Middle School Academic Coach

The academic coach works under the direction of the Building Principal and the Director of Curriculum and Instruction. 
 
ROLE OF ACADEMIC COACH: The academic coach serves as part of their schools leadership team, providing job-embedded and ongoing professional development for teachers, staff, and administration; provides support to the principal and school staff in data analysis and professional development; provides professional development and guidance for teachers to improve their content knowledge and effective delivery of instructional strategies. Overall, the job of the coach is to build the capacity of the school and its teachers to meet the learning needs of all students. The academic coachs goal is to ensure that school staff acquires the understanding and skills to: 
1) enhance instructional practices at the classroom level and 
2) raise the level of the student academic achievement 
 
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: 
 
The effectiveness of any coaching initiative hinges on the selection of a candidate that is highly qualified as a teacher, knowledgeable in content, and skilled in the sophisticated practices of coaching. The coach must meet the following criteria:  

1. demonstrated deep knowledge of the relevant content areas and skillful application of research-based strategies to provide access to content standards for students at risk;
2.  demonstrated knowledge and use of a rich array of instructional approaches, resources, and technologies in the relevant content area(s);  
3. demonstrated skills in analyzing and using data for instructional decision-making; especially differentiated instruction for students at risk;  
4. interpersonal, problem solving, and organizational skills required to effectively facilitate coaching and staff development;  
5. ability to design (individually or in collaboration with others) high quality professional development for teachers/school staff;  
6. knowledge of equity issues in current educational fields;  
7. knowledge and skills to implement a standards-based curriculum. 

 
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 
 
The roles and responsibilities of the academic coach include:  

1. Participation in all required coach professional development. The coach is charged with acquiring the knowledge, skills, technology skills, and instructional strategies to effectively impact the instructional practices of the teachers that are coached. Must remain knowledgeable about current and past research in the specific content area and other pedagogies relevant to the coaching model.  
2. Identification of the school teaching and learning needs, barriers and weaknesses by analyzing student data, and organizing and implementing problem-solving actions with teachers (in teams and individually) to refine their knowledge and skills.  
3. Primary support for teachers will include, but not be limited to, in-class coaching, observing, modeling of instructional strategies, guiding teachers in analysis of student work, developing lesson plans with teachers based on student needs, supporting data analysis, supporting the integration of technology, co-planning with teachers, and conducting classroom walkthroughs.  
4. Monitor instructional effectiveness and student progress using tools and strategies gained through professional development.  
5. Assistance in collaborative development of local assessments and administration of state mandated and/or district-wide testing.  
6. Establish and maintain confidential relationships with teachers. The conversations and interactions that the coach has with teachers must always remain confidential so that a high level of trust is created and maintained between the teacher and the coach.
7. Communication with supervisor and site administration through a weekly schedule/log of activities.  
8. Performance of additional tasks and responsibilities as assigned. 

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