School Summary

Georgia Connections Academy is a tuition-free, full-time virtual school for students in grades 5-12 throughout Georgia. The school is authorized by the Georgia Charter Schools Commission and governed by an independent Board of Directors, with a mission to maximize academic achievement for students who are seeking other academic options. The school is operated by Georgia Connections Academy, a nonprofit corporation, through a contract with Connections Academy of Georgia, LLC, to provide its educational program and other services. Connections Academy, a division of Connections Education, is accredited by AdvancED, and GACA is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement.

Georgia Connections Academy strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

Position Overview:

As a Literacy Coach specializing in the Science of Reading, the candidate will play a crucial role in supporting and improving literacy instruction at Georgia Connections Academy (GACA). This position is designed for an experienced Language Arts educator dedicated to guiding teachers in implementing a structured literacy (SL) approach. This approach emphasizes explicit and systematic teaching of all essential literacy components, including foundational skills such as decoding and spelling, as well as higher-level literacy skills like reading comprehension and written expression. Literacy Coaches will collaborate closely with teachers, offer targeted professional development, and contribute to the ongoing enhancement of the virtual literacy curriculum. Candidates will work from GACA’s office in Duluth, Georgia, or their home office within the state.

All GACA staff must be able to participate in monthly in-person activities, including but not limited to:

• School and department meetings,
• Student engagement opportunities,
• Required training/development,
• School-level events, such as state testing and graduation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s Degree or Completion of a Certified Instructional Coaching Program
• Appropriate Georgia State Teaching Certification in Language Arts:
  • K- 5 Literacy Coach: READING ENDORSEMENT [FLD833], ELEMENTARY EDUCATION (P-5) [FLD808] or MIDDLE GRADES (4-8) - Language Arts [FLD853]
• At least 1 years of teaching experience in a virtual learning environment
• At least 5 years experience teaching, with a record of successfully impacting student achievement and working successfully with students who have the greatest needs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Gifted, ESOL, or Special Education certified
• Proven ability to work cooperatively and effectively with colleagues, including creating and nurturing a professional community of adult learners.
• Demonstrated leadership and strong interpersonal skills, including giving and receiving constructive feedback.
• Demonstrated ability to use and disaggregate data to guide instructional decisions.
• Strong ability to leverage technology to provide data visualization for learning teams.
• Demonstrated Teacher Leadership.
• Strong pedagogical knowledge
• Demonstrated expertise in oral and written communication.
• Strong interpersonal skills. Models continual improvement, demonstrates lifelong learning, and applies new knowledge to help all students achieve.
• Demonstrates professional growth, including leadership and participation in a wide range of significant professional development activities.
• I have a strong command and understanding of professional learning communities and the function of learning teams.
• Has a strong command and understanding of the Instructional Coaching Cycle.
• Reacts to change proactively and productively and handles other tasks as assigned.
• Must be able to use a personal electronic device and an email address for two-step authentication.

Responsibilities:

• Teacher Support and Collaboration:
  • Develop and implement a tiered coaching cycle to improve teacher performance and increase student achievement in targeted areas identified by the district improvement plan.
  • Collaborate with Language Arts teachers to enhance instructional strategies and pedagogy around the Science of Reading/ Structured Literacy.
  • Provide ongoing support to teachers, offering insights, resources, and guidance to improve the effectiveness ELA instruction.
  • Supports training on the roll-out and implementation of new reading technologies/ programs.
• Professional Development:
  • Conducts professional development needs assessments and helps create a plan that meets the needs of individual teachers and learning teams.
  • Develop and conduct virtual and in-person workshops and training sessions to empower teachers with the latest instructional methods and technologies.
  • Stay informed about current trends, research, and best practices around the Science of Reading, and share this knowledge with the teaching staff.
• Curriculum Development:
  • Collaborate with learning teams to create and refine curriculum materials.
  • Align curriculum resources with state standards, ensuring a rigorous and engaging student learning experience.
• Data Analysis and Assessment:
  • Analyze student performance data and assessment results to identify trends and areas for improvement.