Job Description

**We are currently hiring for the 2025-2026 school year**

Title: Instructional ELA Coach

Division: School-wide 

Reports to: Principal 

Status: Full-time, Exempt (Year-Round), CalSTRS Retirement Eligible 

Salary: $100,000 - $110,000 + $12,000 Temporary Cost of Living Allowance and MWA Benefits

Summary

The Instructional ELA Coach at Making Waves Academy (MWA), reporting to and working side by side with the Principal and Division Directors, facilitates, monitors, and leads the continuous support of teachers in their development of instructional best practice skills, with the goal of supporting the entire teaching faculty in having the coaching, support, and professional development opportunities to improve core instructional practices continually. In this role, they are responsible for the effective development and implementation of core instructional programs and practices through directly managing and supporting faculty. The IC will serve as a member of the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) with other school leaders across the school. The IC role is a highly impactful, pivotal leadership role in building an achievement-focused culture and supporting the faculty’s professional growth.  

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Intensive Instructional Development

• Oversee Lead Teachers and Content Leads to maintain a standardized, school-wide framework, approach, and system for MWA instruction, classroom observations, and formal feedback aligned with MWA’s instructional practice.
• Assist Division Directors and the Principal in creating a professional development plan for all teachers and other stakeholders as appropriate, both during the summer and throughout the year, and support faculty having access to and participation in internal and external professional development opportunities.
• Provide comprehensive support and guidance to teachers in developing effective instructional strategies for all classrooms that focus on curricular fidelity and pacing in supporting academic growth of at least 1.5 grade-level improvements for those performing below grade level.
• Conduct regular classroom observations across the school and provide constructive feedback to enhance teaching methodologies.  Offer strategies and resources to create a positive, inclusive, and conducive learning environment.
• Collaboration with teachers, lead teachers, and content leads to the design and implementation of engaging and student-centered lesson plans that are aligned with core elements and features of the MWA Instructional Playbook and MWA Instructional Principles.
• Support teachers, lead teachers, and content leads in implementing effective classroom management techniques with the development and use of student management techniques, in-classroom restorative practice protocols, and social-emotional learning (SEL) practices.  Work closely with teachers to address behavioral challenges and foster a culture of respect and learning.

Instructional Systems, Tools, & Approaches

• Monitor and assess instructional practices that include informal classroom observations, scheduled classroom observations, peer observations, teacher meetings, and formal observations. Through informal observations, formal observations, and other qualitative measures, utilize approved tools and matrices to assess faculty adherence, pacing, and fidelity to efficacy-based and growth mindset instructional practices, data-informed instructional lesson planning and practices, and cultural competence practices in working with students, faculty, and families.
• Collect, analyze, and present complex data; identify potential problems and evaluate alternative solutions; and prepare sound recommendations.  Review and analyze interim assessments and standardized test scores to inform curricular decisions (short-term and long-term).
• Develop the capacity of lead teachers and content leads by helping them develop tools, skills, and approaches they will use in supporting the faculty they support and mentor, including but not limited to providing critical peer feedback, gradebook assessment, norming on the evaluation of student work, and adopting common instructional practices.
• Conduct regular classroom observations and provide constructive feedback to enhance teaching methodologies.

Curriculum

• Work collaboratively and facilitate collaboration among faculty and staff to support vertically aligned systems for instruction and effective coordination, support, and utilization of all curricular programs. Plan, direct and coordinate with other directors’ comprehensive articulation between all programs, 5-12 th grade.
• Provide leadership, direction, and support to ensure programs approved by the Curriculum and Instruction Review Advisory Committee of the Board are fully and appropriately implemented.
• Direct and support the improvement of the curriculum through the continuing evaluation and revision of courses of study, the development of new courses of study, and the adoption of instructional materials.

Mission Alignment

• Demonstrate knowledge of, and support, Making Waves Academy’s mission, core values, standards, competencies, and code of conduct outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Participate in the school community – attending school competitions, performances, assemblies, and supporting student events, student clubs, and club advisors.

Work Environment

• This job operates in an indoor and outdoor school environment and routinely uses standard office/school equipment. 
• Light/local travel may be required on occasion.

Physical Demands

• The employee may be required to sit, stand or walk for extended periods of time; lift and carry materials up to 30lbs.; reach overhead/bend; push/pull. Must possess the ability to use hands and fingers to operate computers, keyboards, etc.; must have the ability to view written materials, computer screens, and observe activities, ensuring students' safety; must hear and communicate clearly to interact with others. The employee should be able to move throughout the campus to effectively interact with students and staff.
• The employee will participate in campus supervision duty each week. 

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years’ teaching experience required; 2+ years’ experience as a lead/master teacher, instructional coach, or head of grade-level or subject-area department required. M.Ed., in Curriculum and Instruction or equivalent, preferred.
• California Teaching Credential or commensurate. 
• Strong foundation in ELA instruction, exceptional coaching and facilitation skills.
• Formal management, supervisory, or administrative experience is required

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated commitment to MWA’s mission and core values.
• Ability to analyze student data (assessment results, progress monitoring) to identify trends, inform instructional decisions, and guide coaching conversations.
• Experience facilitating observation and feedback cycles with teachers. Ability to lead professional development workshops, team meetings, and collaborative planning sessions effectively.
• Proven ability to coach and mentor teachers through various methods (e.g., one-on-one coaching, co-teaching, observation and feedback, modeling), and in Common Core standards align planning.
• Ability to manage time effectively, prioritize tasks, and maintain accurate records.
• Clear, concise, and impactful written and verbal communication skills to build rapport, provide constructive feedback, and facilitate discussions.
• Ability to take initiative, influence others, and drive instructional improvement across the school. Ability to laterally manage a diverse group of constituents.
• Professional orientation – appearance, communication, organization, and attitude.

Licenses or Certificates

• Employment eligibility will include fingerprints/Live Scan, tuberculosis (TB) screening, and other employment clearance.
• California Administrative Services Credential preferred but not required.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Reasonable Accommodation
Consistent with its obligations under the law, MWA will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

Equal Employment Opportunity Is Our Policy

Making Waves Academy is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the School to afford equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to their perceived or identified: race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and hairstyle, including but not limited to braids, locks, and twists); color; gender, (including gender identity, gender expression, and transgender identity, whether or not the employee is transitioning or has transitioned); sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and medical conditions related to such); religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices); marital/registered domestic partner status; age (forty (40) and over); national origin or ancestry (including native language spoken and possession of a driver’s license issued to persons unable to prove their presence in the U.S. is authorized by federal law); physical or mental disability (including HIV and AIDS); medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics); taking of a leave of absence pursuant to the Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), Pregnancy Disability Leave (“PDL”) law, Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), California Family Rights Act (“CFRA”), the Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”), or laws related to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking laws; genetic information; sexual orientation; military and veteran status; or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy extends to all job applicants and employees and to all aspects of the employment relationship, including the hiring of new employees and the training, transfer, promotion, discipline, termination, compensation and benefits of existing employees. For a full copy of our non-discrimination policy, visit:

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