Job Description

The Advanced Academics Academic Recovery, HS ELA Curriculum Specialist is an exciting opportunity for an individual who has deep content knowledge of AP/IB ELA , has a passion for curriculum and instruction, is committed to advancing social justice and culturally relevant pedagogy, and is eager to influence the future of AP/IB ELA instruction across KIPP Texas and beyond.

The Advanced Academics Academic Recovery, HS ELA Curriculum Specialist will play a critical role at the state-level in an effort to drive improved student results, including growth and achievement, college and career readiness, and closing the achievement gap, at KIPP schools in our Houston, Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio regions.

DUTIES AND ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Curriculum | Using the adopted AP ELA curricula, develop highest leverage lessons and materials to support student learning. This includes but is not limited to curriculum materials that are both teacher and student facing. 

2. Assessments| Create high quality, aligned, standards based assessments to evaluate student mastery to close the achievement gap.

3. Data Analysis | Regularly analyze a variety of qualitative and quantitative data at the school, region and state-levels to identify strengths and gaps in the curriculum itself and/or its implementation. Design strategic plans to close the student achievement gaps to meet the AP and ACT goals. 

4. Professional Development | Plan and facilitate virtual and in-person professional development on curriculum and instruction to ensure all regions are on a path to implement the curriculum with fidelity and achieve academic goals.

5. Instructional Coaching | Coach and support school administrators, teachers, and regional academic teams to set, make progress towards, and achieve ELA goals. This may include occasional travel to each KIPP Texas region (Houston, Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio).

6. Performs other ELA related job duties and training as assigned.

Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Content and Pedagogical Expertise

• Strong understanding of the college-ready bar for students in Science, exceptionally high standards for students’ potential, and an unyielding belief that ALL students can achieve at high levels

• Deep knowledge of HS ELA (including CCRS and AP exam outlines), with a strong understanding of the full K-12 ELA continuum.

• Master ELA teacher and instructional leader (ideally at the high school level) with proven student achievement results

• Strong understanding of and prior experience with curriculum development, including but not limited to: alignment between objectives, learning experiences and assessment; principles of backwards planning; essential questions to drive inquiry

• Experience coaching teachers and/or leaders to improve instruction through observation & feedback; can identify targeted impact statements (action steps) based on observations to improve instruction efficiently and effectively

• Experience teaching AP or IB ELA with a strong track record of results

Technical and Communication Skills

• Detail oriented, especially in the areas of curriculum and assessments to ensure that our students have access to the highest quality, error free, aligned with college ready bar curriculum

• Strong verbal and written communication skills; tailors message for the audience, context, and mode of communication

• Fosters ELA relationships with various different organizational stakeholders to build consensus and resolve conflicts, thereby, moving in an aligned strategic direction

• Comfortable with ambiguity, exhibits flexibility, dons solution oriented mindsets,  and can translate abstract ideas into concrete work plans and products

• Advanced understanding of Microsoft Office suite and (preferred) Adobe Reader and Google Drive

Leadership Skills

• Motivates, inspires, and moves other adults to action to achieve ambitious goals

• Establishes clear expectations and builds coalitions and works collaboratively with diverse stakeholders at all levels, including but not limited to state leaders, regional leaders, school leaders, coaches, teachers and students

Empathy and Commitment to Cause

• Deep belief in the mission and values of KIPP and commitments to improving student achievement

• Passionately believes that all students can achieve at high levels

• Demonstrates cultural competencies via culturally responsive teaching and exhibits a deep understanding of and empathy for issues facing students

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: 

• Bachelor's degree from accredited college or university

• At least 5 years of successful teaching experience, including AP/IB experience

• Preferred: 1-2 years of coaching or instructional design experience

Additional Information

FUNDING:

The Advanced Academics Academic Recovery, HS ELA Curriculum Specialist will be funded directly from the Elementary and K-8 Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) grants awarded by the Texas Education Agency under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (ESSER II) and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ESSER III). This position will be funded solely (100%) from the ESSER II and III allocation for direct expenses through September 30, 2023, and may continue to be funded through September 30, 2024, depending upon the availability of ESSER grant funds. At the end of the grant period this position may be eliminated unless other sources of funds are secured to maintain this position or a similar position. The employee must sign this job description acknowledging receipt of the job description and signing their acknowledgement that this position is grant funded and is temporarily aligning with the terms of the grant period.