Overview

The director of middle school literacy is responsible for overseeing the development and effective execution of Ascend's Common Core-aligned curriculum and assessment, which incorporates both explicit teaching and inquiry learning in grades 5-8. The director develops and delivers professional development to school leaders, and through them, teachers, and provides coaching of school leadership teams to ensure our curriculum and instruction is driving results for all students.

Why extraordinary professionals choose Ascend

Ascend is a network of K-12 public charter schools serving 5,700 students across 15 schools in Central Brooklyn. Our mission is to lead our students on a great intellectual journey, providing them with an exceptional education and placing them firmly on the path to success in college and beyond.

We guide our students to think critically and independently and to enjoy education as an end in itself. We teach a rich and rigorous liberal arts curriculum that nurtures students' natural curiosity about the world. We foster a positive, non-punitive school culture where students feel connected, empowered, and safe to take academic risks. Even our school buildings are designed to reflect our high aspirations for teaching and learning and the notable accomplishments that occur within our walls.

To create this kind of vibrant learning community, we invest heavily in our faculty by providing ongoing professional training and support, and encourage our educators to collaborate closely and push each other to achieve great outcomes.

You can learn more about the Ascend approach by visiting www.ascendcharterschools.org/careers .

Responsibilities

The director will champion Ascend's rich Liberal Arts-focused Humanities curriculum and assessments, with an emphasis on data driven work, and deep capacity for professional development and training.

Under the direction of the managing director of literacy, the director will:

• adapt, curate and pace Ascend's Middle Grade Common Core-aligned Humanities curriculum and assessments (providing guidance and support to our associate director of curriculum, who currently revises and writes middle grade curricula)
• develop materials and supports or leads professional development for various members of the school's leadership team and teachers focused on literacy content and the highest fidelity of implementation of the curricula; and
• utilize academic data to adjust and focus curricula, instruction, assessment, and professional development.

With regards to Curricula, the director will:

• produce excellent curriculum materials, and elevate the Humanities program
• develop and continually evaluate the scope and sequence of the Humanities
• continuously improve exemplary unit plans and instructional resources that are aligned to the Common Core State Standards, while looking ahead to the Next Generation Standards. This includes writing or adapting unit plans for Ascend's own English, Social Studies and Writing Program, 6-8.
• master the material in our curriculum archives located on ShareFile.
• work closely with the managing director of literacy to establish the vision, scope and goals for all Ascend Humanities materials and their implementation
• research and deepen best practices in literacy curriculum, professional development to ensure that Ascend has the strongest and most up-to-date balanced literacy curriculum in our middle schools
• collaborate with other literacy team associate directors, and the CDT as a whole on key cross curricular initiatives such as research into writing across the curriculum and project-based learning, and formative assessments
• in collaboration with the CDT, build positive and efficient working relations with the Ascend central academic team and with the leadership teams of each school

With regards to Professional Development, the director will:

• design and deliver a range of ongoing professional development sessions (actual and virtual) that support the vision for the Humanities Program, implementation of the curriculum and growth of core literacy skills and knowledge. S/he will aid relevant school leaders in planning for or delivering ELA/Humanities content for teacher planning and development meetings to ensure that teachers deeply understand the content
• serve as a resource for school based leaders when curricular, assessment, and instructional questions arise surrounding the literacy program and materials
• participate in frequent (at least once monthly) collaborative site visits focused on implementation at each school that support the school's implementation of the Humanities curriculum. These visits will push content-specific instructional practices, gather information on best practices, support program fidelity and ELA instruction across all programs, 6-8.
• lead, monitor and support "content study groups" of deans of instruction, grade team leaders, and Humanities teachers at every school to ensure that teachers deeply understand the content they will teach.
• collect and analyze videos of exemplary teaching practices around strong implementation of literacy components and curate an initial body of annotated student work for each middle school literacy component
• on occasion, identify, qualify, and secure expert third-party curriculum coaches for certain programs to ensure that these programs are implemented with the highest fidelity; coordinate the work of these coaches in the schools

With regards to Data Analysis, the director will:

• analyze student data using periodic reports and data meetings to determine how to support schools with implementation and action planning as well as making future improvements to curricular products and instructional materials
• develop curriculum elements in response to data, incorporating initial implementation and feedback as part of the process.
• in collaboration with Ascend's director of data and analytics, use academic data to adjust and focus instruction, using periodic reports and data meetings

Reporting Relationships and Team

The director shall report directly to the managing director of literacy, will manage the humanities work and will collaborate closely with other members of the Literacy Team, and the Curriculum Team, the Talent Team, and the Schools Team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, with an advanced degree strongly preferred
• A sustained record of outstanding academic results as a literacy specialist in middle grades and relevant experience as a school leader
• Four or more years teaching experience with exceptional results in literacy instruction
• Two or more years of experience developing staff and delivering outstanding professional development
• A deep understanding of the Common Core ELA standards and New York's Common Core-aligned state ELA assessments, and the NY Standards and Regents themes in English and history in middle grades, with an eye toward the changes the Next Generation Standards will bring in ELA

A successful talent recruitment manager will demonstrate:

• A bold, tireless, engaging change agent and culture-creator; a visionary; a leader who communicates a love of learning and passion for literacy development at every stage of child and adult development
• Exceptional self-motivation, entrepreneurial spirit and team orientation
• Collaborative decision-making style, with a proven track record of working effectively with diverse individuals to drive decision-making and results
• Self-awareness, with an ability to treat members of Ascend Learning and school communities with respect
• An accurate sense strength and growth areas for self and team
• Absolute integrity
• A broad familiarity with ELA pedagogies and programs and effective practices
• Intimate knowledge of the Core Knowledge History and Geography scope and sequence and other leading, Common Core and Regents-aligned social studies and history sequences
• Exemplary curriculum and assessment writing skills
• Expertise in middle school literacy and research findings
• Superb organizational, project management, self-management skills, and problem-solving skills
• Success managing adults and creating growth plans for direct reports.
• A mindset of excellence with upholding the highest standards for beautifully written, error-free curricula
• Excellent presentation skills and the ability to train and coach educators
• Passion and commitment to urban education and our ultimate goal of closing the achievement gap
• Passion for reading literature and historical texts in a range of genres and forms and an appreciation for great writing in all genres
• Insistence on academic excellence and rigor
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• A hunger for feedback and an openness to engage in a process of self-improvement
• Alignment with the educational philosophy and core beliefs of Ascend Learning
• Commitment to improving the minds and lives of students from low-income communities; dedication to doing whatever it takes to help all students achieve academic success
• Passion for academic rigor and insistence on excellence at all times
• Maturity, humility, strong work ethic, and "roll-up-my-sleeves" attitude

Compensation

Ascend offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. To learn more, visit: www.ascendlearning.org/careers .

Diversity

Ascend and its schools are committed to building a diverse and inclusive community, both through our hiring practices and our focus on creating a culture and environment where diverse perspectives, ideas, and identities are valued and integrated into our way of working and educating students. Ascend staff represent a wide diversity of racial, socio-economic, gender, religious, and national identities-opening a window to the entire Ascend community on the richness of humanity. We welcome all applicants who share our mission and vision to join us in our deeply consequential work.

Ascend's Vaccination Policy Statement

To prevent the infection and spread of COVID-19, and protect the health and safety of staff, students, family members, interns, volunteers, and visitors to Ascend's premises from COVID-19 infection, Ascend requires all staff to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated for the coronavirus. This policy is mandatory except for staff with a documented medical or religious reason for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.