SY 26-27 - Middle School - Instructional Coach and Academic Lead Teacher

School Year 2026-2027

Job Responsibilities: Instructional Coach & Academic Lead Teacher

Core Purpose:

The Instructional Coach & Academic Lead Teacher serves as a critical driver of student achievement, educator development, and data-driven instruction. For the upcoming school year, this role will heavily focus on supporting the development of ELA and Multilingual Learner (MLL) educators, navigating significant district curriculum shifts, and leading the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) student placement and data cycles.
 

Instructional Coaching & Teacher Support:

• Targeted Educator Mentorship: Provide intensive, differentiated instructional coaching to a core cohort of 9 ELA teachers and 3 MLL teachers through regular classroom visit cycles (ranging from weekly to every three weeks based on priority levels).
• Curriculum & Lesson Internalization Support: Partner with ELA educators to navigate and implement sweeping curriculum revisions, transitioning from four units to three, with an enhanced focus on lesson internalization, academic discourse, and explicit writing, grammar, and vocabulary instruction.
• Literacy Focus & Evidence-Based Practices: Champion school-wide instructional priorities, specifically guiding teachers in utilizing evidence-based strategies to grant students access to complex, grade-level texts, active reading strategies, and structured syntax framework tools (e.g., The Writing Revolution, Think in Ink, and Claims-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) frameworks).
• Classroom Data & Growth Tracking: Systematically monitor, track, and analyze classroom instruction quality using standardized observation metrics, including the district's Instructional Framework, the Instructional Practices Guide (IPG), and specialized ELA Walkthrough tools.
• Video-Assisted Reflection: Utilize assigned video-recording technology to record classroom visits, facilitating collaborative, high-impact, and reflective feedback/debrief sessions with teachers using proven coaching frameworks.
• Professional Learning Leadership: Assist in planning, designing, and executing the school's professional development roadmap, with an impending focus on integrating SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) and AVID strategies into schoolwide instructional identity.
   

Academic Leadership & Data Coordination (MTSS):

• Data-Driven MTSS Placement: Lead the diagnostic placement and coordination of rising 7th and 8th-grade students into Tiered Reading MTSS interventions using iReady scores, SBAC data, progress monitoring data, and behavior/personality dynamics as foundational benchmarks.
• Assessment Realignment: Guide teachers through the transition from traditional district common assessments to Smarter Balanced-aligned Interim Assessment Blocks (IABs) to improve student preparation for standardized benchmarks.
• Writing Data Activation: Spearhead the strategic utilization of historical writing benchmark data (e.g., MI Write) to construct homogeneous, targeted student writing groups for data-driven, differentiated instruction.
• Compliance, Systems & Materials Logistics:
  • Oversee the ordering, inventory, and distribution of MTSS intervention materials and progress booklets via district channels.
  • Audit and support teachers in accurately dual-logging MTSS attendance and data via platforms like iTracker Pro and Infinite Campus.
  • Coordinate 6th-grade data-driven MTSS schedule restructuring following fall diagnostic testing.
• Cycle Reviews & District Collaboration: Prepare comprehensive progress monitoring data to lead and represent the school at Cycle Review meetings. Serve as the building representative at monthly district-level Academic Lead Teacher meetings.
• Student Empowerment: Design and facilitate structured student goal-setting lessons prior to major testing windows to increase accountability and motivation.

Additional Leadership Roles:

AVID Collaboration: Partner closely with the building's AVID Coordinator and AVID Administrator to manage student applications, interviews, and class rosters.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 5 years of successful school based experience  
• Delaware Teaching Certificate or eligible
• Delaware Central Office Certificate or eligible
• Previous school leadership experience preferred
• Master's degree or higher preferred

REQUIRED CERTIFICATES:
Delaware Advanced License
Delaware Continuing License
Delaware Initial License

REQUIREMENTS:
District Applicants
Completed Online Application via Join Delaware Schools
https://www.joindelawareschools.org/
Letter of Interest
Resume'

Non-District Applicants
Completed Online Application via Join Delaware Schools
https://www.joindelawareschools.org/
Letter of Interest
Resume'
Three letters of reference
Completed Online Application
* Out-of-state applicants must provide evidence of certification

Contact:
Cristina Kalesse
Principal
Alexis I. du Pont Middle School
3130 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE 19807
o: (302) 651-2690
e: [email protected]
redclayschools.com/aims

Closing:  Until Filled