Organization Overview:
The New Jersey Department of Education is building seven regional offices (RACs) that will lead the state's efforts to accelerate student learning and close the achievement gap. New Jersey's Regional Achievement Centers (RACs), struggling schools, and their districts will partner to set clear goals for student growth, put proven turnaround principles into action, and use data to drive decision-making and accountability. Working together, we will meet our shared goal of closing the achievement gap and preparing all of our students for success in college and career. Of particular importance to the Department is providing high-impact support to the state's lowest-performing schools, to ensure that all students will graduate college and career ready.
Position Overview:
This is an extraordinary opportunity for a strong educational leader to share the expertise and knowledge they have gained in an effort to improve education in our state's lowest performing schools. The State Turnaround Coach will play a critical role in improving student performance through coaching principals to be quality instructional leaders. He/she will assist principals in leading the school turnaround effort through the development and implementation of a school improvement plan designed to increase achievement by focusing on standards aligned curriculum, instruction and assessment practices, the effective use of data, creating a positive school climate and culture, increasing family engagement and effective scheduling for student and teacher learning. The State Turnaround Coach will report directly to the Executive Director for Regional Achievement and work collaboratively with a team of school turnaround professionals.
Responsibilities:
• Work collaboratively with schools, districts and the NJDOE leadership to develop a strategic
implementation plan for increasing student achievement in the lowest performing schools
• Support and enhance effective principal instructional leadership
• Ensure systems and structures support best practices for accelerating student learning
• Assist principals in implementing a quality, standards-based curriculum, assessment, and intervention
system
• Ensure positive culture and climate for learning
• Partner with the district and school staff on implementing and enhancing school improvement initiatives
• Provide professional learning opportunities in areas such as, but not limited to, instructional leadership, effective teaching, monitoring and improving teacher effectiveness and in the use of data
Qualifications:
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university. Master's degree in education, public administration/policy, or related field preferred.
Experience: Minimum three years as a principal, leadership coach, or similar leadership position at a school with a record of student performance gains; minimum two years of teaching experience with a record of high student achievement; history of effectively coaching both new and experienced teachers preferred; Principal / Supervisor certification; extensive knowledge of school turnaround principles; excellent communication skills; ability to analyze data; experience in consensus building; ability to motivate and lead a diverse learning community.
