Teacher Illinois Teacher Leadership Coach
Job Description
Overview of Teach Plus
The mission of Teach Plus is to empower excellent, experienced, and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that affect their students’ success. The organization empowers expert teachers to advance policy changes and improve instructional leadership and teacher supports; trains and coaches teacher leaders to successfully mobilize and lead teacher teams; and empowers teacher leaders to be change agents among their peers and policy makers. Since 2009, Teach Plus has trained thousands of teacher leaders across the country who are driving policy changes and improving the instructional practices of teachers to create an education system driven by equity, access, and excellence for all students.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Illinois Senior Executive Director and the Illinois Teacher Engagement Manager, the Teacher Leadership Coach will have overall management responsibility for: running the Illinois Rural Teacher Leader Collaborative program which provides coaching to National Board Certified Teachers to lead changes in their buildings; providing support in running the Illinois Teaching Policy Fellowship, including providing policy and advocacy training to the Illinois Teacher of the Year finalists and supporting an expanded focus on CPS policy; and building partnerships and relationships in the education community and in the Capital focusing on both practice and policy. Currently we expect about 50% to focus on teacher leadership coaching, 50% of the time to focus on policy work, though that balance may shift over time.
Position Responsibilities
Teacher Leadership Coaching (50%)
The Teacher Leadership Coach will provide training and coaching for up to seven teacher leaders in the Rural Teacher Leader Collaborative, a program designed to support National Board Certified Teachers who are leading change efforts in their schools.
- Training
- Plan for and deliver, in collaboration with the National Instructional Leadership Team (NILT), the kickoff training, a two-day hands-on training for Teacher Leaders across the Rural Collaborative
- Plan for and deliver monthly professional development sessions (half in-person, half virtual) for Teacher Leaders across the Rural Collaborative.
- Coaching Ongoing In-School Support
- Provide one-on-one coaching (mostly virtually) to teacher leaders on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to help shape action plan, develop metrics to progress monitor change initiative, plan for upcoming team meetings, debrief previous meetings, troubleshoot barriers, and engage in leadership coaching and feedback.
- Ensure that teacher leader initiative work is based in evidence and achieves desired impact on instructional practice and student learning.
- In some engagements, foster high functioning, high impact Teacher Leader-led teams that improve teaching and learning for all students through use of calendared evidence-based inquiry cycles.
- When possible, observe and strategically contribute in Teacher Leader-led team meetings and professional development.
- Rural Collaborative Program Management
- Recruitment and Selection: The Teacher Leadership Coach will implement and manage the recruitment and selection process to ensure a high quality and diverse applicant pool.
- Create and disseminate recruiting materials, hold information sessions
- Schedule and conduct teacher and principal interviews
- Manage the selection process with support from the National Manager of Talent, Recruitment and the National Instructional Leadership Team
- Supervise, ensure, document and report on the high and consistent quality delivery and fidelity of the Rural Teacher Leader Collaborative.
- Collaborate with the National Instructional Leadership Team and the National Evaluation Team to communicate critical support, outcomes, metrics and resource needs.
- Be the primary external communicator about the Rural Teacher Leader Collaborative.
- Recruitment and Selection: The Teacher Leadership Coach will implement and manage the recruitment and selection process to ensure a high quality and diverse applicant pool.
Policy Fellowship (50%)
The Teacher Leadership Coach will support our policy program by taking charge of either the new partnership with the Illinois State Teachers of the Year or expanded CPS work, or both, and supporting in the running of our statewide policy fellows program.
- Teaching Policy Fellows Program Leadership
- In partnership with the Illinois Senior Executive Director, manage expansions of our Teaching Policy Program, including a partnership with the Illinois State Teacher of the Year Finalists and an expanded focus on CPS policy.
- Train and support teachers as they conduct advocacy efforts to enact policy change, including providing training and input to teachers as they write op-eds, meet with policymakers, testify and participate in community organizing efforts at the state and local level.
- Manage the ILSTOY Policy partnership, including coordinating a retreat and 4-5 virtual training sessions (including assigned readings, lectures, guest speakers, group discussions, and a working group).
- Support teacher-led advocacy projects by providing strategic policy advice, project management, editing documents, and research support as teachers author policy memos and briefs.
- Support the teachers to develop and disseminate their proposals for policy changes at the local, state and national levels.
- Identify opportunities for teachers to advocate for equity on behalf of their students, in CPS, and in the state Capital, and to be recognized for their excellence through awards and honors.
- Develop strong relationships with Teach Plus Policy Fellows.
- Represent Teach Plus on various coalitions, identifying opportunities to leverage teachers’ voices.
Policy Program Management
- Manage logistics for fellows events (both in-person and virtual events) including, but not limited to, site/vendor research, set up, ordering food and supplies, building and sharing surveys, and creation of materials.
- Conduct internal evaluations and surveys that track the progress and impact of our policy and practice programs.
- Maintain accurate and timely data and enter appropriate information into the Salesforce database for ongoing accountability reports.
Skills and Talents
The ideal candidate will have:
- 5+ years in the education field, teaching experience required
- A minimum of 2 years of coaching teachers and/or school leaders, preferred
- Experience with policy, advocacy, and/or community organizing
- A relentless focus on data, including analysis and using it to inform instruction and make decisions
- Dedication to equity for students, and a deep belief in the power of teachers to bring about positive change
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, relationship-building, and interpersonal skills
- Strong project management skills and the ability to complete projects independently
- Comfort working in a fast-paced, sometimes ambiguous, and highly entrepreneurial environment
Commitment to Diversity
In order to better-serve the teachers and students at the core of our mission, Teach Plus is committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage individuals of all ethnic and racial backgrounds and gender identities to apply to our positions.
Our Culture
At Teach Plus, we are driven by our mission and our core values are a driving force behind everything we do: Leadership, Diversity and Equity, Solutions-orientation, Joy, Integrity in Practice, and Collaboration. We love what we do and we work hard to make a difference for teachers and students. We are smart, passionate, and engaged with one another. We are thought partners, collaborators, and constant learners.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary is competitive and will be based on prior experience and qualifications. Full benefits package includes medical, dental, retirement, disability, life insurance, and generous paid time off benefits.
Term and Commitment
This is a full-time, one-year, with a tentative start date of early August or earlier based on candidate’s availability. This role may be renewed annually based on performance and funding.
Location and Travel
This position is open to candidates who live anywhere in Illinois, though we would prefer those within an hour of either Chicago or Springfield. Candidates must be willing to travel to southern IL (just south of Springfield) 6-8 times over the course of the year for 2-days each time for coaching, and willing to work occasional nights and weekends to support events.
