Early Literacy Instructional Lead

About KIPP Texas Public Schools

KIPP Texas Public Schools is a free, public charter school network with more than 45 Pre-K - 12 schools across Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. With over 30 years in Texas, we work together with our families and communities to prepare students for college, career, and beyond! Our schools provide a high-quality, well-rounded education built on academic success and personal growth, where all students learn and thrive in a productive, safe, and joyful way!

As one of the earliest charter networks in Texas—founded in Houston in 1994 and operating as KIPP Texas since 2018—we hire dynamic, collaborative, and dedicated individuals with an unyielding belief that every child will succeed. Join a Team and Family with an unwavering commitment to creating classrooms, offices, and communities rooted in academic success and joy. If you are passionate about joining a mission-driven community that wants every child to "run to school," the KIPP Texas Team and Family is for you!

KIPP Public Schools is a national network of public charter schools that prepares students with the skills and confidence to create the future they want for themselves, their communities, and us all. We are a network of 278 schools with nearly 16,500 educators and 190,000 students and alumni.

Job Description

The Early Literacy Lead is an exciting opportunity for an individual with deep content knowledge of literacy at the primary school level (PreK through 2nd Grade) and passion for curriculum and instruction. The Early Literacy Lead will play a critical role at the state-level in one of KIPP’s most progressive reform efforts in order to drive improved student results, including growth and achievement, college and career readiness, and closing the achievement gap.

The Early Literacy Lead is responsible for leading the strategy and implementation of state literacy priorities, including building teacher and API content knowledge in foundational literacy through leading Reading Academies learning in order to improve and accelerate student achievement across PreK-2 classrooms. This role can require travel to all four KIPP Texas regions (Austin, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston & San Antonio), and about 75% of time will be spent in schools and classrooms.

• Implementing the KIPP Texas Early Literacy Strategy | Execute KTX multi-year PreK-3rd grade early literacy initiatives through strategic, region-specific support across the state including but not limited to the Texas Reading Academies.

• Reading Academies Cohort Lead | Lead Reading Academies Module learning and facilitate coaching cycle with learning in alignment with School Leader development of Literacy Instruction and Achievement..

• Coaching | Coach and support PreK instructional leaders, Reading Academies participants, including but not limited to Assistant Principals of Instruction (APIs) and teachers to grow and achieve goals literacy as aligned to our statewide implementation plan.

• Data Analysis | Analyze data at student-level, teacher-level, school-level and regional-level to identify strengths, opportunities for growth aligned to the Science of Teaching Reading, and curricular and implementation implications

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Manage success of Reading Academies implementation for assigned cohorts

• Lead implementation of state literacy priorities, including but not limited to reading growth assessment/s, foundational literacy across the state for grades PreK-3.

• Develop, manage, and lead literacy pilots across the state to innovate and try new programs, structures, and strategies; gather implementation data and artifacts on a weekly basis to make statewide programmatic recommendations for future years.

• Serve as a model of the three instructional coaching power moves – intellectual preparation, instructional coaching, and data-driven instruction. Coach regional Early Literacy leads, APs, SLs, and regional academics teams members across the state in the power moves when coaching in schools.

• Conduct Texas statewide and region-specific data analysis to guide regions around intentional data driven response in instruction.

• Work with the Director of Foundational Literacy and Instructional Excellence team to maintain strong curriculum and implementation feedback cycles, vertical alignment and streamlined literacy support across all grades.

• Support KTX regions in developing their literacy-specific professional learning scope & sequence and professional learning plans.

• Plan and lead virtual and in-person literacy professional development for Reading Academies participants K-3 including lesson internalization, module internalization, and responding to data.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

*Texas Reading Academies Cohort Leader screener required to complete the responsibilities of this role. Proof of passing the Texas Reading Academies Cohort Leader screener will be required prior to starting employment. For more information about completing the Reading Academies Cohort Leader Screener click here .

COMPETENCY AND SKILLS:

Content and Pedagogical Expertise

• Strong knowledge and believe in the college-ready bar for students in literacy; exceptionally high standards for rigor and the belief that all students can achieve at high levels

• Expert in literacy in the early primary grades (Pre-K through 3rd Grade) with a strong knowledge of the full literacy continuum (Pre-K through 12th Grade)

• Strong knowledge of the components of balanced literacy, with a particular focus on Foundational Literacy (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension)

• Strong background and familiarity with literacy assessments, with a particular focus on reading growth assessments

• Master teacher in literacy with strong skill in internalizing curriculum and modeling lessons

• Strong coach of teachers with expertise in observation and feedback

• (Preferred) Strong coach of leaders with the ability to model strong coaching and school leadership

Technical Skills

• Detail oriented and obsessed with accuracy, especially in the areas of curriculum and assessments

• Ability to create own work plan and can project plan around multiple priorities and fast-paced deadlines

• Able to succinctly present summaries and updates

• Can work across multiple modes of communication (virtual and in-person) to impact others and achieve goals

• Advanced understanding of Microsoft Office suite

Communication, Interpersonal and Team Skills

• Builds and maintains strong relationships across a variety of levels and stakeholders

• Strong verbal and written communication skills; tailors message for the audience, context, and mode of communication

• Motivates others to work in partnership toward ambitious goals

• Builds consensus and resolves conflicts; exhibits willingness to have difficult conversations

• Skillfully navigates systems and structures at various levels in a large district

• Comfortable in ambiguity and can take abstract ideas into concrete work plans and products

Problem Solving and Systems Level Thinking

• Understands how various systems, departments, and stakeholders interact to achieve short and long-term goals

• Makes decisions using data and takes initiative to solve problems and create stakeholder buy-in

• Can exhibit flexibility when faced with shifting priorities, demands, and timelines through analytical and problem-solving capabilities

• Identifies and prioritizes mission critical issues and offers innovative solutions to seemingly intractable problems

• Exhibits strong focus on goals and results and sets clear metrics for success

Leadership skills

• Motivates, inspires, and moves other adults to action to achieve ambitious goals

• Builds coalitions and works collaboratively with diverse stakeholders at all levels, including but not limited to regional leaders, School Leaders, coaches, teachers, and students

• Establishes clear expectations, deliverables and deadlines across organizational layers

Empathy and Commitment to Cause

• Deep belief in the mission and values of KIPP and commitment to improving student achievement

• Passionately believes that all students can achieve at high levels

• Demonstrates cultural competence and a deep understanding of and empathy for issues facing students and urban school districts

Physical Requirements: 

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The person in this position needs to be able to move about inside and outside the school throughout the workday.

• The candidate is expected to attend conferences, meetings and training sessions both virtually and in person within the Region.  

Additional Requirements:

• Reliable transportation is needed for travel between campuses

• Ability to maintain emotional control under stress.

• Work with frequent interruptions.

Work Environment: 

Hybrid work - Reports to the central office or schools three days a week

Travel Requirements: 

Minimal travel: May travel to other school sites or regional offices for professional learning, meetings and other work related activities.

Additional Information

What We Bring to the Table: 

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with coverage options for employees and their families. 

• Competitive vacation and flexible paid time off (PTO) policies.

• Paid family leave.

• Flexible spending account or high-yield HSA.

• Employee assistance programs. 

• KIPP also offers the following employee-paid benefits: legal plans, LifeLock identity protection, life insurance and disability insurance.

EEO: 

KIPP Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KIPP Texas ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, or disability. Any individual needing assistance in making an application for any opening should contact the Talent Team.

 Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job duties. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.