Lead Instructional SpecialistDepartment: Instructional Staff
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences
Reporting To: Chief Academic Officer
Compensation: $100,000 / year
DescriptionPosition Title: Lead Instructional Specialist
Funding Source: General Fund
Reports to: Chief Academic Officer
Qualifications: - Master's degree in Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Leadership, or a related field preferred; Bachelor's degree required.
- Minimum 5 years of classroom teaching experience with a demonstrated record of strong student outcomes.
- Minimum 5 years of instructional coaching, curriculum leadership, or related experience at the school or district level.
- Strong command of Michigan K-12 Academic Standards.
- Demonstrated knowledge of evidence-based instructional practices and adult learning theory.
- Experience facilitating professional development for diverse educator audiences.
- Familiarity with data-driven instruction, assessment design, and PLC implementation.
- Strong communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel between district sites as required.
Position Description: The Lead Instructional Specialist provides strategic instructional leadership across the district, working in close partnership with the Chief Academic Officer to advance high-quality teaching and learning. This role is responsible for designing and delivering professional development, managing district coaches and data systems, overseeing curriculum and assessment implementation, and ensuring that all instructional practices align with the district's goals. The ideal candidate is a skilled facilitator and coach who can bridge the technical and adaptive dimensions of instructional leadership to drive meaningful, sustainable improvement in scholar outcomes.
Key Responsibilities- Create and execute professional development for all staff.
- Set district instructional goals and benchmarks, in collaboration with the Chief Academic Officer and other instructional leaders.
- Monitor and report on progress toward benchmark goals throughout the year.
- Support strategic planning alongside principals to ensure building-level alignment with district goals.
- Manage instructional coaches and content specialists.
- Refine, implement, and monitor district data practices, Professional Learning Communities, and observation and feedback processes.
- Provide job-embedded instructional support to coaches, teachers, and leaders.
- Ensure leadership support is occurring regularly for all stakeholders (principals, coaches, etc.).
- Conduct monthly walkthroughs with Instructional Leadership Team members and coach them on their observation and feedback practices.
- Align budget with district and building leadership to support instructional materials and professional learning.
- Create and maintain the district assessment calendar.
- Facilitate and review data meetings across schools and departments.
- Analyze all assessment, survey, and professional development data to identify key findings and determine next steps.
- Share data findings with the executive team and instructional leadership team in a clear, actionable format.
- Review curriculum resources and education programs in partnership with instructional leadership.
- Oversee the creation of common formative assessments across grade levels and content areas.
- Oversee vertical and horizontal curriculum coherence (pacing and integration) across all subjects.
- Provide weekly progress updates directly to the Chief Academic Officer.
- Deliver monthly updates to the broader district community on instructional initiatives and outcomes.
- Other duties as assigned.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise- Ability to coach and develop educators at all levels, from teachers to instructional leaders.
- Strong analytical skills for interpreting assessment and survey data to drive decision-making.
- Ability to manage multiple instructional initiatives simultaneously with attention to detail.
- Effective communication and facilitation skills for diverse stakeholder groups.
- Commitment to instructional practices that support all learners.
- Proficiency with instructional technology, data platforms, and productivity tools.
