Job Description

_ The Opportunity_

The Manager of Special Curriculum role is an exciting opportunity for an individual who has deep content knowledge of special curriculum with a focus on socioemotional learning, fine art and/or physical education, has a passion for curriculum and instruction, leverages content-based coaching strategies
and techniques to build the capacity of instructional leaders, is committed to advancing social justice and culturally relevant pedagogy, and is eager to influence the future of special curriculum and instruction across KIPP Texas and beyond.

The Manager of Curriculum will play a critical role at the state-level in an effort to drive improved student results by ensuring that every student has access to rigorous, excellent, grade-level curriculum that will be implemented in KIPP schools in our Houston, Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio regions.

_ Role Description_
● Curriculum Design: Using adopted curriculum as a base curriculum, designs strong instructional guidance for teachers and instructional coaches to facilitate strong implementation and internalization of curriculum
● Curriculum Adoption & Selection: Executes a scientific method for selecting curriculum tools and resources necessary for teaching and learning experiences
● Curriculum Vetting: Executes a researched-based vetting process to ensure that curriculum is aligned to grade-level standards and expectations, error-free and publish ready
● Curriculum-Instruction Connection: Supports instructional teammates in designing and reviewing professional learning materials designed to equip leaders and teachers with the knowledge and skills to internalize and execute the curriculum

● Assessments: Creates high quality, aligned, standards based formative, end of cycle and interim assessments to support mastery of content objectives and seeks feedback from key stakeholders along the way.
● Data Analysis: Frequently and consistently progress monitors and analyzes a variety of qualitative and quantitative data at the school, region and state-levels to identify strengths and gaps in the curriculum itself while also strategically providing revisions and course corrections to the curriculum implementation pathway.
● Professional Development: If needed, plan, review and/or facilitate virtual and in-person professional development on curriculum, instruction and assessment analysis to ensure all regions are on a path to implement the curriculum with fidelity and achieve academic goals.

_ Key Responsibilities_
The Manager of Curriculum & Achievement responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
● Curate, develop and/or adapt special curriculum for fine arts, SEL, and physical education based on feedback from the stakeholders, including course overviews, pacing calendars, unit plans, lesson plans and assessments aligned to the KIPP Texas Vision.
● Ensure all special curriculum & assessments for fine arts, SEL, and physical education are top-quality and aligned to a college-ready bar and Texas state standards before students engage with them.
● Conduct ongoing progress monitoring and data analysis (state-wide and region-specific) to make necessary adjustments to curriculum materials.
● Review professional development materials for regional academic teams, instructional coaches and teachers, including unit and lesson internalization, instructional best practices, and responding to data
● Build relationships with principals, assistant principals, teachers, and regional academics teams across the state to solicit feedback on the curriculum for fine arts, SEL, and physical education.
● Collaborate with other KIPP Texas academics teams to ensure curriculum and supporting materials are accessible for ALL students, including students with IEPs and multilingual learners.
● Stay up-to-date on best practices in fine arts, SEL, and physical education instruction and model best practices for instructional coaches as needed.

Qualifications

_ Qualifications_
● Bachelor degree required
● Teaching or administrative certification is a plus
● Content or subject knowledge certification is preferred

** Content and Pedagogical Expertise**
● Strong understanding of the college-ready bar for students and how fine arts, physical education and/or socioemotional learning contribute to it, exceptionally high standards for students’ potential, and an unyielding belief that ALL students can achieve at high levels
● Deep knowledge of fine arts, physical education, and/or socioemotional learning (including TEKS), with a strong understanding of the full K-12 ELA continuum and a willingness to learn across all fields
● Master teacher, coach and instructional leader (ideally at the primary (K-4) and/or middle school (5-8) level and/or high school (9-12) level) with proven 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

● (Preferred) 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

_ Technical Skills_
● Detail oriented and obsessed with accuracy, especially in the areas of curriculum and assessments
● Meets deadlines and timelines aligned to the academic calendar and needs of the organization
● Ability to create own work plan and can project plan around multiple priorities and fast-paced deadlines
● Able to succinctly present summaries and updates
● Can work across multiple modes of communication (virtual and in-person) to impact others and achieve goals
● Advanced understanding of Microsoft Office suite and (preferred) Adobe Reader and Google Drive
● (Preferred but not required) Able to fluently navigate Wheatley ELA, Illuminate and Tableau, or other similar assessment and data analytics platforms

_ Communication, Interpersonal and Team Skills_
● Builds and maintains strong relationships across a variety of levels and stakeholders
● Strong verbal and written communication skills; tailors message for the audience, context, and mode of communication
● Builds consensus and resolves conflicts; exhibits willingness to have difficult conversations
● Skillfully navigates systems and structures at various levels in a large district
● Comfortable with ambiguity and can translate abstract ideas into concrete work plans and products

_ Problem Solving and Systems-Level Thinking_
● Understands how various systems, departments, shareholders and stakeholders interact to achieve short and long term goals
● Makes decisions using data and takes initiative to solve problems and create stakeholder buy-in
● Exhibits flexibility and a solutions-oriented mindset when faced with shifting priorities, demands,
and timelines
● Identifies and prioritizes mission-critical issues and offers innovative solutions to seemingly intractable problems
● Exhibits consistent focus on goals and results and sets clear metrics for success

_ Leadership Skills_
● Motivates, inspires, and moves other adults to action to achieve ambitious goals
● 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
● Establishes clear expectations, deliverables and deadlines across organizational layers

_ 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 and a deep understanding of and empathy for issues facing students

Additional Information

Compensation and Benefits

As a full-time KIPP Texas employee you are eligible to participate in all KIPP Texas’ benefit plans. KIPP Texas offers a robust variety of benefits choices with competitive rates, including medical, dental, and vision options, life insurance, and disability plans.

KIPP provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.