The Curriculum Specialist is a building level position designed to build the capacity of all teachers in the building to implement model-wide curriculum in multi-age classrooms, guided by the Education Plan and the Educational Vision, as well as the schools’ annual improvement plans. The Specialist collaborates and communicates with school leadership in alignment with the Education Plan, Educational Vision, the school instructional practices and school goals to increase student achievement and help the school meet outcomes for teacher growth and student learning. They provide a variety of targeted and strategic supports and design their work and priorities each trimester, in collaboration with school leadership; which may include planning and leading high quality, engaging professional learning, work with Teacher Based Teams (TBT’s) and cluster-based teams (within in a school and occasionally across the model), instructional coaching/training cycles that focus on core curriculums, including co-planning, observation and feedback, data reflections (including looking at MAP growth and achievement, formative data and student work), co-teaching, demonstration teaching, and other in-classroom support.
Specific Duties Of The Curriculum Specialist
Facilitate the intellectual and professional development of teachers related to model-wide curricula (including Responsive Classroom, newly adopted ELA for K-6, Units of Study for 7-8 ELA, Bridges and Envisions Math, Science and Social Studies, as directed by school leadership) as well as teaching students developmentally in a multi-age classroom
Lead professional growth and provide organized and impactful, individual and/or group learning opportunities for teachers on any of the above
Organize the purchase of new and replacement curriculum and related instructional materials for the school using established purchasing processes. Assist teachers in obtaining, creating, and organizing materials that are in alignment with curricula. Lead an annual inventory of those materials in the building. Assist in budgeting and selection for future purchases.
Serve as a member of the cohort of school-based Curriculum Specialists who will adapt new “off-the-shelf" curriculum to a multi-age, developmental model of education. Create adapted materials and guides for teachers.
Create data protocols, templates, and processes for teachers to collect student data on newly implemented ELA curriculum(s). Lead the analysis of that data to support implementation, evaluate the curriculum and adapt and adjust accordingly
Design and implement coaching/training cycles focused on implementation of the adopted curricula and teaching in a multi-age classroom, including differentiation and lesson planning for whole and small groups
Bring expertise of model-wide curriculum including: Reading, Writing, and Phonics, Bridges and EnVision Math, Responsive Classroom, IXL, and other intervention and support programs
Participate in goal/plan setting; monitor instruction and intervention by conducting classroom observations and meeting with teachers, and then conferring with the Principal on progress
Find ways to share information and resources, celebrate successes and work in partnership with families, intergenerational partners, cluster team members, school leaders and model staff
Join model-wide teaching and learning events as a presenter, organizer, and host
Serve as a member of the cohort of Curriculum Specialists who will adapt new “off the shelf” curricula to a multi-age, developmental model of education. Create adapted materials and guides for teachers.
Use a wide variety of data sources to support teacher and student growth, including curricular tools, formative data, MAP data, state testing results, observation, teacher anecdotal/observation notes
Assist individual teachers and Teacher Based Teams (TBT’s) in using pre- and post- data to develop and monitor strategies to drive student growth
Partner with school staff and other Curriculum Specialists to revise common model-wide assessments and establish benchmarks.
Build positive relationships with teachers, administrators, model staff and consultants, including effective communication and documentation of work with all members of the model and community
Attends curriculum workshops/conferences/engages with providers (including online learning) to stay updated on model-wide curriculums and learn about new instructional methods aligned to model priorities, Education Plan and Vision
Stay current with all ODEW deadlines and educational requirements and assist in completing the submitting those including One Needs Assessment, One Plan, ODEW surveys, RIMPs and KRA reporting and documentation, etc.
May be assigned building duties such as arrival and dismissal posts on school days.
Goals of Curriculum Specialist
Support all school educators in building knowledge about model-wide curriculums and how they can be well-implemented with effectiveness, joy, and positivity in multi-age classrooms
Work with school and model leaders to provide in-depth implementation support to specific clusters or educators to fully implement model-wide curriculums in ways that align with model and school priorities and the needs of school communities
Use the professional learning and coaching/training cycles to encourage teacher self-efficacy, teacher retention and high-quality teaching in the model
Qualifications
Minimum of 5 years of highly effective teaching in a grade or cluster K-8 in the Model
Demonstrated expertise in the core curriculums
Experience with coaching, professional development and/or leading teachers
Ability to navigate the complexity of teacher leadership - navigating conflict, working positively and persistently through challenges, partnering with multiple stakeholders, identifying problems and seeking solutions