Director of Curriculum and Instruction

About School in the Square

School in the Square (S2) is a growing charter school network that will be serving families from Pre-K - 12th grade by Fall 2027. We currently have a Pre K-3 elementary school, a fully grown middle school and will be opening our new high school this fall. Drawing its name from the concept of the public square or “la placita”, our mantra is “Relationships First.” S2 is where communities come together to solve problems and celebrate successes. S2 provides a progressive and rigorous learning community in which students thrive physically, emotionally, and academically through differentiated and personalized education and adults grow through rich and robust professional development. Our community is grounded in principles of justice, equity, diversity and inclusivity (JEDI), enacting a culturally responsive and sustaining lens to our pedagogical practice and consistently examining the ways we can continue to walk firmly in the pursuit of social justice and against injustice of any kind. 

About the Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Our Director of Curriculum and Instruction is a key position - reporting directly to the Head of Schools - who will help set organizational instructional priorities, support instructional leadership development, systematize instructional approaches with high expectations, and create systems for Student Support Services. The Director of Curriculum and Instruction will be responsible for the identification and implementation of high-quality curricula that reflect the mission and vision of S2. The Director of Curriculum and Instruction is an experienced, data-driven, and entrepreneurially-minded learner who will inspire confidence and embrace the school community, leading initiatives that build adult capacity - staff and families - to accelerate student achievement and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Director of Curriculum and Instruction will also be responsible for creating efficient systems for Student Support Services to ensure that all students have the supports that they need. A successful Director of Curriculum and Instruction is a leader skilled at enlisting the broader community to implement a comprehensive strategic vision. An impactful and effective Director of Curriculum and Instruction will bring their energy, passion, and a roll-up-their sleeves approach to work in this small, vibrant network. 

Responsibilities

Curriculum & Assessment

• Ensure implementation of high-quality curriculum with fidelity. Currently, we have selected curricula so our focus is on implementation rather than research or identification. That may be necessary in the future.
• Ensures curriculum coherence across the four schools.
• Establish a learning culture among teachers and leaders using ongoing data processes to monitor student learning and teacher effectiveness.
• Align curriculum and assessment practices across grade bands and coordinate k-12 conversations where appropriate.
• Implement a performance based assessment (or portfolio) system for students in each grade band.
• Oversee grading policies and standards and gradebook updating across K-12.
• Oversees the purchase and implementation of the standardized testing program; and maintains a database of all formalized testing programs on all students (e.g., State tests,TerraNova, DIBELS, GRADE, SAT, etc.)
• Manage Assessment and Curriculum Coordinators in their coordination of roles above at the school-level.

Student Support Services

• Ensures the academic and social emotional progress of all SWD’s and MLL’s to ensure they achieve their individual goals.
• Ensures that schools are able to achieve its overall goals for its students with special needs, including the metrics for student persistence and student growth established by federal law, NYSED and their individual IEP’s.
• Partners with school-based Student Support Services Coordinators to engage with the local Committee on Special Education to ensure that students with disabilities are appropriately identified, have effectively written IEP’s, and receive the programs and services in those IEP’s.
• Ensures that all aspects of the schools’ special education model are implemented effectively, including integrated collaborative teaching, direct and indirect SETSS, and other supports. 
• Oversees compliance of all special education files. Ensures that the regular school-based processes for review of the IEPs of all new and continuing students is in place. Ensures that IEP’s are based on quantitative present levels of performance, curriculum standards, and content and is relevant for each student.

Instructional Leadership Development

• Support the Head of Schools in goal setting, planning, development, implementation, and monitoring of action plans that guide progress towards strategic S2 goals and individual professional goals.
• Support the Head of Schools in facilitating regular feedback cycles of coaching, data review, professional learning, and observations aligned to student achievement and strategic goals.

Partnership with Principals

• Using data and daily observations, partner with Principals to constantly evaluate and improve instruction, teacher training, curriculum implementation, assessments, and other aspects of schools' academic programs and culture.
• Partner with Principals to build a positive culture with staff, students, and families.
• Support Principals to plan and implement summer and school-year training and professional development for teachers.

Leadership Development

• In partnership with the Head of Schools, provide frequent, informal feedback to Principals. 
• Plan and implement training for all network instructional leaders, including administrators and teacher leaders.
• Recruit for and participate in the Principal and instructional interview process.

Organization-wide Instruction

• Build a “one mission” culture for schools through Principal meetings and communications.
• Ensure assessments, reports, and other data needs are managed and implemented by instructional leaders and school-based operations staff.
• Research and identify best practices from our network and other organizations and help disseminate those practices effectively to others.

Execution of School in the Square’s Mission and Vision:

• Work as a highly effective partner on the central S2 academic team, participating and facilitating meetings, solving challenges and building a cohesive team.
• Support the Head of School in engagement with other partners in the Central Office (Director of Enrollment, Director of Talent, etc)
• Support the Head of School in preparation for Board meetings and facilitate the Academic Committee of the Board.
• Lead district-wide initiatives (e.g., review of the teacher evaluation cycle, assessment of k-12 practices in specific domains). Responsible for the development of guidelines (e.g., mentoring program, recertification) and supports other administrative staff in their implementation of these guidelines.
• Performs other tasks and assumes other responsibilities as the Head of Schools may assign or delegate.

Qualifications

• Passionate commitment to the mission of School in the Square and investment in our vision and values;
• An adept problem-solver with a demonstrated ability to think critically, plan strategically, as well as research and perform detailed data analysis;
• Skilled in written and oral communication to diverse audiences and facilitating decision-making among multiple parties;
• Proactive and fast learner who thrives in a fast-paced environment;
• Ability to provide high leverage feedback via classroom observations and school walk-throughs;
• Strong organizational skills, careful attention to detail and follow-through
• A high appreciation for and ability to lead a diverse community
• Ability to produce strategic long term plans that advance the department in alignment with the school’s mission and vision.
• Team-player capable of working both collaboratively and independently with a proven ability to:
• Engage, enlist, and energize others in ongoing improvement of learning and teaching;
• self-initiate, determine a course of action, and make necessary proposals for change when necessary.
• work well with peers to develop and implement school-wide procedures.
• work comfortably as a leader or in a supporting role of the group depending on expertise.
• Use earned authority to build buy-in and collaboration (rather than relying solely on formal authority)

Required Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience as a senior administrator in a high-performing urban public school is required; similar years of experience as a teacher in a similar setting.
• Experience interpreting and using data to inform educational practice
• Experience leading a complex organization as a collaborative leader
• Prior coaching, coordination, or management experience of content area teachers.
• Deep expertise in at least one key content area (English, Math, Social Studies, Science or Language) and in at least one grade band (ES, MS or HS)
• Relentless determination to do whatever it takes to help students succeed
• Proactive and creative problem-solver
• Proven track record of successfully working with School in the Square’s student population
• Experience working with diverse student groupings that may include a range of MLL, SWD, and general education students
• NYS certification in leadership and content are preferred

Salary and Benefits

At S2 we take as much care of our teachers and staff as we do of our students. S2 is committed to supporting our teachers by helping them build sustainable, rewarding careers that center on each educator’s passions and multi-disciplinary interests. All of our faculty and staff are valued professionals, and we are proud to provide extended planning time, team-building and collaboration, comfortable and friendly working conditions, and more to ensure our team members all have the tools they need to succeed.

The salary range for the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at School in the Square is $110,000-$160,000. In addition to the competitive salary and meaningful work, S2 provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package with employer paid life insurance, a 401K program with a 6% organizational match and advisor, longevity bonus, generous paid time off, access to a federal student loan debt reduction program, professional growth opportunities, and a friendly work environment.

School in the Square understands specific groups are subject to marginalization. We believe these powerful groups should be centered in our community and are highly encouraged to apply. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.