Description
Instructional Coach Job Description
Position Title: Instructional Coach
Location: Beach Park Middle School, Beach Park School District 3
Reports To: Building Principal(s) and/or Director of Teaching and Learning
Job Summary/Purpose
The Instructional Coach position at Beach Park Middle School is established with the primary purpose of providing dedicated support to teachers in the implementation of effective instructional practices. This role is crucial for ensuring the high academic achievement of all students within Beach Park School District 3. This position is designed to significantly increase both individual and collective teacher capacity, fostering a culture of leadership for change and continuous improvement.
The Instructional Coach will strive to develop a vibrant community of learners who are reflective decision-makers, capable of identifying, cultivating, and strengthening new instructional approaches to create a superior educational program. This will be achieved by developing mutually productive and trusting relationships with all staff. The ultimate goal of this non-evaluative role is to enhance instructional expertise by working directly with teachers rather than students, thereby directly impacting student learning outcomes.
Performance Responsibilities
The Instructional Coach will perform, but not be limited to, the following duties:
Instructional Support & Collaboration: Consult and collaborate with teachers on a regular basis regarding curriculum, instruction, assessment, and evidence-based strategies, ensuring alignment with Illinois Learning Standards and district goals.
Facilitating Change: Exhibit patience, empathy, and perseverance to effectively support colleagues through the change process and the adoption of new pedagogical methodologies.
Modeling & Demonstration: Demonstrate and model effective instructional strategies through co-teaching, lesson demonstrations, and collaborative planning sessions.
Observation & Feedback: Conduct structured lesson observations, providing constructive, non-evaluative feedback through pre- and post-discussion/analysis sessions designed for teacher growth.
Data-Driven Instruction: Assist staff in the systematic gathering, rigorous analysis, and insightful interpretation of student and instructional data to identify learning concerns and inform data-driven instructional decision-making.
Equity & Achievement: Champion equity in education, demonstrating a strong desire to close achievement gaps and ensuring that teachers are effectively coached to serve every child, regardless of background, ability, or circumstance.
Goal Setting: Support teachers in developing and refining their professional goals and student learning objectives, aligning them with school and district priorities.
Resource Dissemination: Regularly communicate with faculty regarding current educational research, effective teaching strategies, best practices in data/assessment, relevant professional literature, and available instructional materials and resources.
Professional Development Leadership: Actively work with the Beach Park Professional Development Committee, school leadership teams, and administrators to design, implement, and facilitate ongoing professional development initiatives aligned with school and district needs, strategic goals, and current educational trends.
Documentation & Reporting: Maintain a detailed and confidential professional coaching log documenting work with staff, submitting reports to the Superintendent on a monthly basis.
Continuous Learning: Participate actively in relevant professional development activities with colleagues (e.g., conferences, workshops, webinars) to stay current with pedagogical advancements and best practices.
Team Collaboration: Collaborate effectively with all school staff, including other Instructional Coaches within the district, as assigned, to foster a cohesive instructional support system.
Coaching Conversations: Facilitate productive and collaborative conversations (conferences) with teachers to explore instructional challenges and successes.
Problem Solving: Guide teachers through mutual problem-solving processes to assist them in the successful implementation and mastery of new teaching practices.
Coaching Plans: Develop comprehensive coaching plans for individual teachers or teams, including clearly defined goals, actionable steps, and measurable indicators of success.
Curriculum Management: Assist in the maintenance and updating of electronic curriculum guides and instructional resources to ensure accessibility and relevance for all educators.
Other Duties: Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor that contribute to the instructional improvement of the school and district.
Coaching Philosophy
This coaching role is fundamentally a non-evaluative, learning relationship between an instructional coach and a teacher. The core objective is mutual learning and growth, thereby directly improving instructional practices and ultimately enhancing student achievement.
Qualifications
Certification: Valid Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with appropriate endorsements (e.g., Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Special Education).
Experience: Minimum of five (5) years of successful teaching experience in a K-12 public school setting, preferably at the middle school level.
Instructional Expertise: Demonstrated expertise in curriculum development, diverse instructional strategies, and formative/summative assessment practices.
Pedagogical Knowledge: Strong understanding of current educational research, best practices in teaching and learning, and differentiated instruction.
Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to build rapport and establish trusting, collaborative relationships with adult learners.
Data Literacy: Proven ability to analyze various forms of data and use data to drive instructional improvement.
Collaboration & Independence: Ability to work independently with initiative, as well as collaboratively as part of a team.
Commitment to Growth: A strong commitment to ongoing professional growth and continuous learning.
Terms of Employment
Salary and benefits will be in accordance with the Beach Park School District 3 negotiated agreement.
Application Process
Interested candidates should submit an online application, resume, cover letter, and three professional references through the Beach Park School District 3 website.