What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Instructional Specialist position at Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences?
Department: Instructional Staff
Location: Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences
Compensation: $100,000 / year
Position Title: Lead Instructional Specialist
Funding Source: General Fund
Reports to: Chief Academic Officer
Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Leadership, or a related field preferred; Bachelor’s degree required.
- Minimum 5 years of classroom teaching experience with a demonstrated record of strong student outcomes.
- Minimum 5 years of instructional coaching, curriculum leadership, or related experience at the school or district level.
- Strong command of Michigan K-12 Academic Standards.
- Demonstrated knowledge of evidence-based instructional practices and adult learning theory.
- Experience facilitating professional development for diverse educator audiences.
- Familiarity with data-driven instruction, assessment design, and PLC implementation.
- Strong communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel between district sites as required.
Key Responsibilities
- Create and execute professional development for all staff.
- Set district instructional goals and benchmarks, in collaboration with the Chief Academic Officer and other instructional leaders.
- Monitor and report on progress toward benchmark goals throughout the year.
- Support strategic planning alongside principals to ensure building-level alignment with district goals.
- Manage instructional coaches and content specialists.
- Refine, implement, and monitor district data practices, Professional Learning Communities, and observation and feedback processes.
- Provide job-embedded instructional support to coaches, teachers, and leaders.
- Ensure leadership support is occurring regularly for all stakeholders (principals, coaches, etc.).
- Conduct monthly walkthroughs with Instructional Leadership Team members and coach them on their observation and feedback practices.
- Align budget with district and building leadership to support instructional materials and professional learning.
- Create and maintain the district assessment calendar.
- Facilitate and review data meetings across schools and departments.
- Analyze all assessment, survey, and professional development data to identify key findings and determine next steps.
- Share data findings with the executive team and instructional leadership team in a clear, actionable format.
- Review curriculum resources and education programs in partnership with instructional leadership.
- Oversee the creation of common formative assessments across grade levels and content areas.
- Oversee vertical and horizontal curriculum coherence (pacing and integration) across all subjects.
- Provide weekly progress updates directly to the Chief Academic Officer.
- Deliver monthly updates to the broader district community on instructional initiatives and outcomes.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Ability to coach and develop educators at all levels, from teachers to instructional leaders.
- Strong analytical skills for interpreting assessment and survey data to drive decision-making.
- Ability to manage multiple instructional initiatives simultaneously with attention to detail.
- Effective communication and facilitation skills for diverse stakeholder groups.
- Commitment to instructional practices that support all learners.
- Proficiency with instructional technology, data platforms, and productivity tools.
Salary : $100,000