STEMbyTAF Transformation Coach - Stanton Academy
POSITION OVERVIEW
Every student is capable of achieving academic success, yet the public education system was not designed to meet students of color where they dream — instead it marginalizes them and underestimates their abilities. TAF partners with school districts, educators, and organizations to challenge the current public education system. We address the entire public education system, from top-to-bottom, providing STEM skills and equitable, anti-racist education environments where all students can succeed and by working with emerging and established education leaders of color to improve representation at every level. We:
- Co-manage a public STEM school where we provide industry-relevant and equitable curriculum and experiences.
- Partner with existing public schools and coach students and staff using our successful STEMbyTAF learning model.
- Empower early-career educators and established school leaders of color through educational equity and liberation pedagogy.
The STEMbyTAF Transformation Coach provides a broad range of instructional support to teachers at STEMbyTAF Transformation Network schools. TAF’s instructional support is grounded in racial equity and uses Project-Based Learning (PBL) as the vehicle to deliver equitable practices. Professional development can be delivered in small, whole group, and/or online mediums and focuses primarily on building the capacities of teachers’ understanding of STEMbyTAF Model which centers equity in its four pillars: interdisciplinary project-based learning, STEM integration, education technology, and career readiness. A variety of coaching methods are used to promote adult learning and support professional growth. The STEMbyTAF Transformation Coach supports teachers and leaders at partner sites with the development and implementation of PBL projects and students’ presentations of learning. The STEMbyTAF Transformation Coach contributes to the creation of professional development tools for the STEMbyTAF model. The STEMbyTAF Transformation Coach will report to the Senior Program Manager of Professional Learning. The ideal candidate for this position is an energetic, enthusiastic and dynamic thinker. We are looking for someone who is committed to racial equity, project-based learning, collaboration with teachers, students and partners and passionate about new ways of learning and serving our students.
PRIMARY DUTIES
COMMUNICATION AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
- Build trusting relationships with teachers, administrator, and instructional leaders to enable discussion, reflection, and inquiry around teaching practice
- Encourages reflective dialogue by asking open-ended questions, and using problem and paraphrasing techniques
- Understands that listening and learning are the keys to developing a successful coaching relationship
- Creates structures and processes for collaborative work that promotes collegiality and shared responsibility
- Engages all adults in change efforts that leverage assets and considers challenges in schools and communities. (Looks like: optimizing potential, situational awareness, asset-based approach)
- Partners with building leaders to support teacher learning and student achievement
- Advocates for equitable academic, civic, and social-emotional outcomes to eliminate race-based disparity in the K-12 education system
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
- Fosters a professional learning culture grounded in adult learning theory and research-based Transformation strategies
- Offers instructional support to teachers to cultivate a culture of inquiry and problem-solving for students
- Promotes the STEMbyTAF vision for PBL, according to the STEMbyTAF PBL Practitioners Rubric
- Supports and provides training for teachers in their implementation of STEMbyTAF project-based learning in network schools
- Skillfully facilitates ongoing, job embedded professional development for teachers in a variety of modes, including 1:1, small group and whole group, in person and virtual
- Builds teacher capacity to integrate technology into PBL for collaboration, research and the utilization of a variety of software to support project implementation
- Differentiates professional development opportunities based on student data and teacher priorities
- Special projects may comprise up to 10-15% of role dependent upon experience and organizational needs
DATA ANALYSIS AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
- Bases all coaching and professional development decisions on teacher and student data
- Assists teachers in analyzing student data and designing differentiated instruction to support PBL
- Collects data to assess impact of coaching and professional development; uses data to drive decisions on learning and personal development needs
- Collaboratively monitors student progress to sustain continuous improvement
DOCUMENTATION AND CODIFICATION
- Completes internal and external reports, including annual grant reporting, mid-year and end of year reports
- Documents transformative practices developed and utilized at TAF Transformation Partner sites
- Completes and updates annual work plan
RACIAL EQUITY
- Openness to participate in Racial Equity to recognize personal bias and improve performance through a racial equity lens
- Must embrace the mission of TAF and our goal of running an equitable organization
- Willingness to lead or be part of the team in an equitable, anti-racist manor
- Ability to represent the needs of students of color
- Exhibiting cultural and racial sensitivity and self-awareness
- Develop and cultivate a sense of belonging among team members at TAF
- The capacity to create an environment that embraces a diversity of views and takes advantage of such collective knowledge to benefit the organization
LIFELONG LEARNER
- Consistently seeks new experiences and opportunities for learning
- Demonstrates deep reflection both verbally and in written form
QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum of three years exemplary classroom experience (secondary school experience preferred)
- Ability to represent underserved children of color for higher education and professional success
- Experience with curriculum development and a variety of instructional strategies
- Must have demonstrated effective facilitation of professional development for adult learners
- Excellent organization, time management and follow-up skills
- ability to prioritize tasks and execute with time-sensitivity
- ability to handle multiple projects concurrently
- ability to work independently
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with diverse audiences, specifically racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities
- Complete all reporting requirements for position, including weekly logs, coaching reflections, data collection, and bi-annual reports
- Able to document practices and tools developed and practiced at TAF Transformation Partner sites
- Experience analyzing data and using it to modify instructional practices to benefit students
- Openness to participating in Racial Equity trainings and workshops to recognize personal biases and improve performance through a racial equity lens
- Experience in underserved schools and communities, particularly in non-traditional environments. Must have demonstrated leadership skills (teacher leadership, initiative lead, program organizer, etc.)
- Experience related to adult learning (professional development facilitation, mentorship, etc.)
- Ability and willingness to innovate independently, test initiative, and use data to evaluate impact
- Ability and willingness to be flexible and responsive to role responsibilities
- Demonstrate the highest standards of honesty, integrity, flexibility, and responsiveness
- Good entrepreneurial work ethic § Familiarity working in diverse, multicultural, and multilingual environments, particularly in the Yakima Valley region
- Pass all required criminal and child abuse background checks for work eligibility in WA state schools
- Possess a valid Washington State Driver’s license § Requires up to 20% travel to Seattle area at central White Center office or to other Transformation sites
- Requires 3 days of initial in-person training in Seattle area at White Center office during first month of employment
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree
- Minimum 3-5 years teaching experience
- At least 2 years' experience as an instructional coach (preferred)
- Classroom experience and/or relevant experience in the field of education
- Familiarity working in diverse and multi-cultural and bilingual environments in underserved schools and communities.
Preferred Skills
- Fluency in languages other thanEnglish is a plus
- Moderate to high proficiency inMicrosoft Suite/O365
Additional Conditions of Employment
- Pass all required criminal and child abuse background checks
- Reliable transportation
BENEFITS
- 100% Healthcare paid by employer for employee and dependents up to age 19yr.
- Optional Individual Retirement Account
- Additional Wellness weeks off in July and December
- Accumulated Vacation and Sick Leave
HOW TO APPLY
Upload resume and cover letter. Your cover letter should express why you’re interested in this role and address the following questions:
1. What does it mean for you to have a commitment to anti-racism?
2. How have you demonstrated that commitment and how would you see yourself demonstrating it at TAF?
For more information visit our website at www.techaccess.org/careers. No phone calls please.