MEC Associate Coaching Specialist

The Associate Coaching Specialist is a literacy and/or numeracy expert and an educational activist who is unrelentingly committed to achieving positive and equitable outcomes for students. The Associate Coaching Specialist will use one program year to work with an experienced program Coaching Specialist who can provide ongoing assistance and feedback. The Associate Coaching Specialist provides on-site and remote technical supervision and coaching to participating schools and designated Internal Coach/Site Supervisor, ensures fidelity to the program models, and leads data-based decision making to maximize the impact of the program. Alongside MEC Program Staff and peer mentors, Associate Coaching Specialists facilitate positive relationships with partnering sites by advocating for the most effective implementation of Early Learning Corps (ELC), Reading Corps (RC) and/or MEC Math Corps (MC) programming, to include K-3 Math Corps and 4-8 Math Corps. The Associate Coaching Specialist will be a team member with Michigan Education Corps (MEC), an initiative of Hope Network, a non-profit organization that helps people overcome amazing odds. MEC operates in schools across Michigan—from Muskegon to Detroit, Alpena to Decatur to empower Michigan kids to reach their highest level of academic achievement in reading and math.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

This is not intended to be an exhaustive listing of job functions. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. The employee is required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties as assigned.

1. Regular and predictable attendance is an essential requirement of this position.
2. Provide technical supervision and support to a cohort of assigned schools to ensure the MEC program model(s) is/are delivered with fidelity and students make progress towards age/grade level growth targets.
3. Conduct regular, direct observations of interventionists for fidelity of the MEC assessments and intervention components of the model(s), document using a checklist, and provide immediate performance/coaching feedback.
4. Provide coaching support to interventionists and Internal Coaches/Site Supervisors to maintain high levels of implementation fidelity.
5. Actively problem-solve to balance fidelity of the model with fit to the site needs and environmental constraints to maximize student outcomes.
6. Collaborate with school staff to identify and prioritize students to receive whole group (Early Learning Corps) or targeted supplemental (tier 2) intervention from MEC programs (Reading Corps, Math Corps).
7. Monitor regularly (e.g., weekly) the completeness and accuracy of student data in the program online data management systems to ensure consistent implementation (e.g. dosage) and monitor student progress.
8. Participate in and/or lead regular data reviews with the MEC Interventionist, Internal Coach/Site Supervisor, and any other relevant school or MEC program staff at sites to review student performance and program data following a guide for decision-making. Apply data-based decision-making for program intervention plans that best meet the literacy and numeracy needs of students.
9. Incorporate Internal Coach/Site Supervisor, interventionist, and student voices in coaching and tutoring sessions to maximize student engagement and success
10. Support family/caregiver engagement components of MEC program models
11. If appropriate, support with K-3 Math implementation pilot at select schools.

Site Partnerships

1. Collaborate closely with MEC Program Staff to facilitate positive relationships with partnering sites by sharing program data regularly, supporting Internal Coaches/Site Supervisors and interventionists to maximize performance, and effectively implementing program models to maximize positive and equitable student outcomes.
2. Develop and maintain productive partnerships with sites, including principals, superintendents, teachers, instructional aides/paras, and Internal Coaches/Site Supervisors, and other school/site-based partners by advocating for the impact of the program with supporting evidence and data.
3. Work closely with all partners to ensure open, effective communication and a clear understanding of the program model and site-specific program data, to maximize successful implementation of the model.
4. Inspire program advocacy in school/site leaders by sharing data in accurate, accessible ways that maximize program impact and efficacy.
5. Build site capacity to manage the programs and ensure they are part of the sites MTSS literacy and numeracy frameworks by developing long-term relationships with stakeholders to promote systems change and build school and/or district level advocates by effectively sharing student outcome data and program impact.
6. In collaboration with MEC Program Staff, support new site onboarding to educate teachers and staff about the model and the program impact, outline expectations and define roles.
7. Other duties as assigned.
8. This position is remote, with occasion travel expected. Travel will be local and statewide as needed. Associate Coaching Specialist will be required to provide at minimum two on-site support visits during the program year to each assigned site.
9. Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record as it relates to Hope Network policy.

Addendum for Essential Functions if Applicable for multiple departments:

1. Support interventionist and site recruitment, including but not limited to participating in informational sessions for new interventionist and site applicants, supporting interventionist accommodation process, participating in interventionist interviews alongside recruiters, and participating in community outreach activities.
2. Support new site and member onboarding, including but not limited to presenting MEC programs to stakeholders and, supporting new member training.
3. Participate in regular Associate Coaching Specialist meetings and trainings (video conferencing and in-person), with MEC Program Staff and/or Ampact.
4. Support and participate in regional team member retention and engagement activities such as MLK Day of Service, Corps Day, and National Service Week, as applicable.

Educational / Talent Requirements:

1. Minimum Education required: Bachelor’s degree and licensure in education (may be expired), educational psychology, special education or a related field or equivalent experience, including serving as a MEC Interventionist.
2. Interpersonal skills including the ability to build relationships, solve problems, mediate conflict, change adult behavior through coaching, and exercise sound judgment for effectively communicating and problem-solving with a broad and diverse group of implementers
3. Knowledge of educational equity and cultural competency
4. Knowledge of implicit bias and the impact of systemic racism on educational outcomes
5. Knowledge of and experience in literacy or numeracy data and assessments to inform instructional programming, such as using general outcomes measures and curriculum-based measurement
6. Exceptional relationship building and consultation skills related to assessment and intervention, including the ability to model; observe and provide corrective feedback; ask questions to solve challenges; exercise sound judgment; communicate effectively with individuals, teams and administrators
7. Knowledge of and experience in working within Multi-tiered Systems of Support, standard treatment protocol, and direct/explicit instructional techniques for effective intervention practices.
8. Preferred experience facilitating adult learners through training, coaching, supervision, and observation
9. Success navigating situations that require high emotional intelligence, with an emphasis on self-awareness and a strong capacity to be adaptable and flexible to varied circumstances
10. Preferred experience with reading, analyzing, and summarizing peer-reviewed research for diverse stakeholders to ensure translation of evidence-based research to practice.
11. Exceptional time management, ability to organize and management projects.
12. Strong oral and written communication skills diverse stakeholders including MEC members, program staff, education administrators, teachers, funders, Hope Network staff, etc.
13. Understands requirements of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
14. Committed to data-based decision-making that leads to accelerating achievement for students and constant drive to equitably improve student outcomes using evidence-based practice.
15. Experience working in the area of social justice

Work Experience Requirements:

1. Minimum 3 years of experience in primary or secondary educational settings, including an understanding of how schools allocate resources and roles typically filled by school staff
2. Preferred 1 years educational/instructional coaching experience with adults