Curriculum Leader - Instructional Culture

Detroit International; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 103,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits eligible

Travel within district

Job summary

Detroit Public Schools Community District seeks a Curriculum Leader - Instructional Culture to strengthen teacher and school leader capacity across Detroit Public Schools Community District. This role focuses on safe, structured classrooms with culturally responsive and academically engaging environments.

The position emphasizes coaching cycles, district culture framework, and district-wide leadership development in culture. Travel within the district may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of successful teaching experience (urban setting preferred).
• Demonstrated expertise in classroom management/culture.
• Experience coaching adults or leading professional learning.
• Strong facilitation, data analysis, and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrates expertise in instructional coaching and improving teacher practice through observation, feedback, modeling, and job-embedded support.
• Applies culturally responsive and equity-centered practices to create inclusive learning environments and support equitable outcomes for all students.
• Knowledge of adult learning theory and facilitating professional learning, coaching conversations, and team meetings.
• Uses data to monitor progress and inform decisions that improve teaching, learning, and classroom culture.
• Proficiency in restorative practices to strengthen relationships and positive student behavior.
• Collaborates across schools with systems thinking to support district initiatives.
• Demonstrates measurable improvement in classroom culture walkthrough scores.

Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing, job-embedded coaching through classroom observations and actionable feedback.
• Support teachers in establishing effective routines and procedures and increasing student engagement.
• Monitor teacher growth and coaching outcomes using district data tools.
• Model high-leverage classroom culture strategies in authentic settings.
• Collaborate with teachers to co-plan and co-teach lessons.
• Facilitate laboratory classroom experiences for observation and reflection.
• Design and facilitate professional learning on classroom culture and restorative practices.
• Support PLCs in analyzing culture challenges and implementing evidence-based practices.
• Partner with school leaders to strengthen walkthroughs and culture systems.
• Analyze walkthrough data and student behavior trends to identify improvement areas.
• Participate in data reviews and school improvement planning.

Skills

Classroom management

Coaching adults

Data analysis

Facilitation

Relationship-building

Equity-centered practices

Restorative practices

Adult learning theory

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Curriculum Leader - Instructional Culture

Location: Office of Academics

Salary: 103,409 - $115,574

Reports to: Senior Executive Director of Instruction Quality and Support

Bargaining Unit: DFT

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Travel: Travel within the district may be required.

Telecommuting Eligibility: School based. Not eligible for telecommuting

Position Summary

In accordance with the Agreement between the Organization of School Administrators and supervisors and the Detroit Public School Community District the following vacancy is announced: The Curriculum Leader - Instructional Culture is responsible for strengthening teacher, coach, and school leader capacity to create safe, structured, culturally responsive, and academically engaging classrooms across Detroit Public Schools Community District. The Curriculum Leader - Instructional Culture directly advances the Department of Instructional Quality and Support's mission to develop the knowledge, skills, and culture of every educator and school leader so that every classroom is a place where students feel safe, valued, and ready to learn.

The Curriculum Leader - Instructional Culture provides school-based, job-embedded coaching aligned to the District's Vision of Excellent Instruction, with a focused emphasis on the Management, Culture & Climate domain. This role supports teachers in developing classroom environments where expectations are clear, routines are consistent, relationships are strong, students are engaged, and learning time is protected.

Through observation, directive elbow coaching, modeling, rehearsal, real-time feedback, and follow-up practice cycles, the Curriculum Leader - Instructional Culture helps teachers implement high-leverage practices that improve classroom culture and strengthen instructional conditions for student success.

The Curriculum Leader - Instructional Culture also partners with Assistant Principals, Deans of Culture, instructional coaches, and school leaders to help build and sustain coherent schoolwide systems for Management, Culture & Climate. This includes supporting consistent routines and procedures, proactive behavior supports, student engagement structures, restorative responses, positive classroom relationships, and data-informed continuous improvement. Curriculum Leader - Instructional Culture's work is grounded in the belief that classroom culture is not separate from instruction; it enables instruction. By helping teachers and leaders establish classrooms where students feel safe, respected, affirmed, and accountable for learning, the Curriculum Leader supports schools in ensuring every educator and student is equipped to Thrive.

This position directly advances the Instructional Quality & Support priorities to: Establish a districtwide culture framework, deliver job-embedded coaching cycles, and strengthening School-Based leadership in culture.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required, Master's preferred
• Minimum 5 years of successful teaching experience (urban setting preferred)
• Demonstrated expertise in classroom management/culture
• Experience coaching adults or leading professional learning
• Strong facilitation, data analysis, and relationship-building skills
• Demonstrates expertise in instructional coaching and the ability to improve teacher practice through observation, feedback, modeling, and job-embedded support.
• Applies culturally responsive and equity-centered practices to create inclusive learning environments and support equitable outcomes for all students.
• Demonstrates knowledge of adult learning theory and effectively facilitates professional learning, coaching conversations, and collaborative team meetings.
• Uses multiple sources of data to analyze trends, monitor progress, and make informed decisions that improve teaching, learning, and classroom culture.
• Demonstrates proficiency in implementing restorative practices, including restorative conferences and community circles, to strengthen relationships and promote positive student behavior.
• Collaborates effectively across schools and departments while applying systems thinking to support continuous improvement and the implementation of districtwide initiatives.
• Demonstrates measurable improvement in classroom culture walkthrough scores across assigned schools.

Essential Functions

• Provide ongoing, job-embedded coaching through regular classroom observations, actionable feedback, and deliberate practice cycles aligned to the district's Classroom Culture Framework, with an emphasis on classroom management, climate, and culture.
• Support teachers in establishing effective routines and procedures, increasing student engagement and accountability, implementing positive behavior systems, and utilizing proactive redirection strategies.
• Monitor teacher growth and coaching outcomes using district data collection and progress-monitoring tools.
• Model high-leverage classroom culture strategies in authentic classroom settings to demonstrate effective instructional and management practices.
• Collaborate with teachers to co-plan and co-teach lessons that build instructional capacity and promote sustainable improvements in classroom culture.
• Facilitate laboratory classroom experiences that provide opportunities for observation, reflection, and collaborative debriefing.
• Design and facilitate high-quality professional learning experiences at both the school and district levels focused on the foundations of effective classroom culture, restorative practices, and culturally responsive teaching.
• Support Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) in analyzing classroom culture challenges, identifying solutions, and implementing evidence-based practices that improve student outcomes.
• Partner with Assistant Principals, Deans, and other school leaders to strengthen their capacity to conduct effective classroom walkthroughs, provide timely and actionable coaching feedback, and lead schoolwide culture systems that promote positive learning environments.
• Support the implementation of district walkthrough certification processes and ensure consistency in classroom culture expectations across schools.
• Analyze classroom walkthrough data, student behavior trends, and teacher growth indicators to identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.
• Participate in quarterly data reviews, school improvement planning, and continuous improvement cycles to inform coaching priorities and measure the impact of classroom culture initiatives.

Security Clearance

Internal Applicants

If you are a current Detroit Public Schools Community District employee, you do not have to submit to a new security clearance, unless your new role requires a different type of criminal background check.

External Applicants

In alignment with Michigan law, if you are hired to fill a position, you will be required to submit to a Detroit Public Schools Community District criminal background check. Information regarding required background checks will be shared at point of hire.

Diversity and Inclusion

DPSCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability and/or religion. Contact the Civil Rights Coordinator for more information at [phone] or detroitk12.org/compliance.