Literacy Coach

About Us

In July 2019, Compass Community Schools opened six high-quality charter schools (five K-8 elementary schools and one high school) in the Memphis communities of Binghampton, Berclair, Frayser, Hickory Hill, Midtown, and Orange Mound. We focus intently on three pillars – academic excellence, values-based character education, and service learning in the community – as we prepare our students for college and life-long success.

Our vision is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ideal of education: “Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” This true education – provided within a safe, supportive, joyful, and hopeful school culture – will prepare our students to be positive agents of change in our communities.

Compass and MTR are launching The North Star Project, a comprehensive initiative designed to transform early literacy outcomes across the Compass network. The project centers on four key strategies: (1) network-wide K-3 teacher training grounded in the Science of Reading, (2) school-based instructional coaching, (3) strong network leadership to ensure implementation fidelity, and (4) expanded out-of-school learning supports including family engagement, after-school tutoring, and summer learning programs.

Sustained improvements in early literacy require more than strong curriculum and initial teacher training. Research and implementation science consistently demonstrate that training alone does not translate into durable changes in classroom practice. Skills are refined, sustained, and transferred to students through ongoing, embedded coaching. By pairing deep teacher training with a structured, collaborative, data-driven coaching system, this initiative ensures that literacy transformation is not episodic, but systemic, measurable, and durable.

As a result, we expect literacy coaching to increase teacher capacity, fidelity, and student literacy growth.

Position Overview

The literacy coach is responsible for enhancing the literacy achievement of students in grades K-3 by providing direct support to teachers through coaching, leading professional learning communities (PLCs), and supporting the implementation of district-approved literacy curricula. The literacy coach works collaboratively with the Director of ELA, school administrators, and teachers to ensure a strong foundation in literacy for all students.

Primary Responsibilities

• Literacy Coaching
• Provide literacy individualized and group coaching to K-3 teachers, MLL teachers, IS teachers, and Intervention teachers; focusing on best practices in foundational literacy instruction, including phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
• Conduct classroom observations and provide actionable feedback to improve teacher practices and student engagement.
• Model effective literacy instruction through co-teaching and demonstration lessons.
• Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
• Plan and lead regular literacy PLC meetings for a specific grade within the K-3 gradeband to foster collaboration and continuous improvement in literacy instruction.
• Guide data-driven discussions to analyze student performance and inform instructional strategies.
• Share literacy research-based practices and facilitate the exchange of ideas among teachers to improve outcomes.
• Curriculum Implementation
• Support the effective implementation of district-approved literacy curriculum across all tiers of instruction, ensuring alignment across tiers and with state and national standards.
• Provide training and resources to teachers to enhance their understanding and application of literacy materials and tools.
• Coach teachers in integrating technology and culturally responsive practices into literacy instruction.
• Data Analysis and Assessment
• Collaborate with teachers to analyze literacy assessment data to monitor student progress and address achievement gaps.
• Support the development of targeted literacy intervention plans for struggling readers.
• Facilitate the use of literacy screening and diagnostic tools to guide instructional decisions.
• Leadership and Collaboration
• Serve as a key member of the school literacy leadership teams, contributing to the development and evaluation of the North Star project’s goals and priorities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Affinity with, and passion for, the compelling vision of Compass Community Schools
• Masters in education or related field
• Appropriate licenses, training certifications, and measures of content knowledge in the field of literacy and aligned to IDA standards; LETRS trained or equivalent; must hold Tennessee teaching and/or leadership certification
• Minimum of five years experience in high-needs education preferred
• Experience teaching and/or coaching early literacy (K-2)
• Track record of success as a literacy teacher and literacy-specific instructional coaching
• Ability to design and provide effective professional development
• Ability to design and provide effective coaching for teachers
• Successful experience teaching with high quality instructional materials (HQIM); CKLA preferred
• Successful experience leading teachers in using HQIM; CKLA preferred
• Experience analyzing multiple sources of student data in literacy
• Experience determining and delivering literacy intervention through RTI-2
• Ability to work with a team
• Strong commitment to advance educational equity
• Goal driven, self-reflective, and analytic problem solver

What We Offer

• Mission-driven, joyful, respectful working environments
• The ability to do what you love while growing your leadership skills
• Positive working environment
• Intentionally small school settings
• Opportunity to positively impact the lives of Memphis youth
• Competitive compensation and benefits package

Pay: $65,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person