High School Academic Coach

Athol-Royalston School District•Athol, MA

70d

About The Position

The Academic Coach will provide instructional support and coaching to teachers as they work to ensure that each student is able to reach his or her academic potential. The Academic Coach's primary role is to work with teachers to support best practices in using data, provide analysis of school-wide trends in instruction, and make recommendations about potential next steps to address areas of need. It is not the Coach's role to work with teachers on individual student behavior issues outside of setting up lessons that will more readily engage students. As an advisor to teachers and the leadership team, the Academic Coach is responsible for four main areas: A. observing instructional delivery, providing modeling when needed, and providing non-evaluative feedback to enhance and support the development of each teacher's content area: B. supporting teachers in the design of units and lessons: C. analyzing data in order to modify curriculum and forms of assessment to meet students' needs: D. working with the academic staff and providing professional development (grade level chairs, assistant principals, principals) in the school to support teacher practices. The Academic Coach must take a hands-on approach to improving instruction and effectiveness by working directly to improve student-learning outcomes by fostering teacher development. This may include modeling lessons in classrooms, helping teacher groups plan instruction, offering professional development in best practices on teaching and learning, creating system-wide procedures around improving instruction and student outcomes, and providing confidential one on one feedback to teachers to foster growth and development without evaluative properties.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree required but, Masters preferred
Massachusetts Teaching Credentials
Experience working with adult learners, coaching teachers, and delivering professional development.
An understanding of the Massachusetts Standards curriculum frameworks for building assigned.
At least three years of teaching experience serving low-income students
Experience coaching, leading, and supporting teachers.
Strong record of helping students achieve academic success, primarily with low- income students.
Experience with curriculum development and daily lesson planning.
Experience in analyzing data and using results to modify curricula.
Multi-faceted, multi-skilled, resourceful, and willing to do whatever it takes to help our students reach a level of academic excellence.
Model positive and healthy character traits and habits, such as being organized, consistent, and understanding.

Nice To Haves

Completion of Research for Better Teaching's Studying Skillful Teacher course is preferred.

Responsibilities

Developing and maintaining strong collaborative relationships with teachers.
Providing instructional support and coaching to teachers to ensure every student is able to meet or exceed state grade level standards.
Providing instructional and content support in meeting educator evaluation tools put forth by DESE.
Assigned a lead teacher position or department chair position and fulfilling the role as described in the teacher contract.
Modeling lessons
Supporting teachers in the ongoing design or revisions of unit plans and lesson plans. This will consist of deeply unpacking standards, developing clear learning targets, rigorous tasks and measurable criteria for success.
Planning, leading and assessing the impact of student-centered coaching that embeds data driven practices to support the needs of all students.
Observing instruction and providing non-evaluative feedback to enhance and support the development of the teacher to support student's academic achievement and growth.
Providing feedback specific to district-wide instructional focus areas from the DESE evaluation tool for teachers.
Working with the academic staff (department chairs, assistant principals, principals) in the school to support sharing of best practices.
Working with the building Instructional Leadership Team, to analyze school-wide and District Instructional Leadership Team to look at district-wide trends in instruction. During these meetings the Academic Coach will make recommendations about potential next steps to build off of strengths and further develop areas needing improvement. Continuously monitoring, tracking and analyzing student achievement and growth data in order to identify needed supports and strategies.
Researching, preparing materials, and identifying resources with the building principals and Curriculum Director to improve teaching and learning. This may include: teaching strategies, lesson planning, task design, data use to inform instruction, ect.
Providing support and assistance to all classroom teachers in the implementation of curriculums.
Assisting teachers in building the capacity to deliver instruction that is at the rigorous level of the state curriculum frameworks.
Serving as a resource for identifying appropriate instructional strategies and interventions to improve student achievement and growth for all students.
Reporting to the principal of the building(s) assigned. Principal will be the academic coaches evaluator.
Performing other duties as requested by the principal in cases of emergency.