Job Description
FirstLine Schools: Network Content Lead: ELA
Creating and inspiring great open admissions public schools in New Orleans
About FirstLine Schools
In 1998, FirstLine Schools started the first charter school in New Orleans. FirstLine now operates four PreK-8th grade schools. Our mission is to create and inspire great, open admissions public schools in New Orleans.
Our faculty is a diverse and talented group dedicated to our students’ success and to their own growth as teachers. Our schools are led by leaders who hold themselves accountable for student achievement and teacher development.
Position Summary:
The Network Content Lead for ELA is responsible for supporting schools and teachers in improving student achievement in literacy across grades 3-8. Specifically, the ELA Content Lead will lead the on-going refinement of curriculum and assessments, network-wide teacher professional development and collaborative planning for literacy, and school leader professional development to support effective literacy instructional practices in their schools. The ultimate aim of this role is to ensure that students achieve fluency, proficiency in meeting the demands of the reading and writing standards, and intellectual perseverance in order to succeed in rigorous college preparatory high school programs.
Position Responsibilities:
The responsibilities of the ELA Content Lead will be, although not limited to, the following:
Curriculum Development (across third through eighth grades)
- Support the on-going refinement of shared literacy curriculum units
- Direct the implementation of ELA-focused strategic priorities within the organizational plan
- Lead the on-going refinement of FirstLine pedagogical frameworks for the teaching of literacy
- Lead an annual cycle of reviewing and revising scope and sequence for English Language Arts classes
- Serve as a thought-partner for embedding literacy standards across the curriculum
- Support the design and implementation of proven interventions that target students whose skills are below expected levels in reading and/or writing
- Support school leaders with quality assurance practices in literacy lesson planning
Data Tracking, Assessment & Reporting
- Track and analyze data to better improve literacy performance outcomes
- Develop and provide guidance on formative assessment practices to drive improved instruction, curriculum, and layers of learning support
- Collaborate regularly with school leaders and the network academic team to analyze student progress and identify exemplars and areas in need of support
Professional Development
- Support school leaders in understanding and implementing best practices of literacy curriculum and data driven instructional practices
- Lead the network wide professional development for weekly collaborative professional development, new teacher training, and other network wide activities: these activities include lesson study, data driven instructional practices, analyzing student work, analyzing classroom instruction video, direct workshops, and applied practice
- Train teachers in best practices of literacy curriculum and instruction – serving as a “critical friend” and coach to the teaching staff throughout the school year by modeling practice and providing ongoing informal observations and feedback to improve.
- Manage peer-to-peer collaboration, observations, and feedback among literacy leaders and teachers across the FLS network, providing suggested schedules, structure and guidance required for school leaders/teachers to norm on evaluation practices and to provide each other with helpful feedback
- Support school leaders and teacher leaders in the delivery of professional development sessions for literacy
- Support school leaders in the development and implementation of individual professional development plans for teachers who need more support in teaching literacy
Education & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred; Reading Specialist degree strongly preferred
- Five years teaching required preferably in a non-selective urban school
- Demonstrated success in improving student achievement in literacy
- Experience with and understanding of reading curriculum and instruction
- Demonstrated passion for literature
- Demonstrated passion for writing and strong understanding of how to effectively teach writing
- Unwavering commitment to excellence and results
- Excellent communication and presentation skills (written and verbal)
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Desired Qualities & Characteristics:
- Believe in every student’s ability to achieve in a rigorous college or career prep curriculum
- Achieve results based on agreed-upon expectations
- Take personal responsibility
- Highly detail-oriented
- Collaborate effectively with a range of stakeholders
- Share a commitment to creating great schools in New Orleans
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Model the FirstLine Commitments:
- We Keep Learning
- We Work Together
- We Are Helpful
- We Are the Safekeepers of our Community
- We Share Joy
- We Show Results
Physical Requirements:
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to sit, walk, stand, talk, and hear.
- Light lifting of equipment may be required (up to 20 lbs.)
Network ELA Content Lead reports to Director of Teaching and Learning
How to Apply: Please apply online via: http://www.firstlineschools.org/careers
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. FirstLine Schools offers a comprehensive benefits package with a generous 403b plan.
FirstLine Schools provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
About FirstLine Schools
Mission & Vision
Our Mission
The mission of FirstLine Schools is to create and inspire great, open admissions public schools in New Orleans
Our Vision
Our schools will prepare students for college, fulfilling careers, and a healthy life by nurturing students in mind, body, and spirit.
Why FirstLine Schools?
We Believe In:
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Deeply Committing to Teacher Support and Growth
- FirstLine recruits and retains a diverse group of teachers who hold high expectations for their students and strive to create joyful classrooms where students are responsible for doing the majority of thinking, writing, and discussion in class.
- FirstLine teachers receive weekly coaching and lesson feedback from a school-based instructional coach and also participate in network-wide bi-weekly Professional Learning Time.
- FirstLine teachers are developed over their career using our “Vision of Excellence” classroom teaching rubric.
- FirstLine has instituted a teacher career pathway that focuses on our commitment to developing teacher skillfulness. Teachers have access to increased teacher leadership opportunities and compensation as they grow.
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Working to Becoming an Antiracist Organization
- FirstLine’s commitment to doing what is right for kids is rooted in doing the necessary work of deeply examining policies, procedures, and practices to ensure we are working toward dismantling the effects of systemic racism on our students.
- FirstLine partners with Overcoming Racism, an organization that seeks to build more equitable institutions through comprehensive race and equity training, which benefits all staff, and through us, our students, and their families.
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Focusing on Social / Emotional Learning and Community Building
- FirstLine is committed to training teachers in trauma-informed approaches that nurture supportive and caring relationships as the foundation of positive culture, enabling teachers to de-escalate behaviors and thus reduce suspensions.
- FirstLine’s signature program, Edible Schoolyard New Orleans (ESYNOLA), teaches children and adults to make healthy connections through food and the natural world. Hands-on garden and culinary / nutrition education classes have provided FirstLine students with social/emotional learning opportunities since we built the first school garden at Samuel J. Green School in 2006 immediately following Hurricane Katrina. Through this work, students learn respect for life, the power of personal choice, and the value of community.
- FirstLine is implementing the Valor Collegiate Academies’ social/emotional learning curriculum, involving staff and student individual personal storytelling and reflection work and community circles.
- We are committed to innovation, to constant assessment, and to making the thousands of small changes needed to keep improving our practice.
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Creating a Sense of Belonging
- FirstLine aims to create school environments that are nurturing and supportive for students, families, and staff of all races, socioeconomic status, and abilities to ensure inclusive, safe, and brave spaces where people can show up as their whole selves.
- At FirstLine, we live by these Commitments:
- I commit to my own and others’ development.
- I commit to listening and understanding.
- I commit to speaking with honesty and respect.
- I commit to doing what it takes to serve others.
- I commit to keeping myself and others safe in mind, body, and spirit.
- I commit to bringing my personal joy to our work.
- I commit to holding myself and others accountable.
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Striving for Academic Excellence
- FirstLine fosters a culture of academic excellence and intellectual curiosity through instruction that meets the learning needs of every student. A FirstLine education helps students develop the academic skills and character strengths needed to succeed in school and in life.
- We set expectations high for our students and develop teachers to have the will and skill to help them meet these expectations.
- FirstLine aspires to offer classes that are rigorous, engaging, and joyful, where students drive most of the thinking and discussion, and we coach and develop our teachers and leaders to get there.
- FirstLine utilizes culturally relevant curriculum that provides “windows and mirrors.” Our children are more engaged when they see themselves represented through a historically accurate socio-political lens that broadens students’ choices and develops them into justice-oriented, curious, creative global citizens.
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Cherishing Family and Community
- As New Orleans’ oldest homegrown charter school organization founded in 1998, FirstLine was created and always values its deep and long-standing partnerships with families and community-based organizations, churches, and local universities.
- FirstLine partners with Valor Collegiate Academies and Tulane University’s Safe Schools program, a National Institute of Justice initiative, to teach teachers how to incorporate social/emotional learning and trauma-informed practices in their instruction – encouraging relationship building and providing emotional support for students during class, which promotes learning.
- FirstLine engages artists, musicians, writers, and athletic educators to create a rich array of afterschool and summer programs and classes, all of which are free and open to all students.
- FirstLine maintains communication with our families and understands the challenges our families face economically, especially during a pandemic, and works to link families to community resources and social services, working in partnership with Communities in Schools and our team of mental health professionals.