Director, Teaching & Learning - 5-8 ELA

Uncommon Schools • New York, NY

4h • $116,800 - $146,000

About The Position

Are you passionate about developing young readers and writers? Uncommon Schools is seeking a Director of 5-8 ELA to lead the vision and strategy for English Language Arts across our network. In this role, you'll shape curriculum and assessments that reach thousands of students, coach school leaders across our regions, and drive measurable improvements in literacy outcomes. You'll work alongside a talented instructional team to ensure every student has access to high-quality, inclusive, and research-backed ELA instruction.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred
• 7–9 years of professional experience, with 7–9 years in directly relevant roles
• Demonstrated experience in teaching, school leadership, curriculum development, or comparable roles (e.g., teacher, Dean of Curriculum and Instruction, Principal, or similar positions at other organizations)
• Strong ability to analyze data and translate findings into actionable improvement plans
• Demonstrated expertise in ELA content and evidence-based instructional practices
• Experience developing and delivering professional development to diverse audiences
• Excellent communication skills and ability to influence across organizational levels
• Strategic thinking and ability to balance long-term vision with operational execution
• Collaborative approach to working across teams and with external stakeholders

Nice To Haves

• Internal Uncommon experience in school operations or instructional leadership is a plus

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve network-wide ELA curriculum and assessment materials, ensuring they are research-aligned, error-free, diverse, and inclusive
• Analyze network assessment data to identify trends, recommend targeted interventions, and execute data-driven improvement initiatives
• Serve as the in-house ELA expert, leveraging knowledge of evidence-based practices to shape Uncommon's content strategy and recommend curriculum revisions
• Design and facilitate content-based professional development for teachers, instructional leaders, and school administrators across all organizational levels
• Spend approximately 2 days per week coaching and supporting school leaders, regional staff, and network teams on ELA best practices
• Build content expertise across the organization by sharing research-backed strategies and supporting implementation at the school level
• Develop the vision for 5-8 ELA across Uncommon, including recommending strategic initiatives and planning professional development approaches
• Partner with other instructional teams, regional school leaders, and school-based leaders to develop and execute network-wide strategic priorities
• Lead the development and monitoring of key performance indicators (KPIs) and objectives related to ELA initiatives
• Collaborate with curriculum and assessment leaders across grade levels to ensure a cohesive K-12 instructional vision

Benefits

• 19 days of paid time off
• 3 weeks of paid Winter and Summer org-wide holidays
• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance plans
• 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
• Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits
• Pre-tax flexible spending, dependent care, and health saving accounts

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director