Instructional Coach - Breakthrough (Summer Session 2026)
About The Position
Instructional Coaches (ICs) are experienced and successful professional educators who provide content-specific support and mentoring for Breakthrough’s Teaching Fellows (TFs) and engage fully in the Breakthrough Pittsburgh community. ICs dictate the level of academic rigor during the summer program through their interactions with TFs. Each IC supervises six to eight TFs in one subject area, leading weekly department meetings, visiting classes, evaluating lesson plans, and meeting frequently with individual Teaching Fellows regarding their on-going work. As the only professional teachers on-site, ICs are accountable for the quality of instruction Breakthrough students receive and are responsible for supporting Breakthrough TFs through their first teaching experience.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Outstanding track record as a professional classroom teacher for at least three years (preferably in grades 7-10)
- Outstanding knowledge of subject matter and broad knowledge of available resources
- Superior presentation, writing, and organizational skills
- Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously
- Exceptional interpersonal skills: ability to hold others to high standards while also offering support and maintaining positive relationships
- Ability to deliver positive, constructive, and honest feedback, both written and verbal
- Experience with curriculum development and implementation
- Creativity, energy, and commitment to excellence
Nice To Haves
- Prior experience with Breakthrough or Summerbridge is highly desirable
- Familiarity with Pittsburgh schools is highly desirable
- Experience teaching in an academically rigorous college preparatory institution is highly desirable
Responsibilities
- Complete two training sessions (to be scheduled in May)
- Complete pre-summer readings
- Consult with Breakthrough staff regarding curriculum in specific content area
- Refine existing unit plans in specific content area as needed
- Help facilitate teacher training workshops on topics such as classroom management, lesson planning, and teaching practices specific to content area (optional)
- Participate fully in orientation workshops
- Guide TFs through lesson planning and general preparation for the summer
- Provide six-eight TFs with support and regular feedback as they design and revise lesson plans
- Maintain a big picture understanding of the curriculum and guide TFs in making adjustments as necessary
- Observe each TF in classroom at least once weekly
- Conduct once weekly one-on-one debrief sessions with TFs, in which they receive concrete feedback based on Breakthrough’s Teacher Excellence Rubric
- Plan and lead weekly departmental meetings
- Work with Instructional Coach team to determine professional development needs for TFs and lead at least one large group professional development session (optional)
- Communicate regularly with the Executive Director regarding TF progress
- Submit a final narrative evaluation for each assigned TF (letters of recommendation upon request)
- Provide revisions and suggestions on curriculum for next summer’s TFs and coaches
- Evaluate overall summer program
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
