Instructional Specialist (26-27 School Year)

Fort Smith Public Schools•Fort Smith, AR

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Instructional Specialist will increase student achievement in literacy, math, and/or science by providing teachers with instructional coaching, training, and support. This role involves collaborating with District Curriculum and Instruction staff, building principals, and content coordinators to support the implementation of District initiatives and assist teachers in the successful use of innovative, high-yield instructional strategies. The specialist will exhibit strong interpersonal, problem-solving, and organizational skills to facilitate teacher training and professional growth via Professional Learning Communities using High Reliability Schools best practices. The position requires acquiring and maintaining knowledge, leadership skills, technology skills, and instructional strategies in literacy, math, and/or science to effectively impact instructional practice in classrooms. The specialist will assist teachers in using District Essential Standards, curriculum maps/unit plans, lesson protocols, and materials through modeling, coaching cycles, and providing explicit feedback. Additionally, the role involves facilitating the implementation of research-based, best practices designed to meet individual student needs, maintaining a consistent focus on teaching and learning to high standards, maintaining confidentiality, and consistently maintaining records and reports in an appropriate and timely manner. Training for this position will be coordinated by the Supervisor of Curriculum and Professional Development. The Instructional Specialist will maintain a collegial relationship with teachers for the purpose of improving instruction and will have no supervisory or evaluative authority. The role also includes carrying out assigned duties, participating in grade level/content collaboration, planning, PLCs, and school/district committees, following TESS rubric expectations, supervising students during various activities, maintaining prompt attendance, attending building events as requested, demonstrating positive professional working relationships, maintaining emotional control under stress, and abiding by state statutes, school board policies, and regulations.

Requirements

Must have a valid Arkansas Professional Teaching License.
Must have relevant years of successful classroom experience.
Must have a strong background in instructional strategies and practices that actively engage students.
Must demonstrate knowledge of standards-based, data-driven decision making.
Must demonstrate knowledge and leadership in the development and implementation of District and building instructional goals.
Must possess skills in collaboration.
Must be willing to increase knowledge and skills through attending applicable trainings.
Must demonstrate the ability to provide small group instruction to students in a manner that accelerates achievement.

Nice To Haves

Out of state applicants please provide Arkansas Department of Education's verification of provisional licensure eligibility.

Responsibilities

Increase student achievement in literacy, math, and/or science by providing teachers with instructional coaching, training, and support.
Collaborate with District Curriculum and Instruction staff to support implementation of District initiatives.
Collaborate with the building principal and content coordinators to assist teachers in the successful use of innovative, high-yield instructional strategies in literacy, math, and/or science through modeling, coaching cycles, and providing explicit feedback.
Exhibit interpersonal, problem-solving, and organizational skills to effectively facilitate teacher training and professional growth via Professional Learning Communities using High Reliability Schools best practices.
Acquire and maintain the knowledge, leadership skills, technology skills, and instructional strategies in literacy, math, and/or science necessary to effectively impact instructional practice in classrooms.
Assist teachers in using Fort Smith Public Schools identified District Essential Standards, curriculum maps/unit plans, lesson protocols, and materials through modeling, coaching cycles, and providing explicit feedback.
Facilitate the implementation of research-based, best practices designed to meet individual student needs.
Maintain a consistent focus on teaching and learning to high standards.
Maintain confidentiality.
Maintain records and reports consistently and in an appropriate and timely manner.
Maintain a collegial relationship with teachers for the purpose of improving instruction.
Carries out duty as assigned, including after-school or before-school duties.
Participates in grade level/content collaboration, planning, as part of PLCs, as well as school/district committees.
Follows all TESS rubric “proficient” level expectations for their role.
Supervises students on recess, bus, during before and after school duty, on field trips, extracurricular events, and in out-of-classroom activities during the assigned working day.
Maintains prompt and regular attendance.
Attends building events/activities at night, as requested by administration.
Demonstrates the ability to maintain positive professional working relationships with others.
Maintains emotional control under stress.
Abide by state statutes, school board policies, and regulations.
Performs other duties as assigned.