Senior Science of Reading Coach

## Description

Organizational Overview

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.”

Job Summary

Reporting to the Head of Academics, the Senior Science of Reading Coach drives regional instructional excellence across grades K through 4 by operationalizing the regional vision for early literacy. This leader directly supervises, mentors, and develops a team of region-based Science of Reading Coaches. The role is responsible for supporting the transformation of literacy practices to strengthen academic infrastructure at both the systems level and the individual school level. By leading their team of coaches and collaborating with Assistant Principals, Literacy Coaches, and instructional leaders, the Senior Coach ensures rigorous core instruction aligned with the Georgia Early Literacy Act, state expectations, and the Science of Reading framework.

Job Responsibilities

### Strategic Planning & Execution 40%

• Support the execution of a cohesive, research-driven literacy strategy aligned to regional priorities and scientifically based reading research.
• Direct the team deployment, schedules, and priorities for the Science of Reading Coaches to maximize regional impact across primary campuses.
• Ensure vertical and horizontal coherence across the primary grades, paying explicit attention to early literacy progressions and student transitions.
• Conduct regular classroom walkthroughs, learning walks, and school visits alongside coaches to evaluate curriculum fidelity, foundational literacy routines, and student access to high-quality instruction.
• Analyze multi-source student performance data to identify trends and regional root causes of underperformance.
• Partner directly with Principals, Assistant Principals, and the coach team to set measurable action steps in school improvement contexts, specifically targeting below grade level achievement or inconsistent Tier 1 instruction.
• Ensure day-to-day instructional systems position schools to improve CCRPI outcomes by establishing clear alignment between Tier 1 instruction and MTSS intervention systems. .

### Instructional Leadership, Coaching & Enablement 35%

• Provide direct supervision, job-embedded coaching, and professional development to the team of Science of Reading Coaches.
• Support coaches in providing high-impact coaching cycles to Assistant Principals, instructional leaders, and classroom teachers.
• Lead development for coaches on lesson internalization, modeling, rehearsal, structured observations, and student work analysis.
• Act as an expert model teacher of early literacy, demonstrating explicit and systematic instructional moves in phonics, foundational skills, and vocabulary development for both coaches and teachers.
• Coach the literacy team on key components of structured literacy, including explicit foundational skills for grades K through 3, close reading, text-dependent questions, and academic discourse routines.
• Build the capacity of school-based leaders and coaches to conduct calibrated literacy walkthroughs with clear, consistent look-fors and actionable feedback loops.
• Anchor all coaching leadership in equity-driven practices that guarantee access to grade-level texts for all learners, including multilingual scholars and students with disabilities.
• In schools requiring intensive support, guide the coach team to lead rapid learning cycles consisting of professional development, implementation, coaching follow-up, data checks, and subsequent adjustments.

### Professional Development & Capacity Building 15%

• Design, facilitate, and oversee high-impact professional learning workshops, book studies, and training modules focused on the Science of Reading.
• Collaborate with regional and school-level leadership to formulate clear, research-based professional development goals for literacy across all assigned sites.