| The curriculum specialist will build teachers’ capacity to improve student achievement by maximizing teachers’ strengths and potential. The specialist partners with and is a major resource to the principal and is responsible for supporting change and being a curriculum and instructional leader in his or her school. In addition, the instructional coach will facilitate teams, support collaboration, and effectively use data to inform decision-making. The curriculum specialist is a content knowledge expert and has rigorous pedagogical expertise.
Major Responsibilities:
Facilitating Improvements in instruction & student learning:
Engages in reflective dialog with educators based on observation of instruction, student work, and assessment data and helps make connections to research-based effective practices
Promotes instructional strategies that address issues of diversity and equity in the classroom and ensures that individual student learning needs remain the central focus of instruction
Coaches educators to develop new skills and strategies to improve effectiveness and student achievement
Coordinates the development, implementation, and on-going assessment and revision of curriculum in consultation with the Director of Teaching and Learning
Mentors educators to develop new skills and strategies to improve effectiveness and student achievement
Facilitates educator development in effective assessment techniques, meaningful curriculum development, management of student behavior, and student-centered use of technologies, materials, and equipment
Consults with the Instructional Technology Specialist to plan the integration of technology into the curriculum, instruction, and student work
Assist new teachers, teachers who change grade-level assignments, and teachers who teach multi-grades through regular consultation and classroom support
Support teachers by selecting and providing appropriate instructional materials and resources
Coaches educators on deep content knowledge and possesses rigorous pedagogical expertise
Work with special education personnel to design and implement approaches to help students access the curriculum in an optimal way
Exhibits expert knowledge of instructional methods and training techniques including curriculum design principles, adult learning theory, group, and individual teaching techniques, pedagogical best practices, and assessment principles
Develops annual curriculum goals for review by the principals and central office
Has extensive content knowledge
Work with grade-level teachers to ensure district-wide coordination and horizontal articulation of our standards-based curriculum
Work with teachers across and between grade levels to ensure K-5 vertical articulation of standards-based curriculum
Provides input to establish grade-level goals for the school year in collaboration with Grade Level Team Chairs and the Director of Teaching & Learning
Works with educators in planning job-embedded professional development around curriculum, instruction, and assessment at the grade level and assists in the articulation of learning standards and assessments of student performances relevant to grade level
Solicits and/or helps to develop proposals for summer curriculum projects
Provide direct instruction as determined by the principal
Contributes to the revision of the curriculum maps in conjunction with teachers
Promoting the use of assessments and data for school and district improvement:
Increases the capacity of educators to identify and use multiple assessment tools aligned to state and local standards
Collaborates with educators in the design, implementation, scoring, and interpretation of student data to improve educational practice and student learning
Creates a climate of trust and critical reflection in order to appropriately engage educators in challenging conversations about student learning data that lead to increased student achievement
Works with educators to use assessment and data findings to promote changes in instructional practices or organizational structures to improve student learning
Collects and analyzes data for teams and individual educators to design and improve instructional delivery in the classroom
Assesses student learning and assists educators in aligning practices to improve student achievement
Analyzes MCAS results and make recommendations regarding implications for curriculum, instruction, and assessment
Leads educators in the collection and review of data on effective instructional methods
Develops common benchmark assessments
Monitors common benchmark assessments
Utilize Atlas as a tool for organizing work
Practices excellent data analysis skills to support student achievement
Facilitates the collection, analysis, and use of classroom and school-based data to identify opportunities to improve curriculum, instruction, assessment, school organization, and school culture
Professional Learning:
Collaborates with educators to plan professional learning that is team-based, job-embedded, sustained over time, aligned with content standards, and linked to student learning
Identifies and uses appropriate technologies to promote collaborative and differentiated professional learning
Works with educators to collect, analyze and disseminate data related to the quality of professional learning and its effect on teaching and student achievement
Provides constructive feedback to educators to strengthen individual teaching practices and improve student learning
Keeps current and uses information and research about emerging education, economic, and social trends in planning and facilitating professional learning
Implements targeted and specific educator professional development opportunities to improve educator effectiveness and increase student learning and achievement
Maintain expertise through membership and participation in professional associations, by reading professional journals, and by attending workshops and conferences
Facilitates educator self-analysis of his or her own understanding of community culture and diversity and how the educator can develop culturally responsive strategies to enrich the educational experience of students and achieve high levels of learning for all students
Stays current regarding new research, strategies, methodologies and programs, including best teaching and learning practices
Prepares and provides professional development in consultation with the Director of Teaching and Learning
Assists educators in accessing and using research in order to select appropriate strategies to improve student learning
Fostering and sustaining a collaborative culture:
Recommends changes in teaching strategies to strengthen teaching skills in the classroom
Provides precise support and timely, effective intervention to teams of educators to establish and meet common goals, review and analysis data, share in professional learning opportunities, and participate in study groups on student learning and achievement
Builds and maintains effective, trustworthy professional relationships
Recognizes teaching strengths, abilities, and challenges, and applies effective remedies
Develops positive meaningful relationships with colleagues
Provides leadership to support professional growth
Utilizes group processes to help educators work collaboratively to solve problems, make decisions, manage conflict, and promote meaningful change
Other:
Attends monthly job alike meetings if appropriate
Participation on the district-wide Elementary Steering Committee
Selects, purchases, and disseminates supplies and materials with prior approval of the Director of Teaching and Learning
Observes and coaches teachers
Practices insightful self-reflection
Makes a contribution as an effective change agent
Possesses an ability to influence adults to change behaviors
Demonstrates highly effective and influential interpersonal skills
Order supplies, materials, and/or equipment
Possesses strong leadership skills and impeccable organizational acumen
Establishes and maintains an excellent working relationship with the Principal
Establishes and maintains an excellent working relationship with Central Office Staff
All other duties as assigned |
