Curriculum and Assessment Lead High School at SPARK Schools

Job description

Responsibilities:

• Monitor, refine, and implement the curriculum and assessment model at SPARK Schools.
• Design and/or supplement a rigorous network-wide curriculum that aligns to and extends
• the South African national curriculum, including comprehensive assessments for all grades and all subjects
• Plans and supports pre-service and in-service professional development for school leaders and teachers on curriculum, culture, and community-building.
• Facilitate a network-wide assessment and data analysis cycle that allows school leaders
• to analyse student performance and identify areas for school-wide targeted instruction.
• Seek opportunities to integrate online data with classroom assessment data to create a richer understanding of student progress.
• Demonstrate a relentless commitment to student achievement.
• Evaluate, approve, and coordinate the purchase of curricular materials, such as textbooks and manipulatives.
• Research new and innovative curriculum practices.
• Align the academic curriculum with government standards, SPARK’s best practice, and international expectations and benchmarks.
• Document and communicate scope and sequence for each grade level and subject, in conjunction with internal assessments.
• Monitor grade-level progress against scope and sequence maps and assessments, using data analysis.
• Clearly communicate network-wide and school data to school leaders, in order to ensure accurate interpretation of student progress.
• Develop content and assessments that meet state and international standards.
• Participate in the design and implementation of systems to assess student achievement.
• Generate and manage internal assessment schedules, logistics, and reporting.
• Train and orient SPARK staff members in curriculum and instructional best practice.
• Coordinate the SPARK pre-service training and curriculum professional development with the Director of Academics.
• Help teachers to develop instructional strategies and intervention programs that elevate achievement among struggling students.
• Integrate curricular support with strategies for student social-emotional development.
• Participate in staff recruitment.
• Meet professional obligations through efficient work habits, such as meeting deadlines, honouring schedules, coordinating resources and meetings in an effective and timely manner, and demonstrating respect for others.

Participate in and drive own professional development.

• Conduct self in a professional manner at all SPARK Schools Support and SPARK Schools events and to all stakeholders.
• Nurture a high-achieving work environment where staff feel genuinely valued and supported.
• Promote the vision and mission of SPARK Schools Support to SPARK Schools Support staff and SPARK Schools staff, scholars, families, and the greater community.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

• Bachelors degree required.
• At least three years of experience formally coaching teachers.
• Experience in facilitating professional development and adult training.
• Experience in curriculum development and assessment.
• Experience and expertise in leading school-level data inquiry and facilitating professional cycles of inquiry to improve instructional practice.
• Awareness of innovative practices in R-12 education, particularly around the role of technology in education reform.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and interpersonal abilities to manage cross-teams.
• Ability to self-direct and prioritize among competing goals.
• Exhibit flexibility and drive results in a fast-paced environment.
• Adapt at thinking strategically, translating plans into action, and exhibiting excellent judgment.
• Knowledge of and ability to lead a design process preferred.

Qualities:

• Grit: Persistence through challenges.
• Excellence: A track record of high expectations personally and professionally.
• Mission and Vision alignment: Understanding of and passion for the SPARK School's mission to provide excellent education at an affordable cost.
• Self-reflection: Finding the capacity to bring your best self to challenges and opportunities.

Values

• Service
• Persistence
• Achievement
• Responsibility
• Kindness