EARLY CHILDHOOD INSTRUCTIONAL COACH - (PROVISIONAL) (#575)

Job Goal:

The Somerville Early Education & Care department ensures that young children in Somerville have equitable access to a curriculum approach where they are engaged in joyful, robust, challenging, child-centered experiences grounded in play, discovery, and their interests, and guided by state and national learning standards. The Early Childhood Instructional Coach is an outstanding opportunity for a highly motivated educator who is culturally competent and committed to working closely with staff and stakeholders in the implementation of a comprehensive, integrated, mixed-delivery early education system program in Somerville ensuring that all students meet and exceed the kindergarten readiness benchmarks.

The role of the Early Childhood Instructional Coach is to focus on improving the learning environments of all students by supporting early childhood educators in Somerville Public Schools and in community-based early education and care programs in their efforts to maximize the effectiveness in their practice. This includes (but is not limited to) instructional practice, classroom culture, classroom management, and community and family engagement.   The coach works directly with preschool teachers across the city to support high-quality,  developmentally appropriate instructional practices in early childhood classrooms. The Early Childhood Instructional Coach will also be responsible for developing and delivering professional development opportunities, and building and sustaining curriculum practices that foster innovation and high-quality learning experiences. 

The coach functions as an instructional colleague, is not part of school administration, and does not participate in the evaluation of teacher performance.  

Qualifications: 

• Must be a licensed teacher by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and  Secondary Education, Early Childhood preferred.
• At least three to five years prior teaching experience; previous coaching and/or curriculum writing experience preferred.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills. 
• Ability to be flexible. 
• Strong interpersonal skills including an ability to gain the respect and trust of fellow  teachers.
• Knowledge of best practices and research-based strategies for professional and adult learning. 
• In-depth knowledge of the Content Standards for PreK of the Massachusetts Curriculum  Framework.  
• Understanding of scientifically based research in early childhood development, literacy,  mathematics, social-emotional learning and approaches to play and learning, and knowledge of assessing student progress in all areas.  
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to learn and stay current in the field of Early  Childhood Education. 

Coaching Responsibilities: 

1. Help teachers meet goals for student progress as set by the district.
2. Support teachers to meet student goals for kindergarten readiness by fostering best practices in early childhood including effective instruction across content areas,  classroom management, environmental design, and differentiated instruction.  
3. At the beginning of the school year, meets with the Director of Early Education and Care, to determine the schedule and priorities for training, conferences, workshops, meetings at the school, district, and/or other level (e.g. grant requirements) as applicable.
4. Participate in Somerville Partnership for Young Children (SPYC) and district meetings with the Director of Early Education and Care and other district leaders including coaching colleagues, principals, ELL and special education staff,  and elementary instructional coaches to assure that students achieve kindergarten readiness skills, and that teachers are supported in their instructional practice. 
5. Create an atmosphere of trust and collaboration among staff that will promote  professional growth and accelerate the achievement of all students. 
6. As a coach to classroom teachers, the coach will spend a substantial portion of time  working with teachers in classrooms. The coach will meet with teachers to set goals,  develop curriculum materials and strategies, ensure that the classroom environment is ready for learning, plan lessons, perform demonstration lessons, organize, deliver, and interpret assessments and data, and help teachers document student learning to make learning visible.
7. Support teachers to set practice goals that meet students’ needs. 
8. Support teachers to implement strategies to successfully engage all learners, including those for whom English is a second language, through targeted professional development efforts and in-classroom coaching.
9. Provide targeted in-classroom support for children who need help with specific content.
10. Support screening and assessment processes at various times throughout the year.
11. Provide feedback and suggestions for instructional improvements during coaching, including the use of environmental and curricular rating scales that promote teacher reflection on practice and improved learning. 
12. Work with educators, directors and administration to design and deliver school and community-based professional development as necessary. 
13. Contribute to and co-lead the development and implementation of curriculum initiatives. 
14. Apply knowledge of the Content Standards for Pre-Kindergarten of the Massachusetts  Curriculum Framework for English Language Arts and Literacy, Mathematics, Social  Emotional Learning, and Approaches to Play and Learning to assist teachers in the effective implementation of these standards. 
15. Apply knowledge of early learning standards in all curriculum areas including WIDA  language development standards, best practices in the acquisition of early literacy skills,  early mathematics curriculum, and reasoning skill development.  
16. Familiar with a range of innovative curricular approaches and environmental design (such as Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Project-Based Learning, Anti-Bias Education, etc.) to assist teachers in providing high-quality instruction in high-quality environments. 

Terms of Employment:

189 Work Days

School Year Schedule - 184 days

Additional Work Days required - 5 days

Position Type: 

This is a grant-funded, temporary position (eligible for benefits). Funded by the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative grant. Opportunities for summer employment related to summer programming,  professional development, and classroom support. 

Position Reports to: Director of Early Education and Care

The Somerville Public Schools does not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, home status, marital/civil union status, sex/gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, citizenship status, place of birth, national origin, ancestry, cultural identity, genetics or military status, and does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.