ELA District Instructional Specialst

Position Title: ELA District Instructional Specialist

Department: Curriculum and Instruction

Reports To: Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Location: District Office

SUMMARY: Under the supervision of the Director of Curriculum and Instruction provide district-wide professional development, coaching, and related leadership needs focused on building instructional capacity in staff members.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design and lead professional development for adults.
• Coach professionals learning teams and individual teachers, as needed, in developing best-practice teaching methods.
• Coach professional learning teams and individual teachers, as needed, in and model design and implementation of technology-enhanced learning experiences using a variety of research based, learner-centered instructional strategies and assessment tools to address the diverse needs and interests of all students.
• Model effective classroom management, digital citizenship, and collaborative learning strategies to maximize teacher impact and student engagement.
• Work closely with Curriculum and Instruction team to deploy support throughout the district.
• Team project management as assigned.
• Implement shared leadership strategies with a variety of stakeholders to adopt research-based curriculum resources and to develop sound programs for developing instructional practice.
• Communicate with all stakeholders regarding program development, implementation, monitoring of academic/instructional programs.
• Lead the identification of non-negotiable standards and essential learning outcomes for assigned content areas and grade-levels.
• Lead work in both horizontal and vertical alignment
• Ensure alignment of curriculum, instruction, intervention, and assessment to the essential learning outcomes.
• Design and facilitate systematic and sustained professional development necessary to assist professional learning teams and teachers in meeting essential learning outcomes.
• Obtain and use student achievement data to examine academic program effectiveness.
• Prepare reports and recommendations on the effectiveness of instructional programs and make recommendations for improvement.
• Research, evaluate, and prepare written recommendations on curricula, instructional methods, technology, and materials.
• Serve on district level committees as appropriate, chairing them as assigned. Committee work will include facilitating curriculum adoption committee work as content area specialist select resources.
• Prepare and monitor budget recommendations for assigned projects.
• Collaborate to ensure the hiring, orientation, recognition, and career development of NSD teachers.
• Write grant proposals as appropriate.
• Demonstrate and model effective instructional practices for principals, instructional coaches, and classroom teachers.
• Support Professional Learning Communities in the schools.
• Organize and lead, or collaborate with building leaders, as they lead parent events around content or building- wide initiatives.
• Actively seek to grow professionally through collaboration with preK-12 colleagues and higher education partners, attendance at professional workshops and conferences, independent reading of professional literature, and active participation and leadership in professional organizations.
• Keep current with research, trends, methods, programs, and materials.
• Make clear, accurate, and engaging presentations to groups such as teachers, principals, district leaders, and community groups that include professional audio-visual components and professional handouts.
• Keep informed of, and comply with, all school, district, state, and federal rules and policies.
• Articulate the district’s mission, instructional philosophy, and curriculum implementation strategies to colleagues, parents, partners, and community stakeholders.
• Represent the district in work with other related agencies, organizations, and partnerships.
• Perform other duties and functions as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None

EDUCATION AND OR EXPERIENCE:

Required:

• Valid Idaho teaching certificate, or ability to attain such prior to employment start date
• Minimum 5 years successful teaching experience
• Leadership experience

Preferred:

• Undergraduate degree in elementary or secondary education (core content area)
• Master’s Degree or above in content area or curriculum and instruction

SALARY: According to Certificated Teacher Salary Schedule

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Excellent communication skills for communicating with a variety of stakeholders.
• Knowledge of best practice around adult learning.
• Knowledge of the Idaho Core Standards.
• Extensive knowledge of best practice instructional research, and exemplary personal pedagogical skill.
• Ability to effectively use basic workplace software such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to listen to others and remain receptive to new ideas.
• Ability to address criticism in an appropriate manner and develop constructive outcomes.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive, effective working relationships with staff, parents, students, partner groups and the community with tact and courtesy.
• Sustained effort and enthusiasm in the quality and quantity of work.
• Effective time management, organizational skills, and prioritization of work.
• Ability to follow directions and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to quickly acquire and apply new knowledge- including using technology to enhance instruction.
• A proactive attitude and approach.
• Initiative, flexibility, and the ability to work independently.
• Enthusiasm for the use of technology.
• Excellent human relations and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills.
• Willingness and ability to create a collegial and team-oriented atmosphere within the workplace.
• Ability to serve as a role model for students and colleagues, and to represent the Nampa School District professionally, and by articulating the importance and relevance of life-long learning and pride in one’s profession.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze and interpret education periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations. Able to write reports and correspondence. Ability to

effectively present information and respond to questions from board members, district leadership, staff and parents.

PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS: Demonstrate sound judgment by taking appropriate actions regarding instructional practice and discipline.

PRODUCTIVITY/EFFICIENCY SKILLS: Consistently demonstrate ability to respond to changing situations in a flexible manner in order to meet current needs, such as reprioritizing work as necessary; organize job functions and work area to be able to effectively complete varied assignments within established time frame.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Able to conduct basic math functions and manipulate formulas in spreadsheets as needed.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral and diagram form. Ability to define problems collects data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Respond to verbal and physical aggression and abuse by students due to their mental health disorders and trauma histories.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The 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 the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is continuously required to sit; walk and stand and reach with hands and arms; occasionally lift and carry up to 20 pounds. May be required to block or redirect students during negative behavior. Be able to effectively supervise and support staff when consequences are implemented, including supervising physical restraint and seclusion if necessary for safety. Specific vision abilities required by this job includes close vision; very good depth perception; and the ability to communicate through speech.

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 individual’s disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works inside and occasionally meets deadlines with severe time constraints.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 170 day calendar assignment + Extra Days (determined by the Master Contract)

Nampa School District #131 is an equal opportunity employer/educator with an alcohol, drug and tobacco free environment, and does not unlawfully discriminate in employment. Equal access to employment, services, and programs is available to all persons. Those applicants requiring reasonable accommodations to the application and/or interview process should notify a representative of the organization. The information contained in this job posting is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.