Operation Breakthrough’s mission is to help children living in poverty develop to their fullest potential by providing them a safe, loving and educational environment. We also strive to support and empower the children’s families through education, advocacy, emergency aid and referral services.

JOB SUMMARY

The Instructional Coach supports professional development of teaching staff to ensure teacher’s instructional strategies are effective in helping children increase social emotional and academic skills to succeed in their classroom. The Instructional Coach will collaborate with the center director, behavioral interventionist, family advocates, therapist and peers to ensure structure, routine, rituals, and implementation of curriculum comply with Office of Head Start Performance Standards and state licensing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree: Early Childhood Education, Education, Interdisciplinary Studies-emphasis Early Childhood Education, Family Studies-emphasis Early Childhood Development, and/ or related degree with at least 30 credit hours from an accredited university/ college designating that the course work meets or exceeds Early Childhood Coursework requirement.
• Direct experience working with children birth to five and their families (at least 3 years of experience).
• Experience facilitating Early Childhood Training/Coaching of Teachers/ Child Development Staff.

Responsibilities/Duties/Functions/Tasks

• Provides mentorship and coaching to assist teaching staff in the successful delivery of weekly classroom experiences with particular emphasis upon high quality teacher practice and quality feedback regarding teaching and learning opportunities.
• Assists staff in the planning and implementation of the classroom teaching behaviors and activities that result in quality outcomes as evidenced by the CLASS rating tool.
• Supports staff in the arrangement and utilization of the indoor and outdoor environments to maximize teaching practices for children.
• Supports classroom staff through planning and implementing of developmentally appropriate practice, child guidance that adhere to program policy and procedures which align with the Office of Head Start Performance Standards.
• Facilitates the use of technology to aid in the tracking of coaching and teacher practice outcomes.
• Assists Education Manager/Coordinator and Director of Early Learning in planning, developing, and monitoring program services, policies and procedures.
• Assists Education Manager/Coordinator and Director of Early Learning in planning, developing, and delivering professional development training.
• Works under general direction of the Director of Early Learning according to agency mission/vision, philosophy, employee service behavior expectations, and departmental goals.
• Other duties as assigned

Professional Development

The Instructional Coach promotes a culture of professionalism, collaboration, and continuous improvement. The Instructional Coach structures routine contexts for individual and group-based professional development for teachers to work collaboratively to reflect on and examine practice, solve application challenges and promote continuous learning and improvement in professional practice, research, and child outcomes. Examples include;

• Professional Learning Communities – Facilitates or coordinates reflective practice or professional learning communities for teachers to engage in shared reflection, inquiry and professional learning.
• Creates opportunities for peer-to-peer observations, provide feedback to peers (based on observations), hold peer study groups, discussions, and/or co-planning.
• Reflective Coaching - Provides individual reflective coaching to support, develop, and encourage teachers to reflect on their teaching practice.
• Coaching- Implementing a variety of coaching strategies to support instructional growth and teacher effectiveness.
• Makes presentations to staff about quality teaching and learning, trauma informed classrooms, and CLASS.
• Participates in the design, and implementation of staff training.

Administrative Support

• Supports implementation of all Head Start/Early Head Start performance standards, state licensing requirements, NAEYC accreditation and other funder requirements related to teaching practices.
• Support monitoring of professional development plans and other required documentation are completed.
• Participates in the development of program policies and ongoing monitoring of program quality.
• Maintains coaching documentation that provides a primary focus upon data-driven high quality teacher practice.

Data Utilization

• Utilizes data to monitor and evaluate coaching efficacy.
• Determines coaching intensity based on CLASS scores, and curriculum fidelity.

Work Requirements

Knowledge of and ability to implement early childhood curriculum and developmentally appropriate practice for the specific age group and be able to remain abreast of developments in the child development field. Demonstrated leadership abilities and ability to utilize reflective supervision.

• Knowledge of and ability to analyze, and interpret Head Start/Early Head Start Standards, state and local licensing requirements and Operation Breakthrough’s mission.
• Ability to work as a cooperative and supportive member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to communicate and cooperate with diverse families, various professionals and community groups.
• Ability and willingness to work in a program located in a high-risk, low-income community.
• Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information and materials.
• Intermediate knowledge of computer applications and the ability to learn and master computer technology/software programs as needed.
• Ability to communicate and respond in a manner that consistently demonstrates respect and concern.
• Bending, stooping, kneeling, sitting on the floor, walking/transporting, handling, feeling reaching, climbing, balancing, crouching, crawling, talking and speaking clearly, hearing conversation level, smelling, and seeing; ability to interact daily with children outdoors in varied weather condition.

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WORKING CONDITIONS

Office classroom & outdoor settings.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of an employee.

Operation Breakthrough is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with Operation Breakthrough is “At Will”.