Director of Elementary Academics & Early Literacy (24-25SY)

THE ORGANIZATION

Lighthouse Community Public Schools

At Lighthouse Community Public Schools we are engaged in an educational movement that goes beyond our classrooms working to disrupt inequities by providing our students and families exceptional educational opportunities every day. Grounded in our core values of community, integrity, agency, love, and social justice rooted in the EL Education Model, LCPS is a leader in fostering innovative schools achieving exceptional student outcomes where each child is at the center of their own learning. Our mission is to prepare diverse students for college, a career of their choice, and to be lifelong changemakers. Founded in 2002, LCPS operates two high-achieving K-12 public charter schools--Lighthouse and Lodestar--serving over 1,600 students in East Oakland. Lighthouse is a beacon for public education and our graduates fulfill the promise of a better, brighter Oakland.

Learn more at www.lighthousecharter.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Director of Elementary Academics & Literacy (24-25SY)

Lighthouse Community Public Schools is seeking a strategic and equity-focused instructional leader rooted in the LCPS core values of community, love, social justice, integrity, and agency, to join a tenacious, innovative, mission-aligned team. The Director of Early Literacy is a key member of the LCPS Academic Team, which sets the academic direction for schools and instructional leaders. They maintain the vision, leadership, and knowledge development of the academic programs across LCPS. Their work on the ground balances guiding, coaching, and influencing school-based instructional leaders for the implementation of academic systems with holding accountability for results for their respective schools and managing key academic programs and people.

The Director of Early Literacy will lead and oversee literacy initiatives across our family of schools, ensuring high-quality instruction and significant student growth in literacy. This role includes personalized leader and teacher coaching, professional development, assessment and data analysis, and curriculum support to achieve and surpass literacy goals.

Core Competencies

• Deep knowledge of the CA CCSS Reading Standards for Foundational Skills, the science of reading research, and the structured literacy approach

• Knowledge of and commitment to culturally responsive and equity-centered practices

• Ability to lead teams in the development and delivery of high-quality learner-driven, relationship-based, and purposeful curriculum, instruction, and assessment

• Facilitation of data-driven and equity-focused teams, processes, and protocols

• Flexibility and comfort with change, growth, adversity, and possibility

• Skilled collaborator, communicator, and relationship-builder

Role and Responsibilities

The Director of Early Literacy will:

Assessment & Testing

• Monitor and track student growth and development across schools in the TK-2 band.

• Guide and support all TK-2 teachers and leaders in the implementation of regular cycles of student data analysis and tracking student growth toward mastery of standards

• Participate in weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and quarterly progress monitoring with TK-2 teachers, leaders, and Leadership Teams.

• In collaboration with the Manager of Student Data Systems and Analytics, support TK--2 teachers and leaders with analyzing assessments, including Aimsweb Plus, NWEA MAP, CAASPP, ELPAC, and internal Interim Assessments and surveys.

• In collaboration with leaders, support implementing and analyzing curriculum-embedded assessments, including EL Education Modules and Bookworms.

Targeted Instructional Coaching

• Observe and co-observe classroom instruction with school leaders to provide feedback and identify weekly leader, teacher, and school coaching goals.

• Enhance the impact of instructional coaching using the adopted coaching model, including direct coaching of TK--2 teachers and leaders.

• Assist leaders and teachers in understanding, designing, refining, and internalizing literacy instructional resources.

• Deliver personalized coaching to leaders, teachers, and Teachers in Training to refine teaching strategies and enhance literacy curriculum delivery weekly.

Professional Learning Aligned to Strategic Priorities

• Conduct school-wide and organization-wide learning walks to provide actionable feedback that will contribute to designing and implementing the professional learning scope and sequence each 6-week cycle.

• Contribute to the design, implementation, and delivery of the professional learning scope and sequence for every Wednesday professional development for TK-12 teachers.

• Provide professional learning to update and expand the competencies of leaders, teachers, and site teams, focusing on current literacy research and practices.

Progress Monitoring & Improvement Goals

• Set annual improvement targets for student performance to increase the percentage of students exceeding the national norm (25th percentile) by 10-15% per year until 85% of students are proficient readers by the end of 2nd grade.

• Conduct regular progress monitoring sessions with TK-2 teachers, School Leaders, and Leadership Teams each six-week cycle to ensure timely interventions and continuous improvement.

• Utilize tools like the Stepback Protocol to collect implementation data, monitor student progress, and adapt instructional strategies accordingly.

Program & People Management

• Oversee and manage the TK-2 literacy programs, including selecting, developing, and curating curricular resources to ensure all students have access to high-quality curriculum, including our English language development programming and our after school programming.

• Co-lead the TK Expansion Taskforce/Planning Committee to develop and implement an effective and high quality TK model across both sites over the next three years in collaboration with a cross-functional team supporting the fiscal and operational needs of the expansion alongside the academic vision & model.

• In partnership with the family engagement coordinators, develop families' capacity to implement key literacy practices to accelerate literacy growth through our partnership with Families in Action.

• In partnership with TK-2 teachers, reading specialists and site-based leaders, ensure equitable, aligned implementation of structured literacy across all classrooms.

• In partnership with Fulcrum, LCPS shares its promising literacy practices by developing a lab school led by expert teachers in model classrooms.

• Facilitate a bi-monthly Oakland Directors of Literacy and Literacy Specialists/Coaches cohort to support collaboration across school networks (currently Aspire, OUSD, Lighthouse, EFC, Hayward)

Additional Duties

• Act as a liaison between schools and the CAO and other Functional Leaders at Shared Services *

• Support school hiring processes to meet hiring goals and ensure high-quality staffing

• Perform other duties as assigned by the CAO
  

Qualifications:

Skills and Attributes

• Excellent project management and execution skills;

• Ability to take initiative, prioritize tasks, and work independently;

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written;

• Detailed-oriented, with strong follow-through skills;

• Excellent computer skills, including Google Suite and Microsoft Office Suite;

• Demonstrated flexibility and ability to juggle competing priorities;

• Strong interpersonal skills and relationship-building with students, parents, colleagues and community members;

• Ability to maintain a calm, professional demeanor in the face of competing demands & external pressures;

• Ability to unpack the various aspects of one’s identity and implicit biases to manage and work across lines of difference

Requirements

1. At least 3+ years of successful leadership experience coaching and growing teachers & leaders, preferably with low-income students and families

2. At least 3+ years of successful, relevant TK-2 and/or literacy teaching experience

3. Track record in leading high-performing teams and adult learning at a school with similar demographics in urban communities

4. Deep knowledge of CA CCSS Foundational Skills and literacy development instructional best practices, curriculum development, and assessment

5. BA and appropriate CA clear teaching credentials, required

6. Commitment to creating a work environment that values and embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion

7. Commitment to the core belief that each child we serve deserves the opportunity to be college-ready to shape their future

Highly Preferred

• MA and CA administrative credential

• School-based instructional leadership experience (Principal or AP) or district-level Director experience

• Experience with EL Education

• Spanish fluency

• California charter school experience

Supervision

This position reports to the Chief Academic Officer.

Time Commitment & Compensation

This is a 12-month, full-time salaried exempt position. LCPS offers a competitive compensation package with nearly 5 weeks of vacation and holidays aligned to the school year calendar and 10 additional days of PTO annually, generous health and retirement benefits, and a salary commensurate with experience. Salary and benefits commensurate with experience. Salary range: $100-125K

Start Date

July 1, 2024.

To Apply

People of color and bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Submit the following:

• Cover letter

• Resume or CV

• Minimum of 3-5 references, including at least three recent supervisors

Lighthouse Community Public Schools is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity at all levels.

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