Instructional Coach - Hiring 2 Full-Time Positions (StarrZapata) at AVANCE Inc – Rio Grande City, Texas

Job Overview

The Instructional Coach reports to the Lead Instructional Coach and is responsible for assisting in achieving the organization’s strategic vision and innovation around ECE. This role is key to ensuring successful and high-quality ECE classrooms throughout the program, as well as planning and collaborating with AVANCE staff to ensure full implementation of all aspects of AVANCE’s early learning system, policies/procedures, and tools, with the goal of ensuring high-quality Early Childhood education services provided to program participants including Center Based, Family Childcare providers and Home- Based Families.

The Instructional Coach provides practice-based coaching that strengthens teaching practices, supports school readiness goals, ensures curriculum fidelity, and promotes integrated learning environments.

This position travels across all centers and partnering ISDs.

Job Responsibilities

Child Growth, Development and School Readiness

• Support the educational staff in implementing AVANCE’s strategic vision for high-quality early childhood education addressing all domains of learning.
• Ensure alignment of coaching, classroom instruction, and home visiting practices with program goals, state/federal standards, and curriculum fidelity
• Assist with training, coaching, and professional development initiatives to build the capacity of education staff and ensure instructional quality and compliance.
• Implement and monitor the quality of classroom environments and teaching practices, using tools such as CLASS, TS GOLD, FCCERS, ITERS, and fidelity checklists in collaboration with Early Learning Leads/Instructional Lead Coach/ECE’s/Family Childcare providers/Home Educators.
• Provide guidance and feedback to ensure all early learning components—including school readiness goals, dual language support, and developmental screenings—are effectively implemented.
• Supports Early Learning Leads in facilitation of child assessment data review at center/FCC partners and classroom level with teaching staff.
• Tracks, monitors, and ensures their coaching caseload goals and objectives are achieved.
• Collaborate with teaching teams to analyze child assessment data to inform individualized instruction.
• Ensure developmental screenings and ongoing assessments are implemented with fidelity and within required timelines.
• Promote integrated practices that support children with different abilities and learning styles in partnership with Accessibility, Mental Health, and Education Leadership.
• Reinforce alignment between lesson planning, assessment data, and school readiness outcomes and ideal learning principles.

Practice-Based Coaching and Instruction

• Implement a structured, research-based Practice-Based Coaching model including goal setting, focused observation, reflection, and feedback cycles.
• Support teachers, home visitors, and Family Child Care providers in delivering developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, and integrated instruction.
• Ensure fidelity to adopt curriculum and alignment to the program’s school readiness goals.
• Utilize CLASS, curriculum fidelity tools, and environmental rating scales (FCCERS, ITERS, ECERS as applicable) to guide coaching and quality improvement.
• Provide written and verbal feedback aligned with program standards and individualized professional growth goals.
• Track coaching caseload progress and outcomes to ensure measurable improvement in teacher-child interactions.

Communication and Service Coordination

• Collaborates and coordinates with other service area leadership and initiatives to ensure:
• Timely and appropriate support for children with different abilities
• Parent education and outreach activities are aligned with program goals
• Required number of socialization events are scheduled, implemented and well attended.
• Participates in team and 1-1 meetings, regularly scheduled and as needed, to ensure coordination of services across the Early HS/Head Start program, CCP, and Home Base programs.
• Actively participate in the Head Start community, including staff meetings, mandated training, committee meetings, and other program-wide functions as needed, including some evening activities.
• Support parent engagement by modeling strength-based communication and culturally responsive practices.
• Contribute to family education events and program-wide initiatives as needed.
• Participate in socialization events for Home-Based and Family Child Care as required.

Record Keeping and Reporting

• Support documentation of implementing coaching and training activities, adhering to AVANCE’s existing systems (GoEngage, Paylocity, etc.) whenever applicable.
• Complete monthly reports on area activities and progress toward goals with recommended modifications to plans, submit to the Instructional Lead Coach as scheduled.
• Maintain accurate coaching logs, goal tracking documentation, and follow-up plans.
• Monitor child outcome trends and classroom quality indicators.
• Ensure timely documentation with reporting systems and deadlines.
• Protect confidentiality of child and family records in accordance with FERPA/HIPPA and AVANCE policies.

Ongoing Monitoring/Self-assessment

• Meets with the education staff to provide coaching (including verbal and written feedback), identify and resolve problems, manage projects, track goals, review work processes and procedures, and ensure adherence to Head Start performance standards.
• Monitors and analyzes child assessment data at the program and center level in collaboration with the Early Learning Lead, Instructional Lead Coach, ECE’s, Home Visitors, and Family Childcare providers.
• Support implementation of the program’s ongoing monitoring system.
• Participate in Self-Assessment and continuous quality improvement planning.
• Submit reports outlining progress toward education goals and recommended adjustments.
• Assist in preparing for Federal Monitoring Reviews, Licensing inspections and CACFP reviews.

Planning and Implementation

• Plans in conjunction with the Early Learning Leads and Instructional Lead Coach to help implement comprehensive, differentiated and sequential professional development for education staff including PLC’s, CCM’s, and monthly professional development days.
• Provides individual and group support for coaching implementing educational initiatives
• Ensure program curriculum is implemented with fidelity.?
• Collaborate with Lead Education Coach and Early Learning Leads to design and implement comprehensive development plans.
• Support onboarding new teachers through structured coaching cycles.
• Promote reflective supervision practices and professional growth planning.

Establish and maintain a safe, healthy, and positive learning environment

• Ensures classrooms and activity areas are supplied with age-appropriate materials.?
• Ensure classroom environments meet health, safety, and supervision requirements.
• Support implementation of positive behavior support strategies and trauma-informed practices.
• Promote responsive caregiving and strong teacher-child relationships.
• Monitor classroom compliance with licensing ratios, active supervision practices, and safe learning environments.
• Reinforce CACFP nutrition practices within the classroom, including family-style dining and modeling healthy habits.
• Support the social and emotional development of children.
• Model strong, positive relationships with families.?
• Collaborate on Individual Education Plans (IEPs) monthly with the Early Learning, Accessibility, and Mental Health Coordinators.

Other Duties

• Participate in assigned meetings, events, and training as required.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding staff and family information.
• Fulfill the role as mandated reporter under the Child Abuse and Neglect Policy.
• Perform any other work-related duties as requested by your supervisor.
• Be present at work to provide consistency of services.
• Be a contributory team member in a positive/productive manner
• Demonstrate commitment to mission, values, and policies in daily duties.
• Supervise assigned department personnel, including hiring, training, scheduling, and evaluating (if applicable).
• Educate direct reports on policies and procedures (if applicable).
• Meet with assigned staff regularly to resolve problems and track goals.

AVANCE Core Competencies?

• Execution & Accountability
• Problem Solving & Decision-Making
• Communication & Influence
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Stakeholder Focus
• Adaptability & Continuous Learning

Education

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in early childhood education or in any related field

Work Experience

Required:

• 3+ years of coaching in an educational setting
• Previous experience in teaching and/or managing in an early childhood setting
• Infant/Toddler education/training preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English
• Knowledge of infant/toddler health and safety licensing requirements (if applicable)
• Experience with collaborations and community partnerships (if applicable)
• Physical exam and background checks are required for this position.

Additional Skills

• Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally, and in writing.
• Demonstrated computer literacy skills, using MS Office applications and other basic data systems including internet navigation.
• Ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders to successfully implement program plans
• Strong analytical skills to quickly assess situations, identify trends, develop solutions and apply critical assessments to the larger context
• Must be honest, dependable and able to meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.

Travel?

• Ability to travel to various sites. Dependable transportation is required daily with a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record (subject to annual MVR (Motor Vehicle Report) check and policy), current auto liability insurance and be bondable by AVANCE, Inc.
• Travel required up to 50% of the time for work-related site visits, meetings, and functions.

Equipment

• Standard office equipment generally used includes:
• Telephone
• Personal Computer (monitor, keyboard, and mouse) or Tablet
• Printer/Photocopy Machine
• Calculator
• Fax Machine

Working Conditions

• Work is generally performed in an office environment.
• The noise level in the work environment is moderate to occasionally loud (examples: business office with computers and printers, light to moderate traffic, human voices).
• May be required to operate a motor vehicle during the course of duties.

Mental and Physical Demands??

Maintain emotional control under stress; work with interruptions and deadlines; walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing, use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; occasional: lifting/carrying, pulling/pushing 10-30 pounds.?Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Factors??

Occasional exposure to: biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, insects, mold, fungi, etc.). Occasional expose to weather related conditions when working in outside environment /neighborhoods and events.

ADA/ADAAA Statement

AVANCE is committed to equal opportunity in employment for persons with disabilities and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, and any other applicable state and federal laws. Accordingly, AVANCE does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in regard to application, hiring, advancement, discharge, compensation, training or other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. Moreover, it is AVANCE’s policy to provide reasonable accommodations in employment to qualified individuals with disabilities so that they can perform the essential functions of the job, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of AVANCE’s business or would change the essential functions of the position. Retaliation against an individual with a disability for utilizing this policy or seeking a reasonable accommodation is prohibited.? Individuals with any questions or requests for accommodation should contact the Human Resources Department.?