LOCAL:  SPARK Kindness   Natick is United   Equity and Expectations
REGIONAL: Anti-Defamation League   Facing History and Ourselves   Primary Source

Q: What type of support do you offer new teachers?

All new teachers are assigned to a mentor, typically someone in their school in the same grade/discipline. Additionally, for two years there are monthly meetings for new teachers during which district and school-based staff provide professional development, support, connection, and problem-solving opportunities. Additionally, for K-4, there are Math and Literacy Specialists who support teachers in those contents and Instructional Leaders at each grade level in Science and Social Studies who also lead the district-wide grade level meetings. In grades 5-8 there are Department Heads and Curriculum Leaders who support new teachers with the content. In Grades 9-12 there are Department Heads for every content who support new teachers with the curriculum.
In addition, all new teachers are required to take Studying the Skillful Teacher through RBT. This is offered on-site and paid for by the district. We also have an in-house graduate course that all new licensed staff are required to take called Teaching, Learning, and Innovation in the Natick Public Schools which provides coursework and presentations aligned to our Profile of a Natick Graduate and Profile of a Natick Educator. We also offer asynchronous courses at no cost for Master’s level teachers to take to move to Master’s +15. Natick Public Schools offer a generous tuition reimbursement package and also provide many district-sponsored, no-cost professional development opportunities. Our district offers many opportunities for staff to become team or curriculum leaders, to take on other leadership roles in the district, to intern as administrators, and to grow their professional practice and responsibilities.
Natick Public Schools have two Employee Resource Groups led by staff and supported by administration; one for our staff who identify as BIPOC and one for our staff who identify as LGBTQ+. We are creating an Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council to support the district’s strategic priorities and advise the superintendent on relevant NPS DEI issues and topics. The advisory will consist of a diverse group of members, ranging from district and building administrators, classroom educators and support staff across all levels from Pre-K through 12th grade.

Q: What general attributes does Natick seek in teachers?

Natick Public Schools seeks candidates:
– who reflect our student body and community;
– who demonstrate the belief that our students are all capable of achieving high standards
– who provide a safe, trusting, respectful environment where learning is exciting, dynamic, and engaging
– who value and actively cultivate connectedness and belonging
– who will partner with us to promote and deliver equitable practices for all of our staff, students, and families

Q: How does Natick demonstrate that it is committed to teacher diversity?
Natick Public Schools’ current strategic plan has identified a number of key areas for ongoing growth and improvement in our teacher diversification efforts. Our current initiatives include providing professional development for hiring managers and offering support and incentives for diverse candidates. We are also in the process of examining our policies, practices and procedures to ensure our hiring practices are inclusive and accessible to diverse candidates. We have applied for grants to assist in supporting retention through investing in mentorship programs, Employee Resource Groups, professional development, and leadership opportunities. Our commitment to teacher diversification extends beyond race and ethnicity and includes ability status and gender identity. Finally, we are in the process of launching a Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council with the sole purpose of leading and guiding the work of equity and social justice as well as responding when harm has been caused.

Q: Any tips for teachers who are interested in applying to Natick?
We understand that candidates come to us with diverse professional experiences and in some cases alternative certification processes. To that end, we actively seek and invite applicants to highlight their unique strengths, skills and experiences which are assets to our increasingly diverse district. We invite bilingual applicants as well as applicants with dual certification with ESL and general/special education. We invite applicants to reach out to us with any questions or concerns regarding their application and in many cases we can mutually develop solutions or accommodations to address concerns. We encourage candidates with teaching experience to highlight their unique instructional experiences especially those acquired in settings different from a traditional school/classroom environment. Finally, we encourage candidates to use their existing networks or connections to our community to support their application.