Director of Curriculum and Instruction

KIPP Delta is part of the nation-wide KIPP non-profit network of 242 college-preparatory, public charter schools educating early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school students. We are excited that KIPP Delta will serve over 1,000 students in Helena and Blytheville, AR in the 2023-2024 school year.

The Director of Curriculum and Instruction (DCI) is a regional position reporting to the Managing Director of Academics. The DCI will provide leadership and support for staff and collaborate with administrators and instructional staff in ensuring that effective and challenging curriculum and instructional practices are occurring in all classrooms. They will guide staff in the process of using relevant data to arrive at informed choices in making and adjusting instructional decisions and practices. The DCI will assist the school leadership team and supervise the instructional program at each school by assisting teachers in their classrooms through demonstrations, modeling, peer observations, and active discussions of student data and student work. They will meet with teachers individually and in small groups, curriculum teams, departments, grade levels, and professional learning communities to support instruction at Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III.

KDPS leaders make decisions, conduct difficult conversations, and build highly collaborative teams, all while shaping a joyful organizational culture. Self-reflective and humble, our leaders are open to feedback and committed to continuously improving. The Director of Curriculum and Instruction is hired, supported, and evaluated by the Managing Director of Academics. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Vision and Strategy

• Oversee the district’s implementation of the Response to Instruction and Intervention plan across the PK-12 continuum.

• Ensure all intervention staff and auxiliary service members are oriented to the KIPP Delta Public School’s approach to RTI.

• Create a plan for each academic year to increase the number of students who are at- or above-grade-level, including special education students, students with dyslexia, and English language learners.

• Oversee academic progress and milestones of students.

• Partner with other members of the Regional Academics team to build and drive a regional academic strategy that ensures KIPP Delta students are college-ready by high school graduation.

• Communicate the vision and strategy across KIPP Delta’s schools to ensure that all instructional staff, students, families, and other stakeholders know and understand the vision for excellent instruction and intervention.

• Oversee the district’s ELL, 504, and Science of Reading programs for implementation and compliance.

• Draw upon knowledge of PK-12 education climate to support instructional delivery of curriculum based on Arkansas state standards and requirements.

• Lead the ongoing evaluation of the current curriculum and make recommendations as appropriate.

• Attend and support RTI Committee meetings in coordination with campus leadership, Special Education

• Support stakeholders to provide parents/guardians with pertinent student information and academic plans.

• Observe, coach, and debrief lessons, including lessons delivered in intervention, groups, and special education classes, with teachers to improve the quality of instructional practices and lead to increased student growth.

• Support school leaders’ coaching of instruction in order to improve teacher proficiency within their schools.

• Provide guidance on formative and summative assessments.

• Attend/facilitate instructional professional development at the school and regional level that aligns with the instructional vision of KIPP Delta Public Schools.

• Analyze and respond to region-wide teacher performance and achievement data to adjust approach and support struggling teachers and schools.

Leadership

• Serve as an effective KIPP Delta Public Schools organizational ambassador constantly striving to live as a servant leader with a growth mindset, an intolerance of mediocrity, and a commitment to the success of all students, staff, and families.

• Model being a lead learner and effectively lead adults to accept and demonstrate that his or her actions, decisions, and behaviors can affect student learning and the success of others.

• Reflect, self-critique, and utilize feedback to set and monitor progress toward appropriate goals.

• Ensure meetings are necessary, valuable for participants, and always intentionally designed to aid in the achievement of school/district goals.

• Develop and communicate strategic systems and vision, and build a plan to achieve that vision.

Educational Equity and Inclusion

• Support the KIPP Delta Public Schools vision for academic excellence and critical consciousness, so that our students have “access to pursue the path they choose.”

• Regularly do the foundational work of learning and understanding the original dehumanization of African Americans and how the laws and policies created through this process resulted in systemic racism for the purpose of white supremacy and the cultural rules and norms of white supremacy and anti-blackness.

• Commit to developing a working knowledge of internalized racism and how and why educated, intelligent and dynamic BIPOC may produce a fear response in both white and other BIPOC peoples and how to respond and support others if/when this phenomenon occurs.

• Work to ensure students, staff, and families of all identity groups are full participants in decisions that shape the district.

• Commit to working with families as equals, co-educators, learners, and decision-makers.

• Bachelor’s Degree required, preference for a Master’s Degree in reading or a closely related degree.

• Minimum 4 years of experience in a coaching role (dean of instruction, instructional coach, etc.) with demonstrated success in getting academic results through others.

• Possess a deep understanding of intervention services and Response to Intervention principles and processes.

• Must possess excellent assessment, data analysis, case management, crisis intervention, interpersonal, and communication skills.

• Must possess the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, staff, and outside agencies.

• Must possess the following skill‐based competencies to satisfactorily perform the function of the position: analyzing; effective listening; facilitating meetings; guiding others; instructional techniques; managing projects/programs; monitoring activities; planning; problem-solving; and supervision.

• Experience leading engaging and effective professional development for adults.

• Strong communication skills and follow-through.

• Demonstrated initiative in prioritizing complex needs and strategically planning to get results.

• Flexibility and ability to multi-task within an ambiguous, fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment while also driving toward clarity and solutions.

• Must live in Helena or Blytheville, AR or a surrounding community, or be willing to relocate.

KIPP Delta offers competitive salary and benefits packages. The salary range for this position is $60,000 to $80,000 commensurate with experience.

KIPP Delta is committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for all of our students, families, teachers, staff and community members. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.