Instructional Coach

Instructional Coach

Teach Iowa Horizon Science Academy – Des Moines, Iowa.

The Instructional Coach serves as a mentor and guide to support teachers at Horizon Science Academy, ensuring successful implementation of Concept School's Academic Excellence Framework with a focus on closing the achievement gap and accelerating learning for all students. This role emphasizes a student‑centered coaching mindset, aiming to strengthen student achievement by helping teachers implement effective instructional practices.

• Current Iowa teaching license with elementary and middle school endorsements;
  Reading, Early Literacy, and/or Mathematics endorsements preferred.
• Master’s degree in school administration, curriculum and instruction, or related fields preferred.
• Minimum five years of successful teaching experience, ideally including leadership roles.
• Experience receiving or providing structured instructional coaching methodology.
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback.
• Proven ability to use student‑level data to guide instructional decisions.
• Demonstrated teacher leadership and expertise in instruction and curriculum.
• Strong pedagogical knowledge and content expertise.
• Preferred past experience of curriculum implementation across multiple schools.
• Ability to execute the district’s Mission, Vision, Core Values, and Goals.
• Knowledge of governmental statutes, regulations, and rules related to instruction, curriculum, and student learning.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, willing to collaborate with diverse groups.
• Strong facilitation skills in curriculum development, revisions, and evaluation.
• Ability to work cooperatively, maintain confidentiality, and adapt to changing priorities.

• Engage teachers in coaching cycles, collaboratively setting goals based on student data, implementing targeted instructional strategies, and reflecting on growth results.
• Conduct non‑evaluative observations and provide feedback/coaching on teachers’ planning and delivery.
• Provide clear and direct feedback based on practice analysis.
• Facilitate guidance and help develop teachers according to the Danielson Framework.
• Support teachers’ achievement of goals using coaching strategies such as co‑planning, modeling, co‑teaching, side‑by‑side coaching, and observing.

• Serve as a mentor through co‑planning, team teaching, sharing effective instructional strategies, and modeling lessons.
• Collaborate with Concept Academic Department Directors, Director of Teaching and Learning, Assistant Principals of Academics, school‑level Department Heads, and Regional Instructional Coaches.
• Collaborate with teachers in designing instructional decisions informed by assessment data and culturally and linguistically responsive practices.
• Communicate and demonstrate evidence‑based instructional practices through collaborative co‑planning, modeling, and co‑teaching.
• Participate in periodic meetings with the Director of Teaching and Learning and other coaching colleagues.

• Analyze state and district assessment data to identify professional development needs.
• Create and maintain data trackers and visualizations to inform progress.
• Consistently analyze teacher practice through classroom observations, data analysis, and examination of student work.
• Track student and teacher progress to assess the effectiveness of coaching.
• Develop teachers’ capacity to collect and analyze multiple sources of data.

• Support teachers in understanding and implementing the curriculum, Danielson’s Framework for Teaching, and data analysis.
• Develop, lead, and participate in ongoing and job‑embedded professional learning.
• Collaborate with the Director of Teaching and Learning and Concept Directors to become familiar with curricular resources.
• Assist in ensuring the implementation of the Concept Academic Framework with fidelity.

• Create detailed coaching plans with focused goals and measures of success.
• Make recommendations for improvement and…