Job Description

Title: Lead Instructional Coach (2026-2027SY)
Location: CICS Longwood- 1309 W 95th St, Chicago, IL 60643
Reports To: Principal
Salary: Starting at $80,000, commensurate with experience
Employee Type: Regular Full Time
Start Date: August 2026

Company Mission

Distinctive Schools creates diverse, joyful, welcoming communities rooted in social justice and rigorous learning. We support all learners to be engaged, curious, and to achieve their full potential. Our students become confident advocates, creative problem-solvers, and collaborative leaders.

The Lead Instructional Coach is an exemplary educator who plays a critical role in building teacher capacity and their understanding of best instructional practices resulting in positive gains in student growth and achievement. The Lead Instructional Coach may also lead Tier 2 or 3 interventions for campus areas of focus.

Responsibilities

Culture

• Maintain a student-centered perspective in decision making
• Believe that all students and teachers can learn and can achieve great things
• Contribute to the equity work of the campus and network and engage in culturally responsive decision making
• Build and foster a culture of belonging through positive and professional teacher-coach relationships
• Honor teacher voice and autonomy
• Cultivate a strengths-based, equity focused mindset
• Celebrate teacher growth and development

MTSS Interventions

• Facilitate Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions to support campus growth plan goals and increased student achievement
• Monitor progress of interventions and maintain accurate records
• Intervention assignments are based upon caseload size in alignment with DS Coaching Model

Instructional Coaching

• Move the performance of individual teachers through goal-setting, observation, co-teaching, modeling, and goal-specific feedback
• Engage in student-focused coaching cycle towards an established goal that leads to improved instructional practices and increase student growth and achievement
• Provide weekly (minimum) coaching for those teachers actively participating in a coaching cycle
• Provide directive coaching as an extension of the formal observation process at the request of the Principal or Assistant Principal
• Prioritize support and coaching on classroom organization, structures, routines, and management, instructional planning, delivery of effective, and student-centered instruction
• Leverage use of video to support coaching and self-reflection
• Analyze classroom data in order to identify strengths and address and act upon areas of focus
• Implement and monitor action steps as determined in the Campus Growth Plan
• Utilize Grow to document feedback, meetings, coaching priorities, action steps, and accomplishments
• Dedicate and schedule time for instructional coaching in alignment with the DS Instructional Coaching Model and in partnership with the Assistant Principal and/or Principal
• Create a weekly coaching schedule that reflects coaching caseload and priorities and submit to the Assistant Principal
• Perform other duties as assigned

Instructional Leadership

• Meet with the Assistant Principal/Principal weekly to review coaching cycles, receive feedback, and make mid-course corrections
• Participate in instructional coach collaboration opportunities and meet with Academic Team designee as requested
• Lead with equity-driven, evidence based practices
• Serve as a member of the school’s Instructional Leadership Team and perform other ILT duties
• Contributes to the development of and implementation of the campus growth plans
• Participate in all required professional development
• Contribute to the design, planning, and facilitation of New Teacher Institute, Welcome Week, Regional Collaboration Days, and campus professional development
• Facilitate Data & Design Meetings and planning meetings for assigned teams
• Maintain personal commitment to professional growth by remaining current in research and best practices, and engaging in continuous professional learning

Requirements (minimum)
Education: Bachelor's Degree

Qualifications

• Valid Professional Educator License or equivalent in state of employment Valid Professional Educator License or equivalent in state of employment
• Content Area Endorsement (Academic expertise in related fields of study)
• 5 years of lead classroom teaching experience or instructional leadership experience
• 1 year of experience working in urban school setting
• Proven success of student growth
• Knowledge of and experience with evidence-based language acquisition strategies, WIDA Language Development Standards, Common Core Standards
• Technology demands:
  • Ability to review and analyze student and campus data from multiple sources
  • Proficient with cloud based software solutions (Google Suite)
  • Ability to learn digital tools and and programs as needed for the position
  • Utilize Grow to support coaching documentation
• Travel as required for training, professional development, and collaboration
• Must maintain an average of ‘Proficient’ or above on annual Lead IC Performance evaluation
• Must attend DS Summer PD Institute
• Must be willing to work an extended academic calendar year of 11 months

Physical demands

Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires 10% sitting, 50% walking, and 40% standing.

Benefits

• 25+ Paid holidays & 10 days PTO annually (in addition to summer break for educators/campus positions)
• 12 weeks family paid leave
• Comprehensive Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• 403b match
  • Fully match up to 3%
  • 50% match up to 5%
• Professional development including tuition reimbursement
• Gym and wellness discounts
• And more

Disclaimer Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility.

EEO: Distinctive Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other personal characteristic protected by applicable law.

Distinctive Schools is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, Distinctive Schools will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact talent@distinctiveschools.org or call 773.828.4191