The Ankeny Community School District (CSD) is renowned for its excellence across academics, athletics, the arts, and various activities. Situated in central Iowa, just 6 miles from Des Moines, Ankeny CSD caters to over 12,800 students from preschool through 12th grade, making it the 7th largest district in the state. With a strong reputation for its commitment to student success and a competitive salary and benefits package, Ankeny CSD is a standout choice for both educators and families seeking a high-quality educational environment.

JDE: 3.18

Social Emotional Learning District Coach

Purpose Statement

The role of a Social Emotional Learning District Coach  is to be an educational leader and advocate for students. He/she/they will actively support the Ankeny Community School District mission to foster an environment that is committed to improving the holistic needs of students through social, emotional, academic and leadership development.  This position functions to assist teachers and administrators in building capacity within their own skill set to design and provide instructional and behavioral support in the school setting in order to meet the needs of all students.

Job Title:  Social Emotional Learning District Coach

Salary Range: See Teacher Salary Schedule + $5000 Stipend for 10 days extended contract work 

Contract: Full time teacher contract + 10 days beyond the teacher contract.

Benefit Summary: C

Reports To: Director of Student Services

Wage/Hour Status:  Exempt

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of three years of successful experience in social emotional learning or related field in a school setting
• Bachelor’s degree and certification by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners 
• Previous experience in a leadership role 
• Strong knowledge of and experience with MTSS processes
• Demonstrated excellence in communication, both oral and written
• Positive work history, with a high attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Demonstrated success in maintaining effective relationships with employees, colleagues, and business/community partners

Desirable Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field, preferred.
• Experience using data to drive critical conversations and continuous improvements among peer and non-peer groups
• Ability to coordinate and collaborate with diverse groups of professionals to achieve unified consistent practices
• Ability to effectively achieve multiple goals and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Successful experience in a multicultural urban or suburban school district 

Essential Functions

Teacher Leader and Learner

• Plan, organize, and deliver professional development for school buildings and/or the district.
• Provide prioritized support to high-need schools, ensuring schools and staff can integrate the social, emotional, and academic needs of their students into instructional design, school management and MTSS processes.
• Collaborate (e.g. co-teach, model, demonstrate, observe, and provide feedback) with building instructional coaches and classroom teachers to support whole group instruction or students in need of SEL intervention.
• Coach teachers on classroom management and engagement techniques.
• Support MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) implementation at both district and building levels.
• Seek professional growth opportunities to enhance the skills required by the position.

Data Coach/Assessment

• Disaggregate data to support instructional improvement at the classroom , building or system  level.
• Monitor attendance and discipline data to support school climate and SEL efforts.
• Support staff to gather, interpret, and use data to design and adjust core instruction or  intervention.
• Become familiar with the administration and interpretation of in-depth diagnostic measures and  assessments commonly used in the district.

Curriculum and Instruction

• Know how to use a range of effective strategies, analyze instruction, and provide clear, specific information on strategy implementation.
• Recommend, review, and support usage of core, supplemental, and intensive intervention materials.
• Provide student-focused intervention support and collaborate for effective intervention design.
• Support administrators, instructional coaches and teachers in implementing SEL in whole-group instruction and interventions.

School Liaison

• Develop and maintain communication with appropriate district and school personnel.
• Coordinate SEL efforts with the Academic Services Team and instructional coaches.
• Participate actively in district and building leadership team meetings.
• Create an atmosphere of trust and collaboration among staff to promote professional growth and accelerate the achievement of all students.

Other Functions

• Work collaboratively across district roles to strengthen all instructional aspects.
• Facilitate meetings, workshops, professional development and trainings, etc. (e.g. regulatory requirements, community or outside agencies, interdepartmental needs, etc.) for identifying issues, developing recommendations, supporting other staff, and serving as a District representative
• Participate in staff development training programs, faculty meetings, and special events as assigned
• Facilitates and oversees committee meetings, as assigned
• Demonstrate initiative and the ability to work without close supervision
• Demonstrates integrity and maintains confidentiality
• Works well with others, maintaining positive and effective communication with district personnel and works well with others on jobs that require more than one person
• Is respectful and appropriately interacts with staff, students, and visitors
• Upholds and adheres to safety rules and policies of the Ankeny Community School District safety program
• Supports the goals and objectives of the school district and follows all district policies
• Demonstrates the ability to attend work on a regular and routine basis to avoid disruption to District operations
• Perform all duties in a safe manner to avoid injury to oneself and/or others
• Responds to emergency situations for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns and/or directing to appropriate personnel for resolution
• Performs other related duties, as assigned, for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Specific knowledge based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include:
• Instruction and assessment practices
• Child development, brain development, and best practices in education
• Curriculum development
• Safety practices and procedures
• Conflict resolution
• Crisis de-escalation techniques

• Specific skill based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: 
• Interacting effectively with students, teachers/staff, the community and parents
• Adhering to safety practices
• Operating standard office equipment including using pertinent software applications
• Preparing and maintaining accurate records
• Using district approved crisis intervention techniques

• Specific ability based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: 
• Ability to schedule a significant number of activities, meetings and/or events
• Flexibility is required to independently work with others in a wide variety of circumstances
• Ability to work with a significant diversity of individuals and/or groups
• Ability to problem solve
• Ability to use effective hiring techniques
• Budget management
• Adaptability to changing work priorities
• Maintaining confidentiality

Working Environment 

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

The usual and customary methods of performing the position functions require the following physical demands:  significant lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, climbing, reaching, driving, standing and walking. Working conditions may include extreme temperatures and humidity.  Hazards may include exposure to communicable diseases. This position requires one to maintain emotional control under stress. 

Responsibility

Responsibilities include: working independently under broad organizational guidelines to achieve unit objectives; directing other persons within a department, large work unit, and/or across several small work units; directing the use of budgeted funds within a work unit; utilization of some resources from other work units is often required to perform the job’s functions.  There is a continual opportunity to significantly impact the organization’s services.

Supervision

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Is responsible for the overall direction, management, coordination, and evaluation of employees assigned to the school. 

Terms of Employment

Work year established by the Superintendent; Salary according to schedule adopted annually.

Clearances

Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance

Evaluation

Job performance will be evaluated annually, as per district policies and procedures

The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.

Approved by:  Justin Mohr                              Date:  November 15th, 2024

Ankeny Community School District is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.  It is the policy of the District to provide equal employment opportunities and not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, age or marital status in its employment and personnel practices.  The job categories where the representative groups are underrepresented.