About the Organization

DCP's success with first-generation college students is at the forefront of a national movement for college access and educational equity. The first charter high school in Silicon Valley, Downtown College Prep (DCP) was founded in San Jose in 2000 with the belief that all students, regardless of background and prior academic achievement, can and should be prepared for college success.

Through our singular commitment to college success, we ensure our largely low-income Latino students and families are fully supported in the pursuit of a college degree.

DCP has graduated over 1000 alumni and currently serves 1800 students in grades 5-12 on four campuses and 500 college-aged alumni. In fall of 2018, 93% of the Class of 2018 matriculated to college. 53% of DCP grads have completed college or are on track to complete college in six years compared to 9% of low-income students nationwide. DCP is deeply committed to supporting, measuring and reporting college completion for our graduates, and serving as a replicable national model of college and career readiness for first-generation students.

Our vision is to ensure that more first-generation students have the vision, confidence, and academic skills to succeed in college and beyond, realizing their fullest potential and harnessing their power to become leaders in their field and community.

About the Opportunity

The Instructional Coach will support the professional growth and development of teacher effectiveness so that DCP students can meet or exceed their academic goals. The Instructional Coach will support teachers in setting professional learning goals and employ a variety of strategies to meet the individual needs of teachers. The Instructional Coach will work with teachers of all experience levels and support them in deepening their practice in the key areas of--understanding first generation students, content and planning, instructional delivery, assessment, and developing a safe and effective learning environment. Additionally, the Instructional Coach will work closely with the site administration to support the organizational and site-based academic initiatives, and will be a key contributor to the design and implementation of teacher professional development.

Instructional Coach Roles and Responsibilities

• Facilitate teacher development of effective teaching practice
• Ground teacher coaching in the DCP Pedagogical Beliefs, the DCP Framework for Teaching and Learning, and DCP Values and Operating Principles
• Develop coaching cycles that address the individual professional growth needs of teachers
• Build and maintain strong relationships with a caseload of teachers
• Support teachers through planning, feedback, and consultation on topics such as classroom management, parent communication, development of curriculum and standards-based units/lessons
• Utilize DCP formative assessment tools and processes to support teacher inquiry and advancement of classroom practice
• Facilitate small group mentoring of teachers (e.g., department, grade level team meetings)
• Demonstrate best practice through model lessons as needed
• Stay informed of educational research and practice
• Participate ongoing professional development

• Collaborate with site administrators and network team as needed to support the development and implementation of professional development

Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• 4+ years of successful teaching and leadership experience in classroom settings with diverse student populations
• Experience leading and coaching teachers
• Belief in and commitment to the DCP Mission
• Deep content knowledge in one or more of the following disciplines: English or Math Common Core Standards, Next Generation Science Standards
• Deep knowledge of effective teaching practices
• Knowledge of how to differentiate instruction for English Learners and students with special needs
• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing, reflective, inquiry-based practice
• Ability to develop strong relationships that are characterized by the DCP Operating Principles
• Valid (clear) California teaching credential
• Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction preferred

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is continuously required to speak and listen for extended periods. The employee is also required to sit or stand for long periods, and to regularly walk; use hands or fingers to handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee is further required to have the physical, mental, and emotional stamina to fully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position, and the mental acuity to collect, evaluate, and interpret data; to reason; to define problems; to establish facts; to draw valid conclusions; and to make effective judgments and decisions.
Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics are representative of those in a normal office, building, classroom/school setting which one might encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not significant. Also, this job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; and nothing in this herein restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.