Academic Program Manager - Early Elementary Literacy

Aspire Public Schools; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Aspire Public Schools seeks an Academic Program Manager for early elementary literacy to enhance instructional quality across schools. Responsibilities include coaching, curriculum development, and analyzing student data to achieve academic targets. Ideal candidates will possess a strong background in early childhood education and equity-centered practices.

Qualifications

• 5+ years as a teacher or leader with proven results.
• Expertise in reading acquisition and development for early learners.
• Knowledge of Common Core State Standards.

Responsibilities

• Support the region through Professional Development and coaching.
• Analyze data to identify goals and create action plans.
• Develop curriculum reflecting research-based best practices.

Skills

Instructional leadership

Data-driven systems

Coachable

Problem analysis

Equity-centered lens

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Job description

ABOUT ASPIRE

Aspire Public Schools operates a network of high-performing, college preparatory charter schools serving TK-12 scholars in communities across California. Founded in 1998—in an effort to transform the inequitable racial, social, and gender outcomes that our communities persist through—Aspire is one of the largest and most forward-thinking open-enrollment public charter school systems in the nation.

Our purpose is to prepare our scholars for success in college, career, and life. At Aspire, we set a foundation for our scholars to gain knowledge, skills, and power to access and make choices for their families and post-secondary lives. Every day, our community of students, families, teachers and staff comes together to learn, work, and play in an environment grounded in our values of Bienestar (Well-Being), Culture of Belonging, Community Partnership, Agency & Self-Determination, and Joy.

JOB SUMMARY

In service of supporting all schools in the region to achieve their academic targets, the Academic Program Manager: Early Elementary Literacy plays a key role in the development and delivery of the early elementary classrooms, TK-2nd grade, specifically in regards to instruction, assessment, professional development, and coaching for administrators in support of teachers. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Academics and in close collaboration with the Regional Team, this impactful role also supports the development of high-quality org-wide pedagogy and instructional practices aligned to the Aspire Student Learning Framework (ASLF) and all other supporting research-based instructional tools.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Spends approximately 70% of time supporting the region through the delivery of Professional Development and on-the-ground coaching and support to administration.
Coaching work supports org-wide coherence through reference to ASLF and use of approved instructional tools (Instructional guidelines, pacing guides, etc.).
In alignment with Aspire’s equity beliefs, works with the Superintendent of Academics to provide additional resources and or support to Tier 2 and 3 schools.
Analyzes site-level and region-wide data in multiple content areas to identify goals and trends. In collaboration with the Superintendent, co-creates region-wide action plans to address gaps, creating opportunities to implement pedagogy and curriculum that reflect data-supported best practices from inside and outside the organization in support of an Aspire-wide coherent model.
Builds the capacity of school leaders to provide targeted coaching of teachers
30% of time is dedicated to Research & Development on pedagogy, curriculum development, and aligned ASPIRE programming specific to early education classrooms.
Pedagogy and curriculum reflect research-based best practices from inside and outside the organization.
Collaborates across the region to create a rigorous, developmentally appropriate TK program that prepares scholars for kindergarten.
Supporting design and building a program for our youngest students, which may include applying for grants, compliance reporting, and staying up to date with current policy and research.

Additional:

Demonstrate knowledge of, and support, the Aspire Public Schools mission, vision, value statements including antiracism, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and the code of ethical behavior
Demonstrate knowledge of and alignment to the Aspire Public Schools (Bay Area) Liberatory Framework
Comfortable with utilization of technology
This role may be required to travel up to 80% time to schools across the region and may require some periodic travel to all Aspire regions and/or other locations for conferences/professional development
Perform other related duties as required and assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Competencies:

Understands the unique developmental needs of our earliest learners
Expertise and leadership in the science of reading and reading acquisition from the earliest learners to fluent readers
Expertise in applicable grade-level Preschool Learning Foundations, Common Core State Standards and/or Next Generation Science Standards
Instructional leadership and teaching experience: proven results in student learning as both an instructional leader and a teacher
Knowledge of teacher and leader development frameworks and ability to co-develop aligned content and systems
Command of the instruction-assessment cycle, and ability to apply this knowledge to develop a cohesive CIA program
Ability to design and launch data-driven systems for standards, curriculum, instruction, and assessments
Ability to coach others and improve their practice
Exceptional ability to bridge and enhance cooperative working relationships
Ability to manage projects including development, implementation and evaluation
Ability to communicate proactively, effectively and provide and act on feedback
Strong problem analysis and problem resolution skills using an inquiry framework
Proven leadership skills with the ability to contribute to a team
Understands and applies an equity centered lens in problem solving
Comfort with engaging in conversations that might push people out of their comfort zones, especially in regards to discussions about race and educational equity

Education

Bachelor’s degree required, with relevant degree and/or content expertise
Master’s degree preferred

Experience required:

5+ years as a teacher or leader, with demonstrated results in the designated content area