Director of Instruction 26-27 School Year

Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School•New York, NY

18h•Onsite

About The Position

Teaching at Brooklyn Lab is unlike working in a traditional educational environment. Our teachers know the individual strengths and areas for growth of each of their scholars, and our leaders know our scholars by name. By design, our schools are small communities where every scholar is known. In addition to teaching their course, our faculty understand the value of collaboration. They share best practices across the network, mentor young educators who serve as Small Group Instructors, get and implement feedback from coaches and their instructional lead, and work as a team to provide their scholars with a high-quality education. Our focus on the whole scholar and in building our school community has established Brooklyn Lab as one of the best schools in the country for academic growth, adding two and three years of academic growth on average for our scholars. We invite you to be part of a transformation in education and to inspire a diverse group of scholars with a lifelong love of learning. The Director of Instruction, who reports to the Chief Academic Officer, is a key member of the team responsible for ensuring consistent instructional practices across the school. Through observation and feedback cycles, the Director of Instruction will identify areas of strength and improvement, working with teachers to analyze data, plan effectively, and support all students' needs.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required
Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in educational leadership, including experience as an instructional leader in secondary education.
Deep understanding of curriculum design, instructional best practices, and secondary school pedagogy.
Demonstrated success in raising student achievement and closing achievement gaps.
Strong leadership, team-building, and project management skills.
Proficient in data analysis and using data to drive instructional decisions.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in education.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in education, curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, or related field preferred.
Experience in charter school settings, and experience with grades 6-12 is preferred.

Responsibilities

Ensure coherent instructional practices: Promote consistent, rigorous teaching practices across all classrooms by aligning instructional routines and maintaining high standards.
Facilitate collaborative planning: Lead intellectual preparation and co-planning among grade-level and intervention teams. This includes previewing upcoming materials, highlighting key understandings and common misconceptions, and supporting lesson design and adjustments.
Drive instructional excellence: Foster high-quality teaching by implementing professional development, coaching, and creating communities of practice.
Professional development (PD) leadership: Plan and deliver PD sessions, including Summer Institutes and weekly content-focused workshops, and lead instructional blocks and support sessions targeted at teacher growth.
Real-time instructional coaching: Offer immediate feedback during instruction, focusing on specific practices to help teachers implement techniques before the coach leaves the room.
Observation and feedback: Regularly observe classrooms, provide constructive feedback, and support the development of teacher content expertise.
Content team leadership: Conduct department/content meetings to reflect on challenges, celebrate success, and plan instructional improvements.
Analyze instructional and assessment data to identify areas for improvement, adjust curriculum and pacing, address lesson planning issues and help teachers build their capacity to analyze student data, recognize misconceptions, and adjust instruction accordingly. This includes organizing and planning assessments, including Interim Assessments, mock state exams, and AP practice tests, as well as ensuring assessments are used effectively to inform instruction.
Support for Diverse Learners: Work with the Student Services team to support students with academic, mental health, or physical challenges and guide best practices in teaching students with disabilities, English language learners (ELLs), and those at risk of academic failure.
Curriculum and assessment adaptation: Modify curriculum and assessments based on data to better serve students’ evolving needs.
Instructional resource management: Collaborate with leadership to ensure the availability of reference and instructional materials.
Research-driven instruction: Stay informed about current research in curriculum development, instructional methods, and assessment strategies.