Academic Director, Math K - 8

Company Description

Organizational Overview

Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) North Carolina, is a network of eight tuition-free, college-preparatory public charter schools educating approximately 3,000 students in grades K-12 in Durham, Halifax, Northampton and Mecklenburg counties. At KIPP NC, we are committed to improving the life outcomes of North Carolina’s children through research-based, rigorous curricula, and clearing the paths that our students choose to follow by ensuring that they have the roadmaps and guideposts they need to arrive at success - however they define it.

Job Description

The Academic Director for Math will provide instructional leadership in curriculum, assessment, and professional development for all K-8 schools at KIPP North Carolina. The Academic Director for Math will report directly to the Managing Director of Academics, and will drive K-8 Math achievement at KIPP NC. The Academic Director for Math will work, in collaboration with schools and Regional Support Team colleagues, to design and implement high priority Math initiatives across KIPP NC. The Academic Director for Math will also be expected to observe classrooms and provide feedback to leaders and teachers on implementation of high priority Math initiatives across KIPP NC.

This is an ideal opportunity for a dynamic and visionary instructional leader looking to play a critical role in building and shaping a premier K-12 charter management organization committed to supporting students to graduate college and succeed in school and life.

Key Responsibilities

• Coaching and supporting teacher and leader growth in content knowledge and curriculum execution/innovations

  • Collaborate with regional and school-based stakeholders to drive growth and achievement in alignment to all KIPP NC priorities

  • Weekly or bi-weekly coaching visits to work with leaders and teachers

    • During visits, activities could include: leading or co-leading a content team meeting, supporting individual teachers or leaders, leading intellectual prep meetings for teachers or leaders, modeling a lesson, co-observing, real-time coaching, etc. 

    • Depending on school needs and expectations, determine the best "service model" for each individual school: Assistant Principal support, Principal Support, Teacher Support

    • Build capacity in school principals, APs, and other leaders to support teacher development

  • Plan agendas prior to coaching visits

  • Follow up coaching visits with notes

  • Plan and communicate follow ups and next steps to principal and leaders/teachers

  • Support and manage execution and implementation of Math components via instructional observations and walkthroughs, data and student work analysis, observing content team meetings, etc. 

• Analyzing student growth and achievement data regularly to determine next steps, adjustments, and enhancements to improve teaching and learning

  • Clearly articulate benchmark student performance goals for each grade level

  • Share data trends with individual schools and with T&L/Regional team members

  • Celebrate successes and share areas of opportunity

  • Build capacity in school-based leaders by thought partnering with them to determine next steps to address data

  • Lead, co-lead, or observe data meetings (both academic progress team meetings and teacher data meetings) to provide feedback and support facilitator development

• Leading and planning professional development that enhances teacher and leader content knowledge and practice, ultimately impacting student achievement

  • Prioritize staff training needs and to organize a plan for regional professional development

  • Oversee the implementation of the professional development plan and revise as necessary in response to teacher/leader/school needs

  • Summer Institute Professional development for new and returning teachers and leaders

  • Ongoing monthly regional PDs for teachers to develop curriculum and content knowledge

  • Ongoing monthly regional PDs for assistant principals to develop instructional leadership skills

  • School-based PDs as needed (at the request of schools)

• Strategic academic planning- thinking innovatively about the needs of our schools and what we may need to build/change in order to increase student growth and achievement

  • Project/Initiative planning

  • Change management and building investment in new strategies/initiatives

  • Utilize data to determine next steps/future strategy recommendations

• Managing, developing and revising curriculum and assessments