Wayland

Wayland Public Schools is located 20 miles west of Boston. 32% of the student population are students of color (see enrollment data here). 10% of staff are BIPOC (see data here). We are a relatively small, suburban district that is proud to be a member of the METCO program, and we are committed to engaging in transformative change to close the opportunity gap for our Black and Brown students.

Last year, the School Committee voted unanimously to adopt an anti-racism resolution that “affirms the district’s collective responsibility, across all human differences, to create a school community where the oppressed are heard and treated with the same care and respect as those who are not oppressed: ‘All lives will not matter until Black lives matter’” (full text).

Q. What is it like to work and/or live in Wayland?
The town of Wayland is an affluent community that values high quality teachers and schools. Educators in Wayland Public Schools (WPS) value academic excellence and love of learning. Staff feel supported in their pursuit of innovative and impactful teaching practices. There is a spirit of collaboration and caring for colleagues. Caregivers like to be involved in their children’s schools and are generous with their time and resources.

Q. What kind of support does Wayland offer new teachers?
All new teaching staff are matched with a formal mentor for their first year and have the option of continuing to meet informally with their mentor during their second year. Mentors and mentees meet as a group several times during the year. In addition, building principals and colleagues go out of their way to support new staff. In addition, there is a strong spirit of collaboration in the district and all new teachers are supported through their grade-level, discipline-specific, and/or departmental PLCs.

Q. What general attributes does Wayland seek in new teachers?
We look for teachers who are passionate educators, committed to educating the whole student and differentiating instruction to meet the needs of all learners. We welcome teachers who value their own professional development and invest their time in their own learning. We need more teachers who are committed to anti-bias, anti-racist education so that all of our students have an increased sense of belonging and access to academically rigorous learning opportunities in their schools.

Q. How does Wayland demonstrate that it is committed to teacher diversity?
For three years (including the 2021-2022 school year), the district has participated in DESE’s Teacher Diversification Pilot program to “to strengthen and diversify existing teacher recruitment and retention programs” (link).
The district has an active staff of color affinity group that meets monthly, facilitated by the Director of Diversity, Equity and Belonging.
We have expanded our job postings to include The Teachers’ Lounge, MPDE and now require all candidates for teaching positions to answer a question about the opportunity gap.
For the upcoming school year, the district is excited to have diversified its administrative team: the new Superintendent and two Assistant Principals (K-5) are educators of color.

Q. Any tips for teachers who are interested in applying to Wayland?
New teachers should feel comfortable asking for help. You may be pleasantly surprised by the support you will receive. Sometimes, veteran teachers get busy with their classes, so please do not hesitate to ask. The district values new staff, who bring new experiences, backgrounds and ideas. We want staff to feel comfortable bringing your authentic selves to your building.