Instructional Support Coach

YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

The Instructional Support Coach is a specially prepared professional responsible for supporting literacy and language performance among young children, particularly those experiencing difficulties in schools or centers. Under the direction of the Senior Director of Early Learning Education, the coach provides high-level literacy and language development support to school or center staff and helps implement the YMCA’s Early Learning Signature Programs and School Readiness Goals. The role also supports administrative systems for high-quality early childhood education and contributes to consistent program quality across the organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in reading, early childhood education, special education, or a related field.
At least 1 year of prior preschool or pre-K teaching experience.
Knowledge of a range of effective strategies and the ability to analyze instruction and provide clear, specific information on strategy implementation.
Valid Georgia provisional teacher certification with documented reading coursework.
Experience and skill coaching or mentoring adults on literacy-related topics.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
Deep understanding of scientifically based research in early language and literacy development and evidence-based practices for teaching early language and literacy and assessing student progress toward benchmarks, as documented through WSS rubrics and guidelines.
Hands-on experience using data to make informed decisions.
Ability to pass a pre-employment background check, including criminal record check, drug screening, motor vehicle record check, and reference check according to company policy.
Must be legally eligible to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in reading, early childhood education, special education, or a related field.
At least 3 years of prior preschool or pre-K teaching experience.
Valid Georgia T-certification (clear, renewable).

Responsibilities

Provide school or center staff with resources and training on scientifically based early language and literacy research and evidence-based practices.
Coach classroom lead and assistant teachers through modeling, demonstration, co-teaching, observation, and feedback on implementing core, supplemental, and intensive birth-to-five language and literacy approaches with fidelity and using assessment data to guide instruction.
Support implementation of the core curricular program and approaches selected by program directors, working with publishers as needed.
Establish and oversee a peer mentoring network for teachers, including opportunities to observe one another’s classrooms and instructional practices.
Redeliver literacy or advanced seminar content to birth-to-five teachers and assistant teachers; lead study groups focused on research, instructional practices, implementation experiences, and student work.
Build a school or center learning community focused on integrated learning and connections across classrooms and facilities.
Lead and coordinate the school or center assessment team, and help administer screening, progress-monitoring, diagnostic, and outcome literacy assessments.
Coach teachers on administering and interpreting assessments to evaluate progress, identify children needing supplemental or intensive intervention, and plan small-group instruction.
Become familiar with the administration and interpretation of in-depth diagnostic measures and other assessments commonly used in early education.
Use available guidance to review proposed core, supplemental, and intensive intervention materials for alignment with the literacy initiative.
Help organize and lead school, center, and regional professional development to share literacy content with non-project schools and centers.
Meet regularly with the Senior Director of Early Learning Education, Lead Literacy Coach, and peers to assess and adjust implementation of the literacy initiative.
Help analyze school- or center-wide literacy strengths and weaknesses and formulate plans to improve student achievement and teaching effectiveness.
Foster trust and collaboration among staff to support professional growth and children’s language and literacy achievement.
Attend professional development and networking meetings for Literacy Initiative Coaches.
Support implementation of all Early Learning Signature Programs to promote consistent, high-quality programming across the organization.
Support the Early Learning Education Department in meeting School Readiness Goals.
Assist in creating administrative systems that support high-quality early childhood education programs.
Conduct CLASS Assessments Sweeps.
Review posted lesson plans during RRFTS site visits.
Collect and enter Head Start education tracking forms.
Support Education Managers in providing teaching staff with additional assistance regarding classroom needs.