Lead Instructional Coach (StarrZapata) at AVANCE Inc – Rio Grande City, Texas

Job Overview

The Lead Instructional Coach collaborates with the Director of Teaching, Learning and Center Leadership and is responsible for assisting in achieving the organization’s strategic vision and innovation around ECE, as well as operational planning and follow-through. 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 are provided to program participants including Center Based, Family Childcare providers and Home- Based Families (as applicable).

The Lead 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 & School Readiness

• Support the Director of Teaching, Learning and Center Leadership in implementing AVANCE’s strategic vision for high-quality early childhood education.
• Ensure alignment of coaching, classroom instruction, and home visiting practices with program goals, state/federal standards, and curriculum fidelity.
• Provide direct supervision and guidance to Instructional Coaches, ECE teachers, and Home Educators.
• Provide direct practice-based coaching to assigned teachers.
• Assist with training, coaching, and professional development initiatives to build the capacity of education staff and ensure instructional quality and compliance.
• Monitor and evaluate 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 Coaches/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/Instructional Coaches/ECE’s in facilitation of child assessment data review at center/FCC partners and classroom level with teaching staff.
• Tracks, monitors, and ensures the Instructional Coaches and their coaching caseload goals are achieved.
• Analyze child outcome data to identify trends and inform instructional improvement strategies.

Practice-Based Coaching & Instruction

• Implement and oversee a structured, research-based Practice-Based Coaching (PBC) model across the program.
• Conduct full PBC cycles (goal setting, focused observation, reflection, action planning, feedback) with assigned teachers.
• Coach the coaches by modeling reflective supervision, observation techniques, and data-driven feedback practices.
• Provide written and verbal feedback aligned with CLASS dimensions, curriculum fidelity, and individualized professional growth goals.
• Ensure measurable improvement in teacher-child interactions across classrooms.
• Support onboarding of new teachers through structured coaching cycles.
• Promote reflective supervision practices and professional growth planning across the education team.
• Reinforce alignment between lesson planning, assessment data, and school readiness goals.

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
• Represents the team and/or department at meetings, events, and training as required.
• Participate 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.
• Consistently contributes to region, network and professional excellence through productive leadership and participation in:
• Regional planning and leadership (1:1 with the Director of Teaching Learning and Center Leadership, Early Learning, Accessibilities & Mental Health Coordinators, policy council relations, leadership team meetings)
• Participates in AVANCE’s network leadership and collaboration meetings
• External community relationships (LEAs, ISDs, higher education, NHSA, state agencies, policymakers)

Record Keeping and Reporting

• Support documentation of monitoring, 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 Director of Teaching, Learning and Center Leadership.
• Review and approve timecards and complete performance appraisals in a timely manner.
• Maintain accurate coaching logs, goal tracking documentation, and follow-up plans for assigned caseload.
• Review and approve Instructional Coach documentation and reports.
• Complete and submit monthly reports on area activities and progress towards goals.
• Monitor classroom quality indicators and child outcome trends program-wide.

Fiscal Oversight & Regulatory Compliance?

• Support content area budgets,?monitor?expenditures to ensure fiscal responsibility and compliance with federal cost principles.?
• Support content area purchases in alignment with approved budgets, procurement procedures, and internal controls.??
• Support accurate?inventory management of equipment and materials.??
• Support licensing compliance by ensuring program spaces meet Child Care Licensing standards, including capacity, safety, health, and environmental requirements.??
• Assist?with licensing process for new classroom spaces and support licensing corrective action responses as needed.??
• Ensure instructional materials meet quality and compliance standards.?
• Monitor?classroom material inventories and curriculum resources.?

Ongoing Monitoring/Self-assessment

• Meets with assigned 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 assessments data at the program and center level in collaboration with the Early Learning Leads/Instructional Coaches, ECE’s, Home Visitors, and Family Childcare providers.
• Conduct classroom observations and data reviews to ensure adherence to Head Start standards.
• Support implementation of the program’s ongoing monitoring system.
• Participate in Self-Assessment and quality improvement planning.
• Assist in preparation for Federal Monitoring Reviews, Licensing inspections, and CACFP reviews.
• Ensure developmental screenings and assessments are implemented within required timelines.
• Monitor compliance with licensing ratios and active supervision practices.
• Reinforce CACFP nutrition practices in classrooms.
• Ensure classrooms are equipped with age-appropriate materials.
• Promote trauma-informed and positive behavior strategies.

Planning and Implementation

• Plans in conjunction with the Director of Teaching, Learning and Center Leadership and the Instructional Coaches to help implement comprehensive, differentiated and sequential professional development for education staff including new staff onboarding and monthly professional development days.
• Supports Director of Teaching, Learning and Center Leadership in maintaining relationships with curriculum, assessment and screening tool vendors ensuring program has necessary materials.
• Provides individual and group support for the education in coaches implementing educational initiatives and coaching.
• Provides coaching of the coaches, Instructional Coaches, Home Visitors, and ECE’s.
• Supports the Director of Teaching, Learning, and Center Leadership in monitoring educational expenditures.
• Coordinate onboarding for new teaching staff.
• Support curriculum, assessment, and screening vendor relationships.
• Monitor educational expenditures in collaboration with leadership.
• Ensure curriculum implementation with fidelity across all program options.

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

• Ensure classrooms are equipped with age-appropriate, developmentally appropriate materials.
• Monitor compliance with licensing ratios, active supervision, and health and safety standards.
• Support implementation of positive behavior supports and trauma-informed practices.
• Reinforce CACFP nutrition practices in classrooms, including family-style dining and modeling healthy habits.
• Promote responsive caregiving and strong teacher-child relationships.

Support the social and emotional development of children

• Model strong, positive relationships with families and staff.
• Collaborate on IEP/IFSP implementation with Early Learning, Accessibility, and Mental Health Coordinators.
• Promote integrated practices supporting children with varying abilities and learning styles.

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.?
• Educate direct reports on policies and procedures.?
• 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

Preferred:

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

Work Experience

Required:

• 3+ years of experience with supervision, management or coaching.
• 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.
• Travel required locally or long-distance up to 10% of the time for work-related meetings and functions.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation

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 75% 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.?