Instructional Coaching

Training and supporting a team of young, aspiring teachers takes a team of expert educators who are committed to developing the next generation of great teachers.  The professional instructional coaches who work with Breakthrough teacher interns are the academic backbone of the services provided to students.  These remarkable individuals are among the most innovative and successful teachers in Manchester’s public schools, The Derryfield School, and other surrounding school districts.  Breakthrough’s instructional coaches work collaboratively to train high school and college students in the science and art of teaching by leading pedagogical workshops, conducting in-class observations and providing feedback, and developing and supporting curriculum initiatives that help prepare middle school students for academic success.  Through close work with a core group of young educators, each instructional coach is responsible not just for the growth of the Breakthrough teachers in their charge, but ultimately for the substance of each class and the academic rigor each Breakthrough student receives.

Breakthrough maintains a staff of approximately four instructional coaches during the summer and two for after school programs during the school year.  Below is a general position description for instructional coaches (actual responsibilities may vary).

Essential Job Requirements

  • Engage fully in the Breakthrough community, sharing our passion for teaching, learning, and leading.
  • Support curriculum training and implementation (courses use professionally developed curriculum).
  • Observe classes and provide feedback and coaching on necessary teaching and classroom management techniques.
  • Lead department meetings and additional training sessions and workshops in key areas of teaching.
  • Participate in mid-summer and end-of-summer teacher intern performance evaluations and goal-setting sessions.
  • Ensure that the content and academic skills taught are meaningful and appropriately rigorous for students.
  • Edit end-of-summer evaluations of students.

Qualifications

  • A minimum of three years of classroom teaching and/or teacher coaching experience (5+ years preferred).
  • Experience with: effective formative assessment; adolescent brain development; expectations of rigorous, college-prep high school programs; delivery of constructive and honest feedback for teachers; working effectively with people from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • Outstanding communication, writing, and organizational skills.
  • Prefer applicants who have familiarity with teaching techniques developed by Dr. Fred Jones or Madeline Hunter, or who have experience with other direct-instruction models.

Compensation

  • Competitive stipends based on experience and responsibilities.
  • Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) from the University of New Hampshire are available for qualified employees.

Schedule

The schedule for instructional coaches mirrors the teacher intern schedule from late-June through mid-August (see calendar or request dates).  Some flexibility for school-year responsibilities can be negotiated.  Daily hours typically run from 8:30am to 1:30pm.

Position inquiries and requests for application information may be directed to Skyler Mosenthal, Program Director, at 603-641-9426 or smosenthal@derryfield.org.