An instructional coach is someone whose chief professional responsibility is to bring evidence-based practices into classrooms by working with teachers and other school leaders. This is achieved through one-on-one and small group support for teachers, specialists, and school leaders around evidence-based strategies and the instructional coaching process with the goals of increasing student engagement, improving student learning, and building teacher capacity. The basic purposes of this job are to:
- Grow and support an existing instructional coaching model and professional development program that matches the school’s initiatives for excellence in teaching and learning
- Co-teach, provide model lessons, and/or push into classroom to provide teacher coaching and support
- Provide recommendations and strategies to the Lower School faculty on how to meet the needs of all learners in the classroom through differentiated instruction, accommodations, and best practices
- Work with individual teachers and teaching teams to develop and enhance curriculum
- Lead and support curriculum documentation; support teachers in refining, updating, and evaluating learning objectives and curriculum
- Support, monitor, and grow student assessment systems and engage with teachers and administrators on using the data to inform instruction and intervention
Examples of Essential Functions:Coaching Teachers:
The Instructional Coach, having both content expertise and teaching experience, as well as instructional coaching training, in order to collaborate with classroom teachers and learning specialists to support improved student learning and teacher practice. The
Instructional Coach will provide differentiated individual and group professional learning that will expand and refine teachers’ understanding of classroom management, content, effective instruction, and assessment. This role provides personalized, ongoing support based on school goals and identified needs of individual teachers in a way that is different from an administrator conducting a more formal evaluation. As a skilled communicator
and motivator, the instructional coach will encourage teachers to reflect on classroom practices and will assist teachers in developing and attaining professional goals, all with a focus on improved student learning. Duties include, but are not limited to, observing
instruction and providing feedback, modeling effective instructional strategies, offering and recommending resources, sharing research and emerging trends, collecting and analyzing data, assessing existing practices and matching needs with supports, and providing individual and group professional development.
Administration:
The Instructional Coach will work with the Lower School Director to support and develop curriculum initiatives, participate as a member of the Instructional Leadership Team, and serve as a leader of the Lower School Curriculum Committee. As a member of the learning support team, they will provide insight and direction for teachers in
supporting students with learning differences and bring recommendations to the Lower School Director on initiatives that may better support classroom learning. This individual will lead and oversee programming for associate teachers and actively support the new hire mentorship program, providing specific training for new faculty. The Instructional Coach works closely with the Technology Coach in supporting the intersections between instructional practice and student engagement using technology, especially in the age of
distance learning. Office duties include, but are not limited to administrative tasks, documenting and monitoring curriculum, completing reports and maintaining accurate records.
The preceding functions have been provided as examples of the types of work performed by employees assigned this job classification. Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that the qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.Qualifications GuidelinesExperience/Training/Education:
Required – Bachelor’s degree, a minimum of five years’ classroom experience working with Lower School students, and training and/or experience in teacher mentorship, adult learning theory, or providing professional development.
Desirable – Master’s degree in Education or a related field, teaching credential, ten years of teaching experience, experience working with gifted learners, training in reading and/or math instruction and knowledge of programs such as Readers/Writers Workshop, Fundations, successful experience as an instructional coach in an independent school environment.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
Duties include, but are not limited to, observing instruction and providing feedback, modeling effective instructional strategies, offering and recommending resources, sharing research and emerging trends, collecting and analyzing data, assessing existing practices and matching needs with supports, and providing individual and group professional development. Requires knowledge and understanding of elementary education; reading and language methodologies; principles and methods for curriculum and training design; correspondence techniques and English composition, grammar, spelling and punctuation; knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google Apps for Education and/or equivalent programs. Skills required include instructing others; monitoring and assessing performance; using training and instructional methods appropriate for the situation; use of standard office equipment and educational tools. Ability to motivate and inspire teachers; communicate
information clearly both orally and written; analyze assessment data; provide effective coaching and feedback; able to prioritize tasks and communicate effectively with teachers, students, parents and other employees.
Physical and Environmental Elements:
This is both a sedentary office classification and outside environment classification. Employees may work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may have exposure to extreme heat or cold, wet or humid conditions, excess noise or other conditions when working in the outside environment. Employees have occasional exposure to irate parents, staff and public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.
Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard, typewriter keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. The position occasionally bends, stoops, reaches, pushes, and pulls drawers to retrieve and file information and lifts and carries reports that typically weigh less than 20 pounds.
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