Horizons Summer Curriculum and Instruction Coach

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION COACH, SUMMER 2024

LOCATION: HORIZONS AT SAN FRANCISCO FRIENDS SCHOOL

Organization Background

Horizons at SFFS provides joyful academic and enrichment learning opportunities that build on the skills and talents of students in San Francisco public schools. Students join Horizons at SFFS in Kindergarten and participate consistently through 8th Grade through a comprehensive summer program as well as year-round tutoring and enrichment referral opportunities. Beyond 8th grade, Horizons at SFFS is expanding to provide students recurring high school success workshops as well as mentorship ,internship, and postsecondary planning opportunities.

Working in partnership with Horizons families, referring schools in the Mission District, and the host school San Francisco Friends School, Horizons at SFFS is committed to developing the whole child and offers activities that promote higher-level thinking and perspective, develop academic skills, leadership, and self-efficacy – all while raising student aspirations and expectations for their lives. Horizons at SFFS is a nondenominational program This upcoming summer Horizons will serve approximately 153 students from Kindergarten through eighth grade. For more information about Horizons at SFFS, please visit http://www.horizonsatsffs.org. 

Position Overview

Horizons at the San Francisco Friends School is seeking a dedicated and experienced Instructional Coach. 

The Instructional and Curriculum Coach serves as part of the Leadership Team and is responsible for scaffolding summer curriculum and bringing evidence-based practices into classrooms by working with teachers and administration to increase student engagement, improve student achievement, and build teacher capacity. They work as a colleague with classroom teachers to support student learning. The Instructional and Curriculum Coach focuses on individual and group professional development that will expand and refine understanding of researched-based effective instruction. In order to meet this purpose, the Instructional and Curriculum Coach will provide personalized support that is based on the goals and identified needs of individual teachers and will oversee the preparation and implementation of program curriculum. 

We are looking for a professional, inspiring educator with the ability to engage and support teachers to be their best throughout our six-week summer enrichment program.  Candidates must be willing to work as a team player to lead the development of the instructional program and curriculum content to help fulfill Horizons’ mission. A background in experiential education and effective teaching strategies for second language learners is a plus. 

Essential Job Functions:

The Instructional and Curriculum Coach plays a key role in ensuring programmatic excellence and positive student academic outcomes. They will work with the Academic Program Director and Executive Director in advance of the summer program to plan the program’s professional development week, schedule, and curriculum. During the summer, the Instructional and Curriculum Coach supports the summer program faculty to ensure high quality, effective, and integrated academic programming.  

Specific responsibilities include: 

• Lead Horizons’ summer curriculum planning: 
  • Meet regularly with the year-round team during spring 2024 and work independently as needed to plan summer curriculum,  including identifying focus standards for each grade level, scaffolding lesson planning structures, and preparing foundational curriculum materials. 
  • Update and prepare teacher onboarding materials including math and ELA teaching guides. 
  • Maintain curriculum resources and improve the Horizons curriculum library for future use.
  • Help plan a robust professional development week to set up summer teachers for instructional success. 
  • Give input to Directors to refine and enhance the summer’s schedule to best align with student needs and teacher efficacy.

• Design and provide high quality instructional support to teachers during the PD week and throughout the summer, including
  • Assist in the training and supervision of teachers, including planning and facilitating professional development and ongoing coaching for colleagues, and sharing instructional strategies and student information.  
  • Lead trainings, model strategies, encourage reflection, and set goals for the program.
  • Work closely with teachers to backwards plan for a high quality academic showcase project that each grade will present at the end of the program during our Summer Celebration.
  • Observe the work of teaching staff, recommend teaching techniques, lessons, and the use of culturally responsive strategies, books, and materials to develop academic skills and inspire curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.
  • Provide special support for Teaching Assistants in the form of coaching cycles, identifying their growth areas, observing them in class, and providing feedback in those specific areas. 
  • Meet regularly and co-plan with teachers to differentiate instruction, support second language learners,  ensure curriculum integration across subject areas, including multi-sensory math, literacy, and science lessons.
  • Assist in evaluating program effectiveness and assist teachers with designing instructional decisions based on assessment data. 
  • Provide support for classroom motivation and management strategies including assisting teachers with specific classroom activities when requested. 

• Work as a team player with Horizons staff and volunteers to develop and implement an exciting and challenging summer curriculum that is thematic, experiential,  and maximizes academic growth for each student. 
  • Serve as a resource for the Reading Specialist and faculty to support inclusive and effective lesson plans, Spanish and English literacy development, and classroom practices that maximize student learning and engagement.
  • Meet regularly with leadership staff to accomplish goals and/or problem solve as issues arise and to compile evaluative feedback at the end of the summer that identifies lessons learned, areas for improvement and recommended strategies for the future.
  • Build strong, supportive, caring relationships with Horizons students, families, volunteers and staff
  • Nurture a safe, respectful, challenging and inclusive learning environment where students have a strong sense of belonging and in which they feel happy, safe, and excited to participate.
  • Participate in weekly staff meetings, including leading trainings as needed. 

• Manage and provide leadership and support for other projects as needed and be available for occasional consultation about curriculum and instruction throughout the Horizons’ school year program

Qualifications:

In addition to a strong commitment to Horizons’ mission, this position requires a balance of practical experience, knowledge, and skills in teaching with creativity, vision, and talent in the art of inspiring a love of learning in all students.

Required

• At least 5 years of experience as an elementary school teacher, with expertise in academic curriculum design and delivery for grades K-5, preferably in both school year and summer programs.
• Experience and demonstrated success as an instructional leader and coach, with expertise in effective strategies for teaching literacy and math skills to second language learners and in integrating academic, enrichment, and social-emotional learning. 
• Ability to successfully model effective strategies and provide constructive feedback to colleagues in a respectful and supportive way.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication (written and oral), and leadership skills to establish effective working relationships with teachers and staff and coach them on effective instructional strategies. Demonstrate discretion, good judgment, flexibility, and integrity. 
• Reliable, collaborative, and able to relate effectively to a diverse community.
• Analytical skills to examine student test data and make recommendations for improvement in curriculum and teaching.
• Creativity in developing new ways to engage students.
• Strong organizational and time management skills. 
• Ability to learn from feedback, work independently, and produce quality results on schedule.
• Understanding and knowledge of the issues and challenges facing public school students and families living in the Mission District.

Preferred

• Fluency in spoken and written Spanish.
• A background in experiential education and effective teaching strategies for second language learners.

• Masters degree in education preferred.

Dates:

Spring 2024

Part time work from April through May, 2024 (up to 12 hours/month; hours flexible)

Pre-Summer Mandatory Training Dates

June 8th, 9am - 4pm 

June 15th 9am - 4pm

Summer, 2024

Monday June 17 - Friday  June 21  - Teacher orientation week and classroom set-up (June 19th OFF)

Monday June 24 - Friday  August 2 - Six-week program (no program on July 4th or 5th)

Compensation:

The position is part time (non exempt) throughout the Spring of 2024 and full time (exempt) in June and July of 2024. The salary range for the Curriculum and Instructional Coach position is a stipend of $9,920-$13,440 commensurate with experience. 

To Apply: Please email a resume and cover letter, outlining your skills and experience (PDF format, please) to Ariel Mendez-Peñate, Academic Program Director of Horizons at San Francisco Friends School at [email protected] with subject line  “Horizons Curriculum and Instruction Coach.”

Horizons at San Francisco Friends School is an equal opportunity employer.