Instructional Coach

Number of Positions: 1

Position Overview

The Instructional Coach (IC) will support the academic strategy and model that enables City Year Chicago to reach school and student outcome goals. The IC supports and implements academic strategy and model for Tier One and Tier Two spaces that ensure we reach our student outcome measures in math and literacy. Create instructional learning experiences for corps and staff that build the skills and knowledge necessary to reach school and student outcome measures. They also serve as active members of the City Year Chicago community in order to advance the site and work toward the Long-Term Impact Strategy. The IC reports to the Senior Service Director and supports 6 to 8 school teams.

Salary Range for this role is $65,000 to $75,000. Anticipated start date is Fall 2026. The IC will primarily work on-site at their designated school placement(s) with occasional days at the office.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree required. Minimum 3 years of relevant experience, with proven ability to deliver strong, measurable results. Deep knowledge of instructional strategy, with a focused understanding of interventions for students not performing on grade level. Well-versed in social emotional learning and adult learning principles. Experience presenting and facilitating training for adult learners. Outstanding ability to communicate with diverse audiences. Comfortability with both large and small group facilitation, as well as 1:1 coaching.

Responsibilities

Observations & Coaching
Observe each AmeriCorps member (ACM) in your portfolio at least once a month with the Impact Manager (IM) as they work either as a whole class support, one‑on‑one sessions, or as they lead a tutoring session with their focus list students. Track the key questions ACMs ask, student actions and responses, as well as the seating arrangements or examples of student work. Debrief (DB) each ACM after each observation. Debrief conversations should include: Reflections of the day’s small group session Follow up on any notes/ steps from previous debrief session. Review of student progress logs, sample work, data, grades, assessments for action steps towards growth. Model best practice and planning strategies. The development of new action steps & strategic planning for ACM who needs further support and/or guidance. Input and update observation notes and feedback into the coaching logs.
Staff Instructional Capacity & Support
Develop and implement staff instructional training and resources to support the successful implementation of the Academic Strategy and Model. Collaborate with the Site Instructional Leadership Team and Site Instructional Rounds to ensure the consistent development of instructional leadership at the site. Engage in co‑observation and coaching with intentional debriefs in order to support academic model implementation, improve site instructional practices, and coach staff to improve individual practice. Engage in consistent critical thinking around how internal and external systems impact our academic work with students through the lens of racism and poverty and actively work toward anti‑racist, equitable and inclusive instruction for all students.
Core Knowledge & Support
Develop and implement corps instructional trainings and resources to support the successful implementation of the Academic Strategy and Model. Engage in observation and coaching in order to support the fidelity and quality of the academic model implementation and reach student outcome goals. Support data driven instruction practices at the site through supporting the training and coaching on using data to inform instruction, and collaborating with Impact Analytics staff on effective data review and analysis. Provide feedback on session planning, data driven instruction and progress monitoring tools to improve corps practice.
Organizational Initiatives and Site Support
Participate in site and network‑wide meetings and calls, providing insight, feedback, and collective problem solving. Engage in structured discussion and training on diversity, belonging, inclusivity and belonging aimed at developing stronger cultural competency, both individually and collectively as a site. Partner with City Year Chicago’s departments and staff to ensure that site‑wide goals are met, including, but not limited to, the AmeriCorps member applicant interview process, stakeholder engagement, event and service day participation, and cross‑departmental committees. Attend conferences throughout the year, as well as additional engagement and training activities throughout the year.
Collaboration & Learning
Collaborates effectively with teammates to achieve shared goals and foster an inclusive environment. Role models a growth mindset and commitment to City Year’s culture and values as a leader within a youth‑serving organization. Performs additional responsibilities as assigned by the direct supervisor to advance City Year’s mission.

Preferred Qualifications

City Year/AmeriCorps experience is a plus. Awareness of and experience in engaging in conversation and developing practices grounded in diversity, belonging, inclusion, and equity. Experience working within large, urban school districts a plus. Strong initiative and ability to work independently to achieve goals. Efficient time management skills: ability to meet deadlines and prioritize multiple projects. Ability to adapt and excel in diverse, youthful, high energy, entrepreneurial, and rapidly‑changing environment. Passion for education and youth development.

Competencies

• Collaboration: Connects with stakeholders to identify shared interests; partners with others to incorporate different perspectives toward a common goal.
• Teamwork: Actively contributes to shared projects with the understanding that team success is personal success.
• Understanding & Building Connection: Considers perspectives of others and cultivates relationships to strengthen interpersonal bonds with colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Learning: Strives to continuously develop and improve self, teams, and organization.
• Developing & Empowering Others: Creates opportunities for others to learn, develop, take action, and lead.

Working Conditions

This is a year‑round, in‑person, primarily school‑based position. ICs are required to work in the schoolhouse a minimum of 4 days per week, except on days they need to attend in‑person meeting and/or work outside of the schoolhouse. Generally follows a schedule aligned with school‑day and afterschool hours (typically between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.), with occasional early mornings, evenings, or weekend hours for events, trainings, or service days. Position requires travel between multiple school sites within the district and occasional local travel for City Year events. Must be able to work in a fast‑paced, youth‑centered school environment, with a noise level that can range from moderate to high. Occasional lifting or carrying of materials (e.g., event supplies, training materials) up to ~20 lbs. Reliable transportation to and from school sites and office locations is required, or ability and willingness to navigate public transit system. Must have reliable internet access when participating in any required virtual meetings or training.

Benefits

• Full‑time employees will be eligible for all benefits including vacation, sick days and organization holidays.
• You may participate in all benefit programs that City Year establishes and makes available to eligible employees, under (and subject to all provisions of) the plan documents that govern those programs.
• Currently, City Year offers medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death and dismemberment and disability coverage, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), and other benefits including 401(k) plan(s) pursuant to the terms and conditions of company policy and the 401(k) plan document.

For more information, click here.

Employment at City Year is at‑will.

City Year does not sponsor work authorization visas.

Mission Statement and Values

City Year's dual mission is to expand educational opportunity for all students and develop the next generation of leaders through national service. Trained teams of City Year AmeriCorps members provide support to students, classrooms and the whole school. Schools that partner with City Year are up to two to three times more likely to improve in English and math assessments, and the more time students spend with AmeriCorps members, the more they improve on academic, cognitive and interpersonal skills— skills that help students thrive in school, college and career. City Year's 900 staff and 2,000+ AmeriCorps members work and serve in 29 communities across the U.S., including Boston (where City Year was founded in 1988 and is headquartered), Baton Rouge, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbia, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, New Hampshire, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Providence, Sacramento, San Antonio, San José/Silicon Valley, Seattle/King County, Tulsa and Washington, D.C. City Year also has international affiliates in the U.K. and South Africa. A proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network, City Year is supported by AmeriCorps, local school districts and private philanthropy. City Year has been designated a 4-star charity by Charity Navigator since 2003, putting City Year in the top 1% of non-profits nationwide for accountability, transparency and responsible fiscal management, and among the most trustworthy nonprofits in America. At City Year, we sometimes say we work not only “at” City Year, but also “on” City Year, recognizing that the organization, like our world, is constantly evolving and changing. Two things that have never changed: our steadfast belief in the power of young people to change our world for the better; and our aspiration to create positive school and work environments where everyone feels a sense of connection, is supported to do their best work, and is able to learn, contribute, lead and create to their fullest potential.

As an equal opportunity employer, City Year is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

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