Instructional Strategist

Position Overview

RSU 21 serves approximately 2,400 students across three communities with a dedicated staff of 600 and an annual budget of $65 million. The Instructional Strategist serves as a dynamic instructional leader and coach focused on improving educator effectiveness and student outcomes. This position leads professional learning opportunities, facilitates teacher teams, designs and implements capacity-building initiatives, and conducts targeted coaching cycles with educators. As a key member of the school leadership team, the Instructional Strategist promotes a culture of instructional excellence and supports measurable growth in teacher practice and student achievement.

Key Functions

• Collaborate with school leaders to implement instructional vision and strategic goals.
• Serve as a content, curriculum, planning, and assessment expert.
• Design and facilitate professional development and instructional coaching.
• Support teachers through modeling, feedback, and resource development.
• Promote collaboration among educators and instructional strategists.
• Advance district Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
• Utilize data to identify priorities and target support efforts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher required.
• Minimum four years of successful teaching experience in a related content area or equivalent experience.
• Valid Maine teaching certificate in the appropriate endorsement area.
• Demonstrated academic results and leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of curriculum, instructional practices, and state and district assessments.
• Experience with teacher teams and Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) preferred.
• Experience with coaching cycles, assessment development, and data analysis preferred.
• Intervention experience is a plus.

Essential Responsibilities

• Vision and Goal Setting:
• Support development and implementation of the school's instructional vision.
• Lead strategic initiatives aligned to school improvement goals.
• Partner with administrators and teachers to establish ambitious academic goals.
• Monitor progress and promote accountability through ongoing data analysis.
• Planning and Content Expertise:
• Maintain deep knowledge of standards, curriculum, and assessments.
• Facilitate content team meetings and professional learning sessions.
• Support teachers in using assessment data to inform instruction.
• Review lesson plans, assessments, and instructional materials and provide feedback.
• Encourage innovative instructional practices and program development.
• Teacher Development and Coaching:
• Coach teachers in data-driven instructional planning and implementation.
• Conduct regular classroom observations and provide actionable feedback.
• Implement individualized coaching cycles focused on growth and effectiveness.
• Design and facilitate professional learning opportunities based on identified needs.
• Collaborate with school and district leaders on professional development initiatives.
• Teacher Support and Student Enrichment:
• Provide instructional resources and support to educators.
• Collaborate with teachers to strengthen lesson design and instructional rigor.
• Model effective instructional strategies through direct classroom support.
• Support targeted students through goal-setting and intervention efforts.
• Aid teachers with classroom management and intervention strategies.
• Collaboration and School Culture:
• Promote a collaborative learning culture across the school community.
• Work closely with instructional strategists and district leaders.
• Model continuous improvement and reflective practice.
• Assist in recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding new staff.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
• Apply a strong DEI lens to instructional coaching and decision-making.
• Support culturally responsive teaching practices and inclusive classrooms.
• Identify and address equity challenges and achievement gaps.
• Demonstrate commitment to RSU 21's Equity Initiative.
• Engage in ongoing personal and professional DEI growth.
• Data-Driven Leadership:
• Use comprehensive data to guide instructional decision-making.
• Support educators in interpreting and utilizing student achievement data.
• Develop systems for data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Monitor outcomes for student subgroups and support efforts to close achievement gaps.

Core Competencies

• Change Agent: Demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement and educational excellence.
• Student-Centered: Prioritizes student success in all decisions and actions.
• Coaching Mindset: Supports educator growth through feedback, modeling, and encouragement.
• Trusted Advisor: Builds credibility and maintains strong professional relationships.
• Relationship-Oriented: Collaborates effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Influence and Impact: Inspires others and drives positive change.
• Accountability: Maintains high expectations and ownership of outcomes.