Research Assistant, Instructional Curriculum Coach, Jacksonville, FL

The Marsico Institute is accepting applications for a Research Assistant, Instructional Curriculum Coach who will work as part of a team for an efficacy research study implementing and evaluating an early childhood curriculum under the direct supervision of the Principal Investigators and Project Director. Coaches will support fidelity of implementation of the interdisciplinary pre-K Connect4Learning (C4L) curriculum focusing on mathematics, literacy, workforce development and life skills, and science in preschool.

Position Summary

Coaches are expected to: master curricular content; work collaboratively with curriculum development, training, and teaching teams; model implementation of the curriculum; document classroom observations, coaching practices, and debrief conversations promptly using a specified protocol; conduct classrooms observations and child assessments; and support the teachers’ development and implementation of curriculum activities and practices.

This is a grant-funded position. Incumbents must be available to travel and provide coaching and support services to teachers at multiple school sites in and around Duval County, Florida between 7:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday throughout the 2025-2026 academic year, with non-school based work beginning in summer 2025s.

Essential Functions

Teacher Instructional Support 

• Regularly interface with instructional staff from preschools in and around Duval County, Florida.
• Provide technical assistance to teachers as they implement the Connect4Learning curriculum, including modeling curriculum activities and practices.
• Monitor and document teacher implementation of the curriculum, completing coaching logs and teacher debrief forms regularly after each coaching visit.
• Utilize video equipment and virtual collaboration software to record program implementation.
• Meet regularly with project Principal Investigators and the Project Director to discuss teachers’ progress and ways to support implementation of the curriculum.
• Travel to classrooms at multiple school sites in Duval County and observe in the classroom between 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday (access to vehicle/transportation required).

Professional Development Support 

• Attend coaching and teacher professional development sessions throughout the year.
• Support breakout sessions during teacher professional development sessions.

Testing and Evaluation 

• Conduct classroom observations assessing program implementation and content-specific teaching in curriculum and control classrooms.
• Conduct child interviews following strict protocol procedures.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must be able to develop a good rapport with teachers, young children, and other school personnel.
• Close attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Capable of successfully working independently and as part of a team.
• Facility with MS Office Suite/O365 programs, videotaping equipment, and basic features of virtual collaboration software.
• Must be able to develop a good rapport with teachers, young children, and other school personnel.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree
• Experience working in early childhood settings
• Experience as a director, instructional coach, and/or classroom teacher
• English language fluency
• Minimum three years of relevant work experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Education, Early Childhood Education, Psychology, or related field
• Spanish language fluency
• Minimum five years of relevant work experience

Working Environment

• Standard office environment.
• Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

• Ability to work in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

Work Schedule
The University of Denver's regular operating hours are 8 AM - 4:30 PM. Actual schedule may vary.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) June 23, 2025.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 8.

Hourly Range: