Middle Grades Student Success Specialist

Gamdwell Middle School

Description: 

To provide assistance to the district and school(s) with daily site support to instructional staff through collaboration, consultation, and coaching. The specialist will work to ensure alignment of effective instruction with curriculum goals. This position will analyze data to assist the district and the school(s) with disaggregation of student achievement data from assessments to positively impact instruction and student learning outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide daily instructional support.
• Maintain ongoing and frequent assistance to classroom teachers in lesson planning, critical thinking, problem-solving with a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS), technology implementation, and keeping up to date with innovative, effective pedagogy. 
• Stay abreast of effective, research-based instructional strategies.
• Coordinate and provide ongoing staff development.
• Collaborate with district, Principal, and school staff to fulfill measurable goals aligned with the NCSCOS and grade level expectations.
• Attend, plan for, and facilitate meetings and/or professional development as determined by the district and principal.
• Facilitate professional learning communities meetings with teachers to assist with curriculum alignment, effective instructional strategies, data analysis through a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS), and state, district, and school assessments in order to make data driven decisions to improve student learning outcomes. 
• Observe classrooms upon request and provide instructional practices feedback.
• Model lessons, co-teach, coach, and provide job embedded professional development based upon individual teacher and school needs.
• Assist teachers with instructional planning, reflection, student growth evaluation and providing evidenced based instruction aligned with individual student needs (academic, social/emotional, and behavioral) indicated through data evaluation within a multi-tiered systems of support. 
• Assist instructional staff with disaggregation of data and data driven decision making utilizing Education Value-Added Assessment System (EVAAS), MTSS, State Assessment, and other data to inform, create, and adapt effective instructional practices.
• Update district/Principal with the progress of the school and goals as related to identified goals.
• Serve as a liaison, as needed, between instructional staff, Principal, and/or district. 
• Work toward meeting identified district and school improvement goals.
• Create positive relationships with teachers, Principal, and district.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities/Essential Job Functions:

• Self-motivated, self-directed, collaborative, flexible and highly organized
• Thorough knowledge of educational curriculum, instructional methodology, and technology with a strong background and implementation of effective instructional practices through professional learning
• Appropriate presentation skills as related to professional learning of teachers, administrators, classified staff, central office personnel, and others
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with teachers, administrators, classified staff, central office personnel, and the community
• Analyze situations, determine possible opportunities and solutions based on facts and specific situations
• Work with variety of staff, programs, and activities
• Use sound judgment in approaching and working with sensitive or delicate situations
• Compile, complete, and share reports in a timely manner
• High level of technical skills
• Proven experience with adult learners
• Understand growth and development of students
• Experience closing the achievement gap and improving student learning outcomes
• Strong understanding of North Carolina Standard Course of Study and District Curriculum Expectations (Textbook Adoptions, K-8 Literacy Plan, Standard Treatment Protocol, etc.)
• Awareness of local, state, and federal policies impacting student learning outcomes and continuous school improvement including but not limited to the state assessment model, student accountability model, and EVAAS growth model
• Experience providing effective and engaging instructional support
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Operate and integrate a variety of equipment including computers, copiers, SMARTboards, document cameras, Merlyn, etc.
• Apply principles of logic or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
• Collaborate and work with others beyond giving and receiving instructions
• Physically able to perform basic life operational functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, lifting, grasping, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions
• Perform medium work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and.or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to lift objects
• Visual acuity to operate required equipment and inspect work for accuracy, thoroughness, and adherence to work standards and instructions
• Visual acuity to prepare data, work with records processes, and do extensive reading and research

Qualifications:

• Valid North Carolina Teaching Certificate/Fully Certified
• Master’s Degree Preferred
• Minimum of five years in an educational capacity: teaching, supervision, other leadership roles
• In depth knowledge of North Carolina Standard Course of Study and strong instructional pedagogy
• Record of positive classroom experiences
• Experience providing effective academic support utilizing EVAAS growth model, MTSS, state assessment model, student accountability model, and other data to inform, create, and adapt effective instructional practices
• Establish rapport and trust quickly with a variety of individuals within the school, district, and/or community
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, oral and written communication skills
• Awareness of local, state, and federal polices and the impact on students and school improvement including but not limited to the state assessment model, student accountability model, and EVAAS growth model
• Collaborates with district and Principal(s)
• Disaggregate, interpret, and analyze assessment data
• Conduct professional development

Duration: 10 month (15 additional days paid by stipend for summer planning)

Salary: Per Month, Full Time 

Reports to: Principal

FSLA Status: Exempt

Physical environmentThe physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment including computers, copiers, etc. 
• Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally; and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. 

Work environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations. There may be changing priorities and interruptions during the workday.
• Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or composite characteristics of data, people, or things.
• Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments, or directions to subordinates or assistants.
• Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, forms, articles, proposals, contracts, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, evaluations, policies, etc. using prescribed formats.
• Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form.
• Requires the ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including medical, legal, and counseling terminology.

DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this position. They are not intended to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and skills that may be required of the employees assigned to this position. This description may be revised by the supervisor, with HR review and approval, at any time.