Literacy Director

About the role

KIPP Memphis is part of the national KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools committed to preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and life. The Literacy Director is a systems-level instructional leader responsible for driving literacy and English language arts achievement across KIPP Memphis campuses. This role sets the vision for rigorous, standards-aligned reading and writing instruction; builds the instructional capacity of teachers and school-based leaders; and ensures that curriculum, data, and intervention systems work together to accelerate student literacy outcomes — including readiness for ACT, PSAT, and state assessments.

Responsibilities

• Provide real-time coaching and instructional modeling for teachers, including live observation and feedback, co-teaching, and demonstration lessons.
• Build teachers' capacity to deliver rigorous, engaging literacy instruction across reading, writing, and language standards.
• Support lesson internalization and curriculum planning, helping teachers deeply understand text complexity, standards alignment, and instructional purpose before they teach.
• Partner with teachers to anticipate student misconceptions and plan responsive, standards-aligned instruction.
• Analyze student work and writing outcomes to identify trends in student understanding and inform coaching priorities.
• Build protocols and systems that help teachers use student work to adjust instruction in real time.
• Develop literacy intervention strategies for students reading below grade level or struggling with foundational literacy skills.
• Partner with campus teams (including special education and RTI staff) to ensure tiered literacy supports are well-matched to student needs and progress is regularly monitored.
• Align instruction to ACT, PreACT, and state assessment expectations, ensuring students are building the reading, writing, and language skills needed for college and career readiness.
• Monitor assessment data across grade levels to identify gaps and adjust instructional priorities accordingly.
• Collaborate with school leaders to strengthen English instructional practices network-wide, aligning campus-level priorities with network literacy goals.
• Serve as a thought partner to principals and instructional leaders on literacy vision, curriculum, and staffing decisions.
• Design and facilitate professional learning on literacy instruction, including network-wide PD, campus-based training, and summer institute sessions.
• Collaborate with school leaders and the academics team to set and track annual literacy achievement goals.
• Represent KIPP Memphis literacy instruction in network-wide and community-facing settings as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the academic mission of KIPP Memphis.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of 5 years of teaching experience, with a strong track record of student achievement in literacy/English language arts.
• Experience teaching high school English/literacy required, given this role's responsibility for aligning instruction to ACT, Pre-ACT, and state assessment expectations.
• Prior experience coaching or leading adults (teachers, coaches, or instructional leaders).
• Deep knowledge of K–12 literacy content, standards-aligned instructional practices, and the reading/writing skills assessed on the ACT, PreACT, and state assessments.
• Experience using student work and assessment data to drive instructional decisions.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.

Qualifications (Preferred)

• Master's degree in education, literacy, curriculum & instruction, or a related field.
• Experience in a charter school, high-performing urban school, or similar mission-driven environment.
• Familiarity with Tennessee academic standards and state assessments.
• Experience designing and facilitating adult professional learning.

Skills

• Instructional expertise in literacy and English language arts.
• Real-time coaching and instructional modeling.
• Data analysis and instructional planning.
• Systems thinking across multiple school sites.
• Commitment to equity and closing opportunity gaps.
• Collaborative, relationship-driven leadership style.

Benefits

KIPP Memphis offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health/dental/vision insurance, retirement plan options, and paid time off.