Position Title: Director of Instruction/Academic LeadReports To: Executive DirectorSupervises: Coaches and Instructional staff (Lead Teachers, Assistant Teachers, Coordinators/Level Leads)FLSA Status: ExemptPosition Purpose: The Director of Instruction is responsible for the quality, coherence, and continuous improvement of teaching and learning across the school. The Director leads the school's instructional leadership team (in coordination with the Executive Director), ensuring authentic Montessori implementation, rigorous standards-aligned instruction, effective teacher development, and strong academic outcomes for all students. Working through the Lower School and Middle School Instructional Coaches, the Director establishes instructional systems, builds leadership capacity, and ensures consistent expectations for teaching and learning across grade levels. Core Responsibilities: * Instructional Vision and Coherence: The Director of Instruction will: * Collaboratively with the Executive Director, define and communicate a clear vision of excellent instruction aligned to both Montessori principles * and grade-level standards* Ensure consistency in instructional expectations across classrooms and grade levels* Align curriculum, materials, and instructional practices across the school* Ensure that Montessori structures (e.g., work cycle, materials, individualized instruction) are implemented with fidelityTeacher Coaching and Evaluation: The Director of Instruction will: * Collaboratively with the Executive Director, design and continuously improve the school's teacher coaching and evaluation system.* Develop, supervise, and coach the Lower School and Middle School Instructional Coaches.* Ensure high-quality classroom observations, coaching, and evaluations are conducted consistently across the school.* Personally coach and evaluate assigned instructional staff and school leaders.* Calibrate observation and evaluation practices to ensure consistency across evaluators.* Support personnel decisions through evaluation, coaching, and performance management.Student Outcomes and Academic Rigor: The Director of Instruction will: * Ensure that all students make measurable progress toward grade-level standards over time* Oversee systems for tracking student progress and academic data* Analyze student performance data and identify trends and areas for improvement* Ensure instruction reflects appropriate rigor (conceptual understanding, procedural skill, and application)* Support teachers in aligning Montessori instruction to standardsProfessional Development: The Director of Instruction will: * Design and oversee a comprehensive professional learning program aligned to school priorities* Delegate and facilitate professional learning through instructional coaches and teacher leaders* Build teacher capacity in: - Montessori instructional practices - Standards-aligned instruction - Designing high-quality formative assessments - Analyzing student work and assessment data - Using evidence to plan instruction and intervention* Ensure PD translates into improved classroom practiceInstructional Leadership and Team Management: The Director of Instruction will: * Supervise, coach, and develop the Lower School and Middle School Instructional Coaches.* Build leadership capacity within the instructional leadership team.* Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and accountability across instructional leaders.* Ensure consistency in instructional expectations, teacher development, and student experience across grade levels.* Facilitate regular instructional leadership team meetings focused on instructional improvement and school priorities.* Collaborate with the student services department to ensure instructional alignment and supports for all students.* Partner with the Executive Director to develop instructional leaders and succession capacity.Data-Driven Instructional Leadership: The Director of Instruction will: * Design and implement a coherent schoolwide assessment and data cycle that provides timely, actionable information about student learning.* Establish systems and routines for teachers and instructional leaders to regularly analyze student work, assessment results, and progress toward standards.* Build teachers' and instructional leaders' capacity to interpret data and use it to make instructional decisions, plan interventions, and differentiate instruction.* Facilitate regular data meetings that move beyond reviewing results to identifying root causes, instructional adjustments, and measurable next steps.* Ensure formative, benchmark, and classroom assessment practices are aligned and produce reliable information to guide instruction.* Develop a culture in which data is viewed as a tool for continuous improvement rather than compliance.* Partner with instructional coaches to monitor the impact of instructional changes and adjust supports based on evidence of student learning.Use schoolwide achievement trends to identify priorities for coaching, professional learning, curriculum refinement, and resource allocation.Systems and Accountability: The Director of Instruction will: * Establish clear systems for: - Lesson planning and instructional alignment - Student assessment and progress monitoring - Teacher evaluation and feedback* Ensure accountability for instructional quality across the school* Develop and maintain annual assessment calendars, data protocols, and instructional response cycles.* Ensure every assessment administered leads to meaningful instructional action at the classroom, team, and school levels.* Support academic hiring* Identify and address inconsistencies in implementationEssential Functions: The essential functions of the Director of Instruction position include, but are not limited to: * Leading and overseeing the implementation of high-quality instructional practices aligned to Montessori philosophy, academic standards, and school priorities* Supervising, developing, and evaluating instructional leaders while ensuring high-quality coaching, evaluation, and professional growth for instructional staff across the school* Conducting regular classroom observations and providing actionable feedback to improve teacher practice and student outcomes* Designing and implementing instructional systems related to curriculum, assessment, progress monitoring, and teacher development* Analyzing student performance data and using findings to guide instructional improvement efforts* Planning and facilitating professional development aligned to instructional priorities and organizational goals* Collaborating effectively with school leaders, teachers, student support staff, and families to ensure consistent instructional expectations and student support* Managing multiple instructional priorities, timelines, initiatives, and personnel responsibilities simultaneously* Communicating clearly and professionally in written and verbal formats, including presentations, coaching conversations, evaluations, and instructional documentation* Participating in meetings, professional development, school events, and other leadership responsibilities as assigned* Performing duties that require frequent movement throughout the school building and active engagement with staff and students across instructional settings* Regular and reliable attendancePerformance Expectations: Performance will be evaluated based on: * Instructional Quality and Consistency* Evidence of strong Montessori practice across classroomsClear, consistent instructional expectations* Data-Driven Instruction and Student Outcomes* Teachers consistently use student assessment data to adjust instruction.* Regular data cycles and instructional planning meetings occur across all grade levels.* Evidence that instructional decisions and interventions are informed by student performance data.* Schoolwide assessment systems provide timely, reliable information to improve teaching and learning.Teacher Effectiveness* Growth in teacher practice* Quality and consistency of coaching and feedbackSystems Implementation* Clear, functional instructional systems* Consistency in execution across classroomsLeadership Capacity* Instructional coaches demonstrate strong instructional leadership.* Teacher coaching and evaluation are consistent across grade levels.* Leadership responsibilities are effectively delegated while maintaining coherence across the school.
