Director of Instructional Excellence: Secondary ELA ('24-'25) - KIPP Texas Public Schools

KIPP Texas Public Schools is a network of 59 public charter, open-enrollment, pre-k-12 schools educating nearly 34,000 students across Austin, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. Together with families and communities, our mission is to create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose —college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

Founded in Houston in 1994, and operating as KIPP Texas since 2018, our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism in our classrooms, in our offices, and in the communities we serve is unwavering. We are looking to hire a diverse team of dynamic, collaborative, and dedicated individuals with an unyielding belief that every child will succeed. Join our Team and Family and champion equity, chase excellence, persist with purpose, bring joy, and help us rise together.

KIPP Texas is part of the national KIPP network of 255 college-preparatory public charter schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia. Nationwide, KIPP students complete four-year college at a rate of 36 percent, comparable to the national average for all students and approximately three times higher than the average of students from low-income communities.

You can see all our job opportunities at https://kipptexas.org/join-our-team/.

The KIPP Texas team is hiring multiple instructional coach roles for the 2024-2025 school year. We are seeking Directors for the following roles:

• 3rd - 5th grade ELA, support effective implementation of Amplify Texas
• 3rd - 5th grade math, support effective implementation of Eureka Math TEKS Edition
• 6th - 10th grade math, support effective implementation of Carnegie Math
• 6th - 8th grade ELA, support effective implementation of Amplify ELAR Texas
• 9th - 12th grade ELA, support effective implementation of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Into Literature

ROLE OVERVIEW:

As a Director of Instructional Excellence, you’ll leverage experience with both academic content and instructional transformation to drive instructional excellence in KIPP Texas transformation schools. You'll serve as a content expert, utilizing your understanding of curricular frameworks and high-quality instructional materials to drive instructional excellence in a grade band and content area. With a focus on effectively implementing KIPP Texas's chosen curricular products, such as Amplify Texas, Eureka Math, and Carnegie Math, you’ll directly coach teachers and school leaders on effective implementation in transformation classrooms. Through strong instruction and ongoing progress monitoring, you’ll play a vital role in improving student outcomes across our campuses. 

You know you are successful if you support your portfolio of schools to meet their KIPP Texas STAAR targets each year, leading to: 

• Significant student growth and achievement across all student sub-populations  
• 100% of schools in your portfolio achieve an A or B rating
• 100% of schools in your portfolio achieve 90/75/40 on the Reading STAAR
• 100% of schools in your portfolio achieve 90/75/40 on the Math STAAR

Key Responsibilities

• Focus on Transformation: Demonstrate a deep desire and record of results to support schools with significant instructional transformation. Understand the research underpinning transforming school communities. Hold high expectations for themselves as well as the leaders and teachers at transformation campuses.
• Content Expert: Demonstrate instructional expertise and understanding of curricular frameworks, pedagogy, and instructional materials in an area of content expertise. You have experience effectively implementing KIPP Texas’s chosen curricular products: Amplify Texas, Amplify ELAR Texas, Eureka Math, Carnegie Math, and HMH Into Literature.
• Effective Coach: Lead instructional improvement efforts on a portfolio of transformation schools (3-5 campuses) by planning and facilitating professional learning communities (PLCs), observing classroom instruction, and providing actionable feedback to both classroom teachers and school leaders

Effectively coach teachers to improve instructional effectiveness

Provide support to transformation primary schools and priority secondary schools by:

• Partnering with the school-based leadership team, specifically by coaching assistant principals to impact with a focus on high-quality instruction & curriculum implementation 
• Conducting individualized coaching sessions with teachers to observe classroom instruction, provide feedback, and collaboratively develop actionable strategies for improving instruction
• Leading teachers in setting clear, measurable instructional goals and providing ongoing guidance and support to help them achieve these goals through targeted observation and professional development
• Utilizing a strengths-based approach to identify and leverage teachers' existing skills and talents while also providing guidance and support in areas of improvement
• Establishing a supportive and trusting relationship with teachers built on mutual respect, open communication, and a commitment to professional growth
• Demonstrating a willingness to lead small group instruction within classrooms during the Crescendo season

Facilitate professional learning communities that drive instructional excellence

Provide support to transformation primary schools and priority secondary schools by: 

• Planning & co-leading weekly content team meetings in assigned schools 
• Planning & co-leading weekly data team meetings in assigned schools 
• Leading school-based practice clinics & teach backs 
• Leading weekly Coaching & Learning communities (all C, D, and F-rated schools)
• Providing targeted support and resources to teachers, supporting the implementation of evidence-based instructional strategies

Engage in continuous data analysis and action planning

Provide support to transformation primary schools and priority secondary schools by:

• Supporting transformational school leader managers & school leadership teams in progress monitoring actions that drive improvement in the areas of data-driven culture, curriculum implementation, and high-quality instruction that leads to teacher impact
• Crafting and executing school, regional, and organization-wide improvement plans in response to curriculum implementation data

• Coaching leaders and teachers on effective daily data practices, such as strategic monitoring, daily data dives, exit ticket trackers, etc.
• Analyzing school-specific data to identify trends and support the development of response plans
• Confidently speaking to formative student outcome data across portfolio campuses to support regional leaders in ongoing coaching and response plans

Required Education and/or Experience: 

Successful candidates must demonstrate a deep belief in the capacity of all students to achieve at high levels, demonstrate strong instructional expertise, and have the ability to work collaboratively with a diverse set of leaders and teachers to improve student achievement. Additionally, 

• Bachelor’s degree, relevant Master’s degree in Education preferred
• Minimum of 3 years experience as a successful assistant principal, school leader, or full-time instructional coach
• Proven record of results driving instructional growth 
• Deep knowledge of content and pedagogy in a specific content area. We are currently seeking content experts in 3rd-5th ELA or math, 6th-8th ELA or math, and 9th-12th ELA or math
• Preference will be given to candidates who have experience implementing the following curricular products: Amplify Texas, Amplify ELAR Texas, Eureka Math TEKS Edition, Carnegie Math, and/or HMH Into Literature
• Exceptional ability to set clear metrics for success, monitor progress, and demonstrate persistence in overcoming obstacles to achieving short- and long-term goals.
• Exceptional leadership judgment, strategic thinking, and the ability to translate instructional expertise into practice while navigating ambiguity and complex situations.
• Exceptional ability to translate instructional expertise into practice
• Exceptional coaching skills that lead to improved instructional effectiveness
• High self-awareness, humility, and integrity
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Physical Requirements:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
• Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer/laptop
• Attending conferences or training sessions

Work Environment:

• This role will spend significant time in KIPP Texas schools with hybrid work options when not in classrooms
• Typical office environment with frequent interruptions

Travel Requirements:

• Ability to travel to various locations: travel time will range between 20% - 60% depending on the candidate’s location.

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.