Academic Specialist - ELA

KIPP Atlanta Schools is part of the KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) national network of free, open enrollment, college-preparatory schools dedicated to ensuring that every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities. There are 280 KIPP schools in 21 states and the District of Columbia serving more than 175,000 scholars and alumni. KIPP Atlanta currently operates 11 schools including five primary schools, six middle schools and one high school, as well as KIPP Forward which supports scholars on their journey to a choice-filled life. We are a social justice organization and our vision and mission require the work of dedicated, bold and skilled leaders, educators, and support staff who are committed to serving as the catalyst for joyful, academically excellent schools and the foundation for building a more just and equitable world for our scholars.

What We Value:

• Good Decision-Making: “I make thoughtful decisions in alignment with my school’s and organization’s values.”
• Peer Accountability: “I hold all Big KIPPsters accountable to our schools’ and organization’s values, standards, and expectations.”
• Excellence Always: “I do all aspects of my work with excellence - the big and the little things, the parts being monitored as well as those not monitored.”
• Communication is Key: “I communicate with both honesty and love. How I communicate nurtures courage, belonging, partnership, and progress toward our promise to KIPPsters and families.”
• Scholars Over Everything: “I put our scholars first, 100% of the time, without fail. I quickly resolve any and all adult-centered concerns and qualms to reserve my individual and our collective time and attention for our KIPPsters.”
• Walk Trumps Talk: “I chose this social justice career. And so, I behave in alignment with my choice. My behaviors match our promise to our scholars and families.”
• “Us” Only: “I belong to every member of our organization, and every member of our organization belongs to me. I choose unity always - in both the good times and hard times.”

Reporting to the Director of Academics, the Academic Specialist drives instructional excellence by coaching and developing Assistant Principals, instructional leaders, coaches, and teacher leaders to ensure rigorous, standards-aligned instruction.

The Academic Specialist plays a critical role in driving the academic strategy for continuous school improvement by ensuring instruction aligns with the Georgia Standards of Excellence, state/district expectations, One KIPP framework, and CCRPI accountability domains (Content Mastery, Progress, Closing the Gaps).

The Specialist supports strong implementation of high-quality instruction aligned to KIPP Atlanta’s academic priorities. Depending on the focus area of their assignment—ELA/Literacy, Mathematics, or Humanities/Content—the Specialist provides targeted support to strengthen instructional practices within that discipline. For literacy-focused roles, this includes supporting the implementation of structured literacy in early grades aligned to the Georgia Early Literacy Act, while also ensuring rigorous reading, writing, discourse, and knowledge-building instruction across upper elementary, middle, and high school. For mathematics or humanities assignments, the Specialist supports rigorous, standards-aligned instruction that promotes strong content knowledge, analytical thinking, and meaningful student discourse across grade levels.

Job Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning & Execution 40%

• Support execution of a cohesive, research-driven K–12 academic strategy aligned to KIPP Atlanta priorities and the Georgia Standards of Excellence across Math, ELA, Science, Social Studies, and Humanities/Non-Fiction.
Ensure vertical and horizontal coherence across grade bands, with specific attention to key transition grades (5th 6th; 8th
• 9th) and K–12 progressions (reading/writing/vocabulary/discourse; math conceptual progressions; disciplinary literacy).
• Conduct classroom walkthroughs, learning walks, and school visits to evaluate rigor, curriculum fidelity, scholar access to grade-level work, and effectiveness of instructional routines (e.g., structured literacy, math discourse/problem solving, inquiry/document analysis).
• Analyze multi-source student performance data (iReady, MAP/NWEA, curriculum-embedded assessments, Georgia Milestones, performance tasks) to identify trends, root causes, and improvement priorities.
• Partner with Principals and APs to identify root causes of underperformance and set measurable action steps—especially in turnaround conditions (below grade level achievement, inconsistent Tier 1 instruction, weak writing from sources, limited text complexity, low task rigor).
• Ensure alignment between Tier I instruction and MTSS/intervention systems, including coherence between core instruction and supports for multilingual learners and scholars with disabilities.
• Support compliance with district, state, and federal academic accountability expectations; ensure day-to-day instructional systems position schools to improve CCRPI outcomes.

Instructional Leadership, Coaching & Enablement 35%

• Provide job-embedded coaching to Assistant Principals, instructional coaches, teacher leaders, and teachers through lesson internalization, modeling, rehearsal, observation/feedback, student work analysis, and data review cycles.
• Strengthen high-fidelity implementation of core curricula and aligned instructional routines across content areas (e.g., math HQIM; core ELA; content-area scopes and sequences), ensuring consistent planning quality and task rigor.
• Coach leaders/teachers on key content-specific instructional moves, including:
  • Math: conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, application, discourse routines, modeling/representation, error analysis, standards-aligned task design
  • ELA/Structured Literacy: explicit phonics/foundational skills (K–3), close reading, text-dependent questions, writing from sources, vocabulary development, academic discourse
  • Science/Social Studies/Humanities (Non-Fiction): text-based instruction, knowledge-building, inquiry/labs, document analysis, disciplinary writing/DBQ, explicit vocabulary/knowledge development
• Build leaders’ capacity to conduct effective observations and feedback cycles across content areas with calibrated look-fors and consistent coaching expectations.
• Anchor coaching in equity-driven practices that ensure access to grade-level tasks and texts for all learners, including appropriate scaffolds without lowering rigor.
• In turnaround settings, lead rapid learning cycles (PD implementation coaching follow-up data check adjustment).

Professional Development & Capacity Building 15%

• Design and facilitate high-impact professional learning for teachers and leaders across Math, ELA, and Non-Fiction/Humanities content areas aligned to best practices and KIPP Atlanta priorities.
• Develop tools and frameworks that enable instructional leaders and coaches to observe, coach, and develop strong instruction (look-fors, walkthrough protocols, co-planning templates, feedback stems, calibration routines).
• Facilitate communities of practice to deepen content knowledge and pedagogy (structured literacy, math pedagogy, disciplinary literacy/knowledge building).
• Support school teams in developing and monitoring content-aligned action plans tied to improvement priorities and CCRPI levers.

Curriculum, Assessment & Academic Programming 10%

• Ensure alignment of formative, diagnostic, and summative assessments to Georgia standards and CCRPI expectations; support strong administration, analysis, and action planning routines.
• Support development and maintenance of K–12 progressions and benchmarks (writing progression, reading benchmarks, math learning progressions, disciplinary literacy expectations).
• Ensure curriculum resources/text selections reflect rigor, cultural relevance, and equitable access; identify gaps in enactment and provide actionable solutions.
• Partner with MTSS and Special Education teams to ensure accessibility, aligned scaffolds, and targeted interventions that protect grade-level access.

Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education or related field
• Valid Georgia Teaching or Service Certificate (Level 4 or higher)
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience, including at least 3 years of successful classroom teaching with demonstrated impact (Math and/or Literacy and/or Content/Humanities).
• Experience in instructional coaching and/or school-based leadership.
• Demonstrated skill with data-driven instruction, progress monitoring, and translating data into adult action.
• Working knowledge of Georgia Standards of Excellence, and ability to support standards-aligned planning and rigorous task design.
• Working knowledge of CCRPI accountability domains and implications for academic strategy (Content Mastery, Progress, Closing the Gaps).
• Strong facilitation, coaching, and adult learning skills; ability to build trust and influence across stakeholders.
• Ability to manage complexity, ambiguity, and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Content Expertise Requirement
  Demonstrated expertise in at least one primary content area (Math, ELA/Structured Literacy, or Science/Social Studies/Humanities) and the ability to support cross-content instructional coherence, especially around literacy demands (reading, writing, speaking grounded in text).

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Advanced literacy credentials (Reading Endorsement, Dyslexia Endorsement, or equivalent structured literacy training aligned to IDA guidance).
• Experience in charter and/or turnaround environments; experience leading cross-campus initiatives.
• Expertise in MTSS frameworks and intervention models.
• Valid Georgia educator leadership certification.

Compensation & Benefits:

Compensation is competitive and aligned with KIPP Atlanta Schools’ leadership salary bands. The salary range for this role is $75,000- $125,000 and is based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity. Most new hires are placed in the lower to mid-range of the salary range. Placement near the top of the range is uncommon at hire and reserved for individuals who exceed role qualifications through depth of expertise, leadership maturity, and proven results leading complex initiatives with sustained, organization-level impact. A comprehensive benefits package is offered, including health insurance, retirement options, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.

KIPP Atlanta Schools offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• 20 days of Paid Time Off, in addition to identified holidays
• Comprehensive health insurance (medical and dental), life insurance and optional short and long term disability
• Counseling and Telehealth Options
• Paid Parental Leave
• Participation in Georgia retirement plan and an optional 403(b) retirement plan.

Location & Work Conditions:

This position requires:

• This role requires schedule flexibility; work hours vary based on campus needs and may include evenings and occasional weekends.
• This position has hybrid flexibility but does require regular presence on campus and in schools and in required meetings around the region; Must be based in Atlanta
• This position requires routine physical activity associated with normal office environments.
• This position may require the ability to lift and carry objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to engage in school-based activities requiring standing, walking, and mobility

Application Process:

Interested candidates should submit an application online.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

KIPP Atlanta Schools is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.