Instructional Coach - Secondary

Instructional Coach (Secondary)

The Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Gregory Mott, is interested in receiving applications from qualified candidates for the position of instructional coach (secondary) for Poughkeepsie High School and Poughkeepsie Middle School for the  vacancy.

Qualifications:

• 5+ years teaching experience rated effective or highly effective, in grades 6-12, with tenure in a secondary content area, reading or literacy, primarily serving low income and minority students.
• Master's degree and New York State certification in a secondary content area (7-12) or reading/literacy (K-12).
• Experience with working with adult learners, coaching teachers, and delivering professional development.
• A deep understanding of theories of high quality instruction including interventions for effective tiered support.
• Experience in data analysis and utilization of instructional and assessment data to improve instruction.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills (communication, problem solving, conflict management, collaboration) with the ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with all staff.
• Strong organizational skills.

Duties:

The Poughkeepsie City School District (PCSD) is committed to providing students and parents with pathways to opportunity that will lead to achievement and success. Through student-centered effective and transformational leadership, school and community engagement, and an unrelenting pursuit to achieve greater school outcomes for children, PCSD is focused on developing and growing greater access, equity, opportunity, and quality across the district.

The secondary instructional coach is a critical lever in improving student achievement in schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement (CSI) or additional targeted support and improvement (ATSI). The coach will take a hands-on approach to improving instruction and effectiveness by working at various levels (classroom-, school-, system-wide) to directly improve curriculum, instruction, and assessment, student learning, and also foster teacher and tutor growth and development.

This is not a supervisory position and does not include formal evaluation of colleagues.

The instructional coach must take a hands-on approach to improving instruction and effectiveness by working at various levels (classroom-, school-, system-wide) to directly improve curriculum, instruction, and assessment, student learning, and also foster teacher and tutor growth and development. As an advisor to teachers and the leadership team, the instructional coach is responsible for five main areas: a) planning and facilitating, professional learning committees, b) observing and modeling instructional delivery and providing feedback to enhance and support the development of teacher pedagogy;

c) supporting teachers in developing targeted lessons and interventions to support students' specific academic needs; d) guiding teachers through the analysis of student data in and making informed instructional decisions; and e) working with the academic staff (i.e. grade-level chairs, assistant principals, principals) in the school to support the sharing of best practices. This may include modeling lessons in classrooms, helping teachers plan instruction, leading curriculum writing, and facilitating professional development.

District wide additional responsibilities include providing targeted support to teachers by effectively modeling, teaching, affirming, supporting, observing, and providing constructive feedback to instructional staff. Implement rigorous cycles including goal-setting, co-planning, rehearsal, classroom enactment (modeling or co-teaching), reflection, and iterative next steps across secondary departments. Manage and support a committed caseload of at least 10 teachers voluntarily engaging in peer coaching cycles.

Observe and model instructional delivery, assist teachers in planning instruction, and provide constructive, non-evaluative feedback to enhance classroom enactment and cognitive demand. Guide departmental teams and individual teachers in analyzing student performance data to develop student learning goals and implement systems to improve the quality of classroom instruction. Lead the secondary school intervention teams to assess, plan, and refine focused instructional interventions (AIS, ENL, and Special Education), ensuring small group supports are aligned with core high school curriculum and graduation goals.

Maintain a weekly log delineating clearly stated objectives for classroom, teacher, and content support. Submit logs weekly to the principal and Assistant Superintendent of Schools and/or assigned designee. Guide teams of teachers and individual teachers in analyzing student data to develop student learning goals by grade level/content and identify best instructional practices. Identify and assist teachers in implementing methods for motivating students to engage in effort-based work that is cognitively challenging leading to increased student…