EC Instructional Coach

Job Summary The EC Curriculum Leader is a hands-on instructional leader responsible for overseeing special education programs ensuring curricula are aligned with NCDPI standards and school-wide expectations. This role focuses on driving high-quality inclusive core instruction and improving student outcomes through evidence-based high-leverage practices (HLPs). The leader models best practices, provides rigorous feedback, and ensures strict adherence to IEP compliance and IDEA regulations.

Key Responsibilities

Instructional Leadership and Modeling

• Hands-on Instruction: Model and teach each day to demonstrate best practices, maintain a daily model schedule, and submit weekly schedules to supervisors.
• Evidence-Based Practices: Lead the transition from simple accommodations to meaningful data-driven modifications and research-based strategies.
• Mentorship: Provide direct coaching and mentorship to teachers to improve instructional delivery and implement HLPs.

Coaching, Feedback, and Professional Development

• Observation and Feedback: Conduct weekly observation and feedback meetings driven by the instructional cycle and performance data.
• Actionable Goals: Assign specific action steps and weekly goals to teachers ensuring they meet school-wide and performance targets.
• Documentation: Record all coaching actions, including meeting scripts, informal observations, and reteach plans in Grow Level Data.
• PD Facilitation: Create and lead Department PDs and clinics based on identified trends in performance and weekly goal data.
• Leadership Training: Attend and successfully complete the "Want More Do More" instructional leadership cohort training.

Data-Driven Decision Making and Compliance

• Data Meetings: Lead weekly data meetings by grade level and subject to analyze student performance and adjust instruction.
• Compliance Oversight: Ensure absolute adherence to state NCDPI and federal IDEA policies, specifically focusing on IEP compliance.
• Monitoring Progress: Use student performance data to plan, implement, and evaluate special education programs according to Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) standards.
• Weekly Huddles: Host a weekly huddle to review goals, showcase assessment data, power rankings, and share school-specific updates.

Collaboration and Strategic Planning

• Inclusive Practices: Facilitate active collaboration between special education and general education teachers to support inclusion and reduce unnecessary pull-out services.
• Vertical Alignment: Lead weekly department meetings to ensure vertical alignment and discuss data trends across the department.
• Co-Observations: Complete co-observations with school-level and district-level instructional leaders to ensure coaching consistency.
• Professional Goal Setting: Conduct quarterly check-in meetings with teachers to reflect on progress and create new professional goals.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelors degree in Education or a related field.
• A Masters level license in Special Education or School Administration is preferred.

Licensure

• Valid NC Continuing Teaching License.
• Advanced sixth-year licensure in special education or school administration is often required for this level of leadership.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of teaching experience with proven instructional leadership skills and expertise in curriculum development.

Competencies

• Strong data analysis skills.
• Proficiency in educational technology and data management systems (e.g., Whetstone).
• Excellent interpersonal communication.