Humanities Instructional Coach

Instructional Coach (Full time, exempt) 210 workdays

Grow Public Schools

Reports to: AP of Academics 

Grow Public Schools, founded by the Grimm Family Education Foundation (GFEF) in 2011, is an independent public charter school network with schools currently located in Arvin (K-8) and Shafter (K-7), California.  

At Grow Public Schools (GPS), we believe educational excellence is achieved when health and wellness is at the center of a child’s learning environment.  To achieve this, students learn through diversified personalized instructional methods and platforms - digital, hands-on, project, inquiry and direct learning pedagogies.  As a result, students achieve academically, emotionally and physically, maximizing their individual potential to be prepared for the rigors of college, career and life. 

Grow Public Schools seeks to be the leader among K-8 educational institutions in California, particularly in Kern County and the Central Valley.  Through a process of continuous learning, evolution, and growth, we offer an innovative school model to families, especially the historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged.  We strive to provide a model of excellence and innovation rich with rigorous expectations, instilling a growth mindset in our scholars that will result in college readiness and lifelong success.

Location: 

Positions are available at both our Arvin and Shafter school sites.

Position Summary:  

Grow Public Schools is seeking dynamic educators who have a passion for collaboration, inquiry, and ongoing learning in the service of helping teachers grow their instructional expertise and professional habits of mind.  The Instructional Coach plays a vital role in the development of our teachers in ways that not only inform practice but also help further Grow Public Schools’ mission of eliminating the opportunity gap in rural Kern County.    To accomplish these goals, the Instructional Coach must possess a deeply held belief in the growth potential of teachers and their students – recognizing that the most impactful element in student learning is having an effective teacher.

The role of the Instructional Coach is to promote reflection, provide guidance and structure where needed, and focus on strengths, collaboration and common issues of concern. They are responsible for ensuring high-quality instruction in classrooms through modeling, co-planning, co-teaching and providing feedback to teachers. All Instructional Coaches work collaboratively as a team with members of the school site leadership and the Chief Academic Officer (CAO).  The Instructional Coach will demonstrate and model a passion for education reform and leadership.  

This is not a supervisory position and does not include evaluation of colleagues.  

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supports teachers in designing effective and rigorous unit plans and lesson plans with specific, measurable, and standards-based aims; provides feedback on teachers’ process and performance. 
• Build strong relationships with teachers, administrators, and other coaches.
• Weekly 1:1 meetings with teachers (note: meetings are confidential to maintain provide an open and welcoming feedback loop)
• Provide direction and coordination for how the curriculum is taught consistent with GPS’s initiatives and recognized best instructional practices. 
• Assist teachers in understanding GPS’s mission and core values. 
• Assist teachers with resources, materials, tools, information, etc. to support classroom instruction and planning, including new resources. 
• Support teachers and administrators in using data to improve instruction on all levels. 
• Assist teachers with planning and pacing of lessons, the development of differentiated lessons, and the selection of best practices to meet the needs of their students. 
• Support teachers by helping them develop effective pedagogical strategies including continuous improvement, reflection, and revision of lesson delivery.
• Routinely observe (non-evaluative) lessons and provide feedback for a teacher’s professional growth and students’ success on a regular basis. 
• Develop staff members’ knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors through a variety of professional development targeted topics and designs. 
• Develop coaching plans for teachers to ensure student improvement in conjunction with self-evaluation/PEP. 
• Contribute to the development of systems and structures to improve teacher practice within schools. 
• Provide job-embedded informal professional learning beyond the coaching responsibility. 
• Submit a weekly coaching log and any pertinent data requests/coaching documentation and meet with leadership regularly to calibrate staff support efforts. 
• Collaborate with SpEd Coodinator to meet the diverse needs of every learner
• Attend all training sessions as directed by the principal and/or the CAO.
• Responsible for mentoring requirements for new teachers related to their successful completion of teacher credentialing programs and clearing preliminary credentials. 
• Assist teachers in providing an effective classroom and distance learning environment (as needed) that reflects and facilitates the academic program with an emphasis on a college-going culture.
• Maintaining frequent communication with staff and site leadership both in person and via Zoom
• Other relevant duties as assigned 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• A passion for improving historically underrepresented communities and increasing the instructional rigor and practice of teaching faculty.
• Recognition as exemplary classroom teacher and excellent professional role model.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience working linguistically and ethnically diverse students.
• Demonstrated commitment to personal professional growth and learning.
• Willingness to participate in professional growth experiences and training to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to be effective.
• Willingness to engage in formative assessment processes, including non-evaluative, reflective conversations with beginning teachers about formative assessment evidence.
• Willingness to work collaboratively and share instructional ideas and materials with teachers.
• Knowledge of, or experience with teacher growth and development.
• Strong literacy and numeracy skills, strong subject matter competence and English language development strategies.

Required Education and Experience:

• Valid clear CA credential or commensurate experience leading teachers
• Master’s degree in Education or related field preferred

• A minimum of 5 years of successful teaching experience
• Ability to demonstrate development and delivery of high quality instructional professional development to K-12 teaching faculty.

Salary:
GPS offers competitive compensation based on background and experience.