Job Description

Level: Experienced
Job Location: Atlanta, GA 30331
Position Type: Full TimeEducation
Level: Bachelor's Degree
Salary Range: $60,000.00 - $110,000.00 Salary/yearOrganizational Overview:
KIPP Atlanta Schools is part of the KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) national network of free, open enrollment, college-preparatory schools dedicated to ensuring that every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities. There are 280 KIPP schools in 21 states and the District of Columbia serving more than 175,000 scholars and alumni. KIPP Atlanta currently operates 11 schools including five primary schools, six middle schools and one high school, as well as KIPP Forward which supports scholars on their journey to a choice-filled life. We are a social justice organization and our vision and mission require the work of dedicated, bold and skilled leaders, educators, and support staff who are committed to serving as the catalyst for joyful, academically excellent schools and the foundation for building a more just and equitable world for our scholars.
What We Value:
- Good Decision-Making: “I make thoughtful decisions in alignment with my school’s and organization’s values.”
- Peer Accountability: “I hold all Big KIPPsters accountable to our schools’ and organization’s values, standards, and expectations.”
- Excellence Always: “I do all aspects of my work with excellence - the big and the little things, the parts being monitored as well as those not monitored.”
- Communication is Key: “I communicate with both honesty and love. How I communicate nurtures courage, belonging, partnership, and progress toward our promise to KIPPsters and families.”
- Scholars Over Everything: “I put our scholars first, 100% of the time, without fail. I quickly resolve any and all adult-centered concerns and qualms to reserve my individual and our collective time and attention for our KIPPsters.”
- Walk Trumps Talk: “I chose this social justice career. And so, I behave in alignment with my choice. My behaviors match our promise to our scholars and families.”
- “Us” Only: “I belong to every member of our organization, and every member of our organization belongs to me. I choose unity always - in both the good times and hard times.”
Job

Summary:
The School Improvement Coach, Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) serves as a regional instructional leader responsible for accelerating the quality, consistency, and impact of specially designed instruction across assigned schools. Grounded in scholars’ IEPs, state standards, and KIPP Atlanta’s instructional priorities, this role provides strategic, job-embedded coaching that strengthens teacher practice, builds leader capacity, monitors implementation fidelity, and ensures scholars with disabilities have equitable access to rigorous, grade-level instruction. In partnership with teachers, APoSS, school leaders, and regional teams, the SDI Coach advances a coherent service-delivery model that improves instructional access, strengthens progress monitoring, and drives measurable outcomes for scholars with disabilities.

Job Responsibilities:
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- - - SDI Coaching & Instructional Practice
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- - - 60%
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- Designs and leads high-impact coaching cycles for special education and general education teachers, including classroom observation, precise feedback, model lessons, rehearsal, implementation support, and follow-up aligned to effective SDI practice.
- Builds teacher and team capacity to translate state standards and IEP requirements into aligned lesson planning, instructional delivery, accommodations, modifications, scaffolds, and progress-monitoring routines.
- Conducts targeted classroom learning walks to diagnose instructional trends, identify high-leverage coaching priorities, and determine where modeling, demonstration, consultation, or team-based support will have the greatest impact.
- Models, monitors, and evaluates the implementation of evidence-based instructional strategies that increase access, engagement, independence, and achievement for scholars with disabilities.
-  Strengthens classroom climate by coaching teachers and teams on proactive routines, positive behavior supports, and inclusive instructional practices that promote scholar belonging, engagement, and readiness to learn.
- Recommends and supports implementation of high-leverage instructional practices, tools, resources, and adjustments that strengthen SDI fidelity and accelerate scholar learning outcomes.
Measure of Success
- Increased fidelity of specially designed instruction across assigned classrooms, as evidenced by walkthrough data, coaching cycle artifacts, lesson plan reviews, and implementation look-fors.
- Improved teacher capacity to design and deliver SDI aligned to scholars’ IEP goals, present levels, accommodations, service minutes, and access to grade-level standards.
- Consistent execution of coaching cycles, including observation, feedback, modeling, rehearsal, co-planning, and follow-up support that results in measurable adult practice change.
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- - - Data Analysis, Fidelity Monitoring & IEP Alignment
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- - - 25%
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- Leads schools in using academic, behavioral, formative, benchmark, and progress-monitoring data to determine the most responsive supports, interventions, and programming for scholars with disabilities.
-  Synthesizes scholar assessment data, student work, IEP progress-monitoring evidence, and classroom implementation data to identify trends, root causes, priority needs, and effective practices.
- Advises teachers, APoSS, school leaders, and regional partners on instructional trends, service-delivery strengths and gaps, and targeted next steps that strengthen scholar access and progress.
-  Monitors the fidelity and quality of SDI implementation through classroom evidence, lesson plans, IEP-aligned supports, progress-monitoring routines, and teacher practice indicators.
- Uses coaching data, implementation indicators, and scholar outcome data to refine support, prioritize coaching cycles, and communicate progress toward school improvement and scholar-achievement goals.
- Recommends shifts in practices, approaches, methods, strategies, and assessments when evidence indicates scholars need stronger instructional access, support, acceleration, or progress-monitoring clarity.
Measure of Success
- Improved use of scholar data, IEP progress monitoring, formative assessments, and classroom evidence to adjust SDI supports and instructional planning.
- Increased scholar progress toward IEP goals and grade-level access, particularly for scholars with disabilities in priority grades, co-taught settings, and intervention-supported classrooms.
- Reduced gaps between identified scholar needs and instructional response through stronger data review routines, targeted reteach, scaffolding, and progress monitoring practices
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- - - Collaboration, Capacity Building , and Professional Learning
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- - - 15%
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- Partners with regional and school-based stakeholders to address school and scholar needs, strengthen adult practice, and ensure clear alignment between instructional priorities, special education service delivery, and school improvement goals.
- Designs and facilitates site-based professional learning that builds teacher and leader capacity in SDI, inclusive practices, progress monitoring, instructional scaffolds, positive behavior supports, and data-informed decision-making.
-  Leads collaborative planning routines that strengthen lesson internalization, anticipate scholar misconceptions, embed IEP-aligned supports, and align instructional moves to priority standards and scholar-specific needs.
- Develops and curates instructional resources, guidance documents, tools, exemplars, and implementation supports that promote consistent, high-quality SDI across assigned schools.
- Connects faculty and school teams to relevant professional learning opportunities while continuously deepening personal expertise and elevating effective practices across the region.
- Performs other duties as assigned by the appropriate supervisor to advance school priorities, scholar outcomes, and organizational needs.
Measure of Success
- Increased school-based staff capacity to implement high-quality SDI, inclusive practices, co-teaching routines, and evidence-based instructional supports.
- Improved quality and consistency of collaborative planning between general education teachers, special education teachers, APoSS/APSS leaders, and school leadership teams.
- Development and use of high-quality tools, exemplars, coaching resources, and professional learning materials that strengthen SDI implementation across assigned schools.

QualificationsRequired
- Bachelor’s degree required; degree in Special Education strongly preferred.
- Valid Georgia educator certification, or eligibility to obtain; must hold or be eligible for a valid and clear teaching certificate in one or more Special Education areas.
-  Minimum of 4 years of successful educational experience, including demonstrated impact teaching, coaching, or supporting scholars with disabilities.
-  Minimum of 3 years of successful classroom teaching experience with evidence of strong instructional practice and scholar outcomes.
- Demonstrated expertise in effective teaching strategies, specially designed instruction, positive behavior supports, curriculum-based assessments, and IEP-aligned instructional planning.
- Demonstrated ability to influence adult practice without direct authority and lead high-quality coaching cycles that include observation, precise feedback, modeling, rehearsal, implementation support, and follow-up.
-  Demonstrated ability to facilitate adult learning in 1:1 and group-based settings, including collaborative planning, professional learning, team consultation, and implementation-focused practice.
-  Strong ability to analyze scholar data, identify instructional trends and root causes, and translate evidence into clear teacher actions, leader moves, and school-level supports.
- Ability to communicate with clarity, professionalism, and responsiveness across adult and scholar audiences with diverse learning needs and perspectives.
- Demonstrated discretion and sound judgment when managing confidential information in alignment with student privacy, compliance expectations, and special education requirements.
- Excellent organizational, written and verbal communication, collaboration, project-management, and follow-through skills.
Preferred
-  Master’s degree in Special Education, Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, or a closely related field preferred.
- Experience leading school improvement work, SDI implementation, inclusive practices, or special education instructional initiatives across multiple school sites or teams.
- Experience accelerating outcomes in a turnaround setting and/or with scholars demonstrating significant instructional, behavioral, or access needs.
- Experience developing high-quality instructional resources, professional learning materials, coaching tools, and guidance documents for teachers and school leaders.
-   Strong technological fluency and experience using data systems, progress-monitoring platforms, and instructional tools to inform decisions, monitor implementation, and communicate progress.
Compensation & Benefits:
Compensation is competitive and aligned with KIPP Atlanta Schools’ leadership salary bands. The salary range for this role is $60,000–$110,000 and is based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity. Most new hires are placed in the lower to mid-range of the salary range. Placement near the top of the range is uncommon at hire and reserved for individuals who exceed role qualifications through depth of expertise, leadership maturity, and proven results leading complex initiatives with sustained, organization-level impact. A comprehensive benefits package is offered, including health insurance, retirement options, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.
KIPP Atlanta Schools offers a competitive benefits package that includes:
- 15 days of Paid Time Off, in addition to identified holidays
- Comprehensive health insurance (medical and dental), life insurance and optional short and long term disability
- Counseling and Telehealth Options
- Paid Parental Leave
- Participation in Georgia retirement plan and an optional 403(b) retirement plan.
Location & Work Conditions:
This position requires:
- Regionally managed; assigned to a school site(s) for the school year (regular presence on campus).
- Regular presence on the assigned campus and in classrooms, with periodic regional meetings and cross-school collaboration as directed by regional TL&L.
- This role requires schedule flexibility based on coaching cycles, collaborative planning, professional learning, and school needs; occasional evenings may be required
- This position requires routine physical activity associated with normal office environments.
- This position may require the ability to lift and carry objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
- Ability to engage in school-based activities requiring standing, walking, and mobility
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
KIPP Atlanta Schools is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status