The Ewing Marion Kauffman School is a free, public charter school serving more than 1,200 students in 5th through 12th grades. Focused on student achievement and strong character, the school’s mission is summarized in three words: create college graduates. The school serves a student population of which 87% qualify for free and reduced lunch and 90% identify as students of color. Students are accepted by a lottery that prioritizes the six highest-need zip codes within the district. In 2019, 2020 and 2021, 100% of students in each graduating class earned at least one acceptance to a college or university – we believe this provides true choice and opportunity as students pursue post-secondary goals. More than 70% of our students identify as first in their families to attend college.
The Kauffman School seeks results-driven and culturally responsive educators to join its team – we anchor ourselves around four guiding principles about what it means to be culturally responsive educators and create a school with strong student and staff culture:
- Belief and Connection: We show belief in every student through setting and holding them to high expectations while building relationships. We build connections and relationships with each student side by side by providing excellent rigorous content in order to value the individual child. We do not allow differences in identity or our personal biases to cause us to lower expectations because we know that when supported, our students can achieve.
- Clear is Kind: We show care through direct and clear communication of our high expectations rather than allowing them to ‘slip through the cracks’ by assuming they will know how to meet our standards without telling them. We also know that one of our roles is preparing our children for a world as college students/graduates that might play by different “rules” than they have previously experienced and it is our job to help them understand how to navigate, challenge the norms of, and dismantle that world.
- Intent and Impact: All of our actions are executed with the purpose and intent to empower every student to reach their full potential. We also believe that as educators, we are called to assess the impact of our actions and adjust course if they are not meeting the intent. Positive intent cannot mean we ignore the impact of actions and we believe continually assessing and reassessing practices to ensure they are effective is a critical reflection process to ensure we are being culturally responsive.
- Cultural Context + Critical Thinking: We approach rigorous learning as an activity that is responsive to students’ cultural contexts and pushes them to think critically. We seek opportunities for them to engage with and respond to the world around them - both in their immediate lives and in their broader society - while being pushed intellectually at all times.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Kauffman School is currently seeking a strategic and dynamic Instructional Leader Fellow (ILF). Reporting to the Principal, the Instructional Leader Fellow will begin his/her Fellowship working closely with the Instructional Leadership Team to rapidly learn how to best coach and support educators in leading strong instruction, how to guide teachers in making data-driven decisions for their classrooms, and how to further develop systems and protocols to ensure that academic achievement and school culture consistently reflects the Kauffman School’s values and goals. All ILF candidates spend their first year at the Kauffman School as a lead teacher, teaching 3-4 class periods and have 3-4 periods off for training and development purposes.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Teacher Development and Evaluation
- Model best instructional practices and coach teachers on best practices and interventions to raise achievement for struggling students
- Advise, support, and mentor individual teachers to improve instruction through:
- Daily classroom observation and feedback
- Curriculum, unit, and lesson collaborative planning and review
- Continuous, high-quality assessment preparation
- Comprehensive and evolving professional development programming
Student Achievement
- Set ambitious goals for student achievement and performance and hold staff accountable for achieving results
- Research, design, and align scope and sequence, and curriculum with Missouri and Common Core standards
- In partnership with the Principal and Data and Assessment Team, evaluate school performance data to make holistic and individual recommendations for improving instructional practices
- Facilitate data-driven discussions with instructional staff regarding student performance
Management and Leadership
- Embody and advocate the mission, vision, and strategic direction of the Kauffman School
- Adhere to the policies, standards, and school-wide responsibilities described in the school “Personnel Policies Handbook”
- Model the school’s PREP (Perseverance, Results, Empathy, Passion) values and set the standard for professional behavior
- Coordinate all academically-oriented clubs and extracurricular activities
- Work with parents and the community to achieve maximum involvement in and support of student performance
- Coordinate summer staff orientation and summer curriculum development
- Participate in staff recruitment
- Serve as a key member of the Kauffman School Leadership Team, representing the school to a variety of audiences and supporting all necessary functions for school management and success
- Other duties as assigned by the Principal
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred
- At least 3 years of experience teaching low-income, minority, or historically underachieving students, with a record of exemplary results
- History of effectively coaching/mentoring both new and experienced teachers
- Significant experience with curriculum development and instructional methodology
- Commitment and complete belief in the Kauffman School’s mission and organizational success
- Ability to take feedback well and implement changes immediately
- Entrepreneurial energy and ambition necessary for a start-up school
- Ability to maintain a calm, professional demeanor in the face of competing demands and external pressures
- Ability to be a team player and comfortable planning with others to achieve a common vision
- Acute attention to detail coupled with the ability to think and act strategically
- Strong time management skills; ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and meet tight deadlines
- Strong written and oral communication skills; strong interpersonal skills with students, parents, colleagues, and community members
- Excellent computer skills, especially Microsoft Office and Power School
- Personal qualities of maturity, humility, strong work ethic, and “whatever it takes” attitude
This role requires the a bility to work at the location as assigned by the School (e.g., on-site or remote) and the ability to accept re-assignment to an alternative work location as determined by the School.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
The Kauffman School offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with relevant experience and anticipated duties and responsibilities, including comprehensive health benefits.
TO APPLY:
Interested applicants should complete a formal application through the Kauffman School Careers page at http://www.kauffmanschool.org/.
The Kauffman School is an Equal Opportunity Employer, welcoming people to flourish in an open and inclusive work environment. A diverse pool of candidates is welcomed and encouraged. |