Principal – Amesbury Public Schools

Principal – Sgt. Jordan Shay Lower Elementary School

The Amesbury School District seeks a dynamic, energetic and detail oriented individual to be the instructional leader of the Sgt. Jordan Shay Lower Elementary School.  

 

Job Goals:  To foster a positive and inclusive learning environment by supporting teachers and staff, ensuring academic excellence, and promoting the social, emotional, and behavioral development of students. The principal aims to implement effective strategies that enhance student engagement, improve school performance, and maintain strong communication with parents and the community.

Supervision: Reports directly to the Superintendent of Schools

Qualifications:   The following qualifications are required:

• A valid Massachusetts license as an elementary school principal or credentials that will make a

candidate certifiable in Massachusetts

• At least 5 years experience working as an educator in an elementary school setting
• Previous experience as a principal/assistant principal preferred

Compensation:   Salary and benefits to be negotiated with Superintendent

Start Date:   July 1, 2026

Timeline:

Application deadline:  April 17

Application Review: April 21

Interviewee Selection and Notification:  April 22-24

Interviews Conducted:  April 27-30

New CES Principal Selected: Week of May 4

 

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

The successful candidate for the Sgt. Jordan Shay Lower Elementary School will possess the following characteristics and qualities:

 Leadership Skills:

• Commitment to the pursuit of academic excellence, the promotion of high student expectations, and the cultivation of a positive school culture
• The ability to communicate effectively with students, staff, and families
• Provides instructional leadership through supervision, evaluation, and curriculum development
• Identifies areas of needs and develops plans to effectively problem solve and address them
• Collaborates well with members of district and building teams and possess the ability to follow the District mission and strategy
• Actively involved in school and community activities
• Demonstrates a love of working with students

 

Background, Knowledge and Experience:

• Expertise in curriculum, instruction, and assessment
• Successful experience as an elementary school teacher and/or administrator
• Experience in hiring, evaluation, and development of staff
• Familiarity with the development, implementation and oversight of a building-based budget
• Understanding of the development, assessment, and maintenance of school policies and regulations
• Experience supervising the educational experience for all students as well as the management of their

behavior including familiarity with discipline laws

• Understanding of special education regulations, programming, and service delivery

 

School Profile:  Shay consists of approximately 500 students grades k-2

 

Community Profile:

The City known as the Town of Amesbury is an attractive New England community on the perimeter of metropolitan Boston.  Incorporated in 1668, the city’s location on two major interstates (I-95 and I-495) allows its 17,000 residents to take advantage of an easy commute to Boston as well as numerous nearby coastal and mountainous recreational opportunities.

 

With roots as a farming community, Amesbury’s location on the Merrimack River gave way to a rise in mill buildings in the early 1800’s.  The city’s mill buildings manufactured a variety of items with the most popular being carriages and textiles.  The manufacture of automobile bodies began in the late 1800s and continued until the start of the Great Depression.

 

Amesbury has mindfully retained significant amounts of open space, revitalized and created a vibrant downtown, and maintains a supportive and harmonious local government.

The city offers many cultural and recreational opportunities including a scenic river walk, parks, playgrounds, and celebrates Amesbury Days, an annual citywide event designed to showcase Amesbury’s unique heritage.

 

In the Amesbury Public Schools, we are unconditionally committed to the growth of every child.  By creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment that provides dynamic learning experiences, the highest quality staff, and a vitally involved community, every child experiences success.  The core values of the Amesbury Public Schools as stated in the District Strategy are:

 

Communication

Respectfully communicating with all community members in a timely, clear, and honest way

Academic Excellence

Conscientiously pursuing excellence in our teaching and learning to provide diverse learning opportunities

Relationships

Intentionally building caring connections to enhance engagement, collaboration, and belonging in the Amesbury community.

Equity and Inclusion

Actively cultivating an equitable and inclusive learning environment where each individual is able to work and learn in an atmosphere of respect, dignity, and acceptance.

 

Application Process:

For further information, please contact:

Daniel Grayton

Executive Assistant to the Superintendent

Amesbury Public Schools

5 Highland Street, Amesbury, MA 01913

Phone: (978) 388-0507

Email:   Daniel.Grayton@amesburyma.org

 

• All applications and information must be received on or before Friday, April 17th, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

The City of Amesbury is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The City of Amesbury does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, genetic information, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status or membership in the armed services, marital status or any other protected category under