Social Studies Instructional Coach/Specialist

Social Studies Instructional Coach/Specialist

Job Description

The Social Studies Instructional Specialist leads and facilitates change in the instructional practices of Paul teachers that result in improved outcomes for all students, increased job satisfaction for teachers and the development of professional learning communities across their assigned school. This position reports to the Assistant Director of Academics.

Primary Accountabilities:

Leadership

• Provides leadership to Teachers to ensure continuous improvement in teaching and learning.
• Provides leadership in collaboration with Assistant Directors, Principal, and Assistant Principals/Academic Deans to create coaching plans, professional learning opportunities aligned to school needs, and research on effective instructional practices
• Collaborates with content specific Instructional Specialists to ensure the learning needs of all students are met 
• Provides guidance to improve instructional practices through the modes of co-planning, co-teaching, and modeling effective instructional practices for teachers
• Engages in reflecting on coaching practices, sharing best practices, problem-solving issues, and participating in professional learning
• Supports school-based and network leadership teams in hiring teachers
• Collaborates with the Student Services department leadership in the creation of departmental goals, data analysis, monitoring student growth, and instructional planning

Instruction & Feedback

• Serves as a content expert in providing differentiated instruction for exceptional learners and be able to develop others regarding strategies that students need to be successful
• Coaches teachers on the development of unit and lesson plans to include instructional activities that facilitate the development of students’ ability to think critically 
• Conducts classroom observations, logs data into the evaluation storage platform system, and provides feedback for growth
• Co-teaches and models instructional practices for teachers when needed
• Facilitates teacher reflection through guided questioning 
• Provides feedback and facilitates reflection around classroom routines, procedures, strategies, learning tasks, assessment, and materials
• Analyzes student data and uses conclusions to provide feedback to teachers and students to yield higher student achievement

Data Collection & Analysis

• Leads teachers in identifying specific learning needs and creating a developing a targeted plan of action to address identified deficiency areas
• Plans, facilitates, and follows-up on bi-weekly data team meetings
• Analyzes trends in student data using multiple sources that include academic and culture data 
• Triangulates data to analyze student growth, create coaching plans, and identify next steps for instructional practices
• Coaches assigned teachers to create learning goals and instructional goals based on various data sources
• Conducts instructional rounds with school leaders and teachers to collect data and make instructional and professional learning decisions based on trends in the data
• Works closely with Assistant Director of Academics to ensure organizational directives around the use of data are implemented with fidelity

Professional Learning

• Uses classroom data to facilitate on-going, job-embedded professional learning for teachers focused on best instructional practices
• Creates professional learning syllabi connected to the Paul Teacher Evaluation Framework in conjunction with teacher data; creates and facilitates professional learning that aligns with the Paul Professional Learning Criteria for Success
• Leads instructional rounds with school leaders and departments focused on successful instructional practices

Progress Monitoring

• Maintains up-to-date and accurate records of teacher progress connected to coaching goals
• Ensures teachers monitor student progress and make instructional decisions based on that progress
• Convenes regularly with leadership to share teacher and student progress

Location

Washington, DC

Start Date

07/15/2024

Competitive salaries, excellent benefits, an innovative wo rk environment, and an opportunity to rethink school as we know it and change the lives of our students. Starting salary at $85,000 with remote work opportunity on some Fridays.

Requirements

• Master’s degree; in a content area preferred
• Minimum of 5 years social studies teaching experience in secondary schools (grades 6-12)
• Demonstrated success as a classroom teacher
• Demonstrated success using data to drive programming
• Believes that all students can achieve at the highest levels with no excuses
• Ability to effectively analyze school data to improve student and staff achievement
• Ability to exercise excellent judgment in decision-making
• Is a strategic thinker and proactive problem-solver
• Exemplifies the highest ethical standards
• Works independently with little direct supervision and as part of a team

Application Information

Please send a thoughtful cover letter and resume to The subject line should read Application for Social Studies Instructional Specialist.  Resumes without a cover letter will not be considered and replies will only be sent to qualified applicants.