Director of Curriculum and Instructional Excellence, Humanities

KIPP • Houston, TX

11h • $85,000 - $97,500 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Curriculum and Instructional Excellence leads the work of strengthening teaching and learning across KIPP Texas schools, with a focused emphasis on campuses in transformation. This role is anchored in three core priorities: professional learning, deep curriculum expertise, and high-impact instructional coaching. The Director serves as a content and curriculum expert within an assigned grade band and subject area, ensuring a clear and coherent understanding of KIPP Texas’s adopted high-quality instructional materials, including Amplify Texas, Amplify ELAR Texas, and HMH Into Literature. A central responsibility is the design and facilitation of high-quality professional learning for teachers and school leaders, strengthening content knowledge and instructional capacity. The Director also provides direct, job-embedded coaching, including modeling instruction, observing classrooms, and providing actionable feedback. Through data-driven progress monitoring, clear expectations for curriculum implementation, and sustained professional learning structures, this role is critical in advancing instructional excellence and improving student outcomes across KIPP Texas campuses, aiming for significant student growth, A or B school ratings, and specific STAAR targets (90/75/40 on Reading and Math).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of 3 years experience as a successful assistant principal, school leader, or full-time instructional coach
• Proven record of results driving instructional growth
• Deep knowledge of content and pedagogy in a specific content area (K-5th ELA/SS, 6th-8th ELA/SS, or 9th-12th ELA/SS)
• Demonstrate a deep belief in the capacity of all students to achieve at high levels
• Demonstrate strong instructional expertise
• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse set of leaders and teachers to improve student achievement
• Exceptional ability to set clear metrics for success, monitor progress, and demonstrate persistence in overcoming obstacles to achieving short- and long-term goals.
• Exceptional leadership judgment, strategic thinking, and the ability to translate instructional expertise into practice while navigating ambiguity and complex situations.
• Exceptional ability to translate instructional expertise into practice
• Exceptional coaching skills that lead to improved instructional effectiveness
• High self-awareness, humility, and integrity
• Reliable transportation is needed for travel between campuses
• Ability to maintain emotional control under stress.
• Work with frequent interruptions.

Nice To Haves

• Relevant Master’s degree in Education preferred
• Experience implementing Amplify Texas, Amplify ELAR Texas and HMH Into Literature curricular products.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate a deep desire and record of results to support schools with significant instructional transformation.
• Understand the research underpinning transforming school communities.
• Hold high expectations for themselves as well as the leaders and teachers at transformation campuses.
• Demonstrate instructional expertise and understanding of curricular frameworks, pedagogy, and instructional materials in an area of content expertise.
• Lead instructional improvement efforts on a portfolio of transformation schools (3-5 campuses) by planning and facilitating professional learning communities (PLCs), observing classroom instruction, and providing actionable feedback to both classroom teachers and school leaders.
• Effectively coach teachers to improve instructional effectiveness.
• Partner with the school-based leadership team, specifically by coaching assistant principals to impact with a focus on high-quality instruction & curriculum implementation.
• Conduct individualized coaching sessions with teachers to observe classroom instruction, provide feedback, and collaboratively develop actionable strategies for improving instruction.
• Lead teachers in setting clear, measurable instructional goals and providing ongoing guidance and support to help them achieve these goals through targeted observation and professional development.
• Utilize a strengths-based approach to identify and leverage teachers' existing skills and talents while also providing guidance and support in areas of improvement.
• Establish a supportive and trusting relationship with teachers and leaders built on mutual respect, open communication, and a commitment to professional growth.
• Demonstrate a willingness to lead small group instruction within classrooms during the Crescendo season.
• Facilitate professional learning communities that drive instructional excellence.
• Plan & co-lead weekly content team meetings in assigned schools.
• Lead school-based practice clinics & teach backs.
• Provide targeted support and resources to teachers, supporting the implementation of evidence-based instructional strategies.
• Support transformational school leader managers & school leadership teams in progress monitoring actions that drive improvement in the areas of data-driven culture, curriculum implementation, and high-quality instruction that leads to teacher impact.
• Craft and execute organization-wide improvement plans in response to curriculum implementation data.
• Coach leaders and teachers on effective daily data practices, such as strategic monitoring, daily data dives, exit ticket trackers, etc.
• Analyze school-specific data to identify trends and support the development of response plans.
• Confidently speak to formative student outcome data across portfolio campuses to support regional leaders in ongoing coaching and response plans.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with coverage options for employees and their families.
• Competitive vacation and flexible paid time off (PTO) policies.
• Paid family leave.
• Flexible spending account or high-yield HSA.
• Employee assistance programs.
• Legal plans
• LifeLock identity protection
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees