Academics Office

Instructional Leadership Specialist

The Instructional Leadership Specialist collaborates with district and school leaders to facilitate and execute the district's Strategic Plan with fidelity and integrity. An Instructional Leadership Specialist is expected to spend 50% of their work schedule in classrooms actively engaged in modeling, coaching, co-teaching, and/or demonstrating standards-based best practices, 30% of their work schedule reviewing data, leading team meetings, presenting professional development, facilitating professional learning communities, and 20% of their work schedule instructing students.

The Instructional Leadership Specialist has a primary role to lead and coach adults by:

• Planning, implementing, and supporting rigorous standards-based instruction for all students.
• Designs model classrooms for demonstration purposes.
• Supports and facilitates the planning and implementation of rigorous, standards-based lessons in response to student data.
• Supports educators with the implementation of technology tools and resources that enhance student-centered, standards-based instruction.
• Demonstrates an ability to access, analyze, and act on school, classroom, and individual student data in support of quality tiered standards-based instruction.
• Facilitates professional learning communities.
• Collaboratively designing and executing targeted school-based professional development that is in alignment with the district's Strategic Plan.
• Attends and actively participates in all school-based Instructional Leadership Team meetings.
• Attends and actively participates in all applicable district-based professional development to ensure connections are made between district initiatives and the instructional goals of the school's improvement plan.
• Actively engages the school community to understand how everyone contributes to the execution of the district's Strategic Plan to collectively raise student achievement.
• Creating a school culture of reflective practice, high expectations, and continuous learning.
• Develops partnerships with district and building administration, families, and community to support the improvement efforts of the school.
• Consistently models high expectations for the quality of instruction and ensures accessibility for all students.
• Develops and nurtures a culture in which staff members are reflective about their practice and use student data, current research, best practices, and theory to continuously adapt.
• Coaches and manages teams to create, monitor, and achieve district and school-based goals.
• Delivers constructive feedback to educators that acknowledges effective practice and provides next steps that will impact teaching and learning.

Qualifications:

• Has completed a minimum of 5 years of experience working directly with students, with most of the teaching experience in the content area to which the candidate is applying.
• Has a 95% attendance rate in a historical context from the academic year 2024-2025 and the academic year 2025-2026.
• Possesses a master's degree from an accredited college or university or will possess a master's degree within 1 year (9-12 credits of completion in an approved program is the minimum for a 1-year provisional appointment contingent on completion of the degree within a year).
• Possesses a professional teaching license from the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The license should reflect the content and grade-level of the position that the candidate is seeking to obtain in either English Language Arts, Mathematics, or Science.
• Overall exemplary evaluation rating from a direct supervisor is preferred. A minimum of an overall proficient rating is required. These evaluations must come from the last two current years of employment.
• Demonstrates growth in student achievement based on assessments over the past one to two years.

Application Process:

Phase One- Initial Application

The initial application must include:

• Letter of Interest that describes expertise in impacting teacher practice, analysis and use of student data, leadership skills, implementation of student learning goals, and the instructional planning process in your school.
• A copy of your valid, professional teaching license.
• Resume with complete history of professional work experience.
• Name and contact information of three (3) professional references.

After the initial review, selected candidates will be notified if they are approved to proceed to the next phase of the application process.

Phase Two- Site-Based Observation

Members of the Academic Department will come on-site to observe the candidate either leading the learning of adults or instructing students. This observation is non-evaluative.

After the site-based observation, selected candidates will be notified if they are approved to proceed to the next phase of the application process.

Phase Three- Interview Inclusive of Performance-Based Tasks

Part 1: Data Analysis Candidates will receive a data set prior to the interview. Completion of this task will require the candidate to analyze the data and communicate their findings to the Interview Committee. The candidate will provide data to demonstrate growth in student data over the past one to two years. The candidate will communicate their data, action steps, and instructional moves to the interview committee. Part 2: Interview During the interview, the candidate will present the data analysis and explanation of student growth, and answer questions that allow the candidate to articulate their expertise related to the duties detailed in this posting.

Phase Four- Principal Interview

Candidates who have successfully completed the previous phases of the interview process will be designated as Highly Qualified Instructional Leadership Specialist candidates. Principals with vacancies will interview these candidates, in collaboration with their Chief School Officer. After this interview, the Principal and the Chief School Officer will determine if a candidate is selected for employment as an Instructional Leadership Specialist.

If, after the principal interview, a candidate is not selected for immediate placement, then they will be placed in a pool of applicants.

If you believe, we have a place for you on our team! Come work for us!

About our District

Springfield Public Schools is a cultural gem in Western Massachusetts that is committed to providing a learning environment that opens the doors of infinite possibilities to our amazing students and staff. We strive to equip each of our approximately 24,000 students with learning experiences that enhance their knowledge and critical thinking skills. We are the third largest district in Massachusetts. Our district has over 44 languages spoken and over 60 countries represented by both students and staff. We foster a positive and professional environment in our schools and worksites where people feel valued, respected, supported, seen, and heard. Our students and staff share their ideas and perspectives, learning from and appreciating each other. We are a district that is committed to equity and excellence.

Join a team that empowers educators

In addition to offering competitive salaries and benefits, we provide numerous cutting-edge professional development opportunities for all staff. We let our data shape the professional development of the district; therefore, it is relevant and actionable. We support our teaching staff with mentors such as instructional leadership specialists and effective educator coaches to work with them throughout the year in lesson planning, data analysis, and management. Our district offers career advancement opportunities and is invested in "Grow our Own" and educational pipeline programs. These programs help our staff achieve a college degree or lead to certification pathways.