K12 Instructional Design Coach (Tech Coach)

About Forward Edge

Forward Edge empowers schools to reach tomorrow’s learners. As a company focused 100% on Education, we provide technology solutions and services that remove barriers to learning. We understand that learning time is sacred, and we take a holistic approach to designing and implementing technologies for students, teachers, and staff.

Our Professional Learning Services (PLS) department is made up of former classroom teachers who are enthusiastic about supporting educators in leveraging technology to enhance teaching and learning. We foster a collaborative and inclusive company culture, driven by highly motivated individuals passionate about making a difference.

Core Values at Forward Edge:

These core values aren’t just words on a page to us, we eat, breathe and live these values every day. They serve as the guidepost for our decisions and actions. 

  • We expect excellence- We believe in being confident in our abilities while remaining humble and open to feedback. We have a saying here, “you’re not done until you’re done, done” and that just means we go the extra mile to deliver exceptional results for our customers. 
  • We are problem solvers- We embrace all challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. We don’t just identify problems, we find solutions for our customers and internally at Forward Edge.
  • Relationships matter to us- Maya Angelou said it best, “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
  • We are team players- We believe no one is too good to take out the trash. We are a team that supports each other in an inclusive environment, and offers to roll up our sleeves and help each other whenever needed. 
  • We believe you either grow or die- We believe in embracing change and constantly improving to stay relevant. We are never satisfied with the status quo and are always looking for ways to expand our potential and create value, individually and as an organization.  

The Role

The Forward Edge PLS Team is seeking a passionate educator to join us as an Instructional Design Coach (IDC). This is a job-embedded coaching role where you will be on-site in schools in Southwest Ohio, working alongside teachers. 

Our department's mission is "to cultivate relationships and share our collective strengths, so that we help people grow and have a positive impact on those around them." As a coach, you will be the face of that mission, working with administrators, teachers, and (in some cases) students to-

  1. Build Meaningful Relationships
  2. Create Sustainable Change in Teacher Practice
  3. Drive District-Wide Culture Shifts

Responsibilites:

  • Apply our framework: Consistently apply the methodologies and principles outlined in Forward Edge's "Core of Coaching Framework" in all interactions.
  • Build relationships: Proactively communicate with district/building administrators and engage in daily staff and colleague interactions to build strong, trusting relationships and ensure alignment with district goals.
  • Model and co-teach: Regularly meet with teachers to plan, implement, and reflect new instructional technologies and teaching strategies. Provide additional support by performing classroom observations, providing feedback, co-teaching, and modeling of pedagogy-first best practices. 
  • Drive instructional coaching: Conduct coaching cycles with educators to collaboratively establish SMART professional goals and guide reflective practice.
  • Facilitate professional development: Design and deliver engaging PD for K-12 teachers, applying adult learning principles (andragogy). Coordinate on-site learning programs every semester that fit the needs of the district you serve.
  • Research and communicate effective technology integration techniques to staff.
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of instructional and coaching pedagogies.
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of new instructional technologies, including experience with generative AI. 
  • Collect, track, and analyze data from a variety of sources to inform instruction over time.
  • Assist districts and schools in exploring instructional technology solutions.
  • Create content for our Edge•U Badges educator professional learning platform.
  • Collaborate on other team projects as required.

Job Requirements:

What you bring:

  • Minimum of 2 years of classroom teaching experience in a K-12 setting.
  • Degree in education, instructional technology, or a related field.
  • Proven understanding of effective, pedagogy-first technology integration in classrooms.
  • Experience planning and leading professional development for adult learners.
  • Strong proficiency with Google Workspace for Education and/or Microsoft 365.
  • Experience with Learning Management Systems (e.g., Schoology, Google Classroom, Canvas).
  • Demonstrated ability to provide equitable support and culturally responsive coaching to educators from diverse backgrounds.
  • Highly motivated self-starter with strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
  • Availability to work on some school holidays and a hybrid schedule over the summer.
  • Willingness to travel locally to partner schools and occasionally for conferences.

Nice-to-haves:

  • Possession of a current teaching license.
  • A working understanding of and practical experience with Generative AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc)
  • Google Educator Levels 1 and 2. (Our team holds multiple Google certifications, and you will be supported in earning Google Certified Trainer and Coach certifications as part of your growth).

Position Details:

Location - Cincinnati, Ohio (on-site)

Job Type - Full-time, 8-hour per day

Compensation - The salary range for this position is between $50,000-72,000.

PLEASE NOTE - The base starting salary for this current opening is capped at the midpoint of the salary range to allow for earnings growth over time.

Benefits -

  • 401(k) with company match
  • Company-sponsored ICHRA health-care plan
  • Generous PTO
  • Professional development assistance
  • Company referral program
  • Opportunities for supplemental/bonus pay

Application Requirements:

Please send all application requirements to the hiring team at ci-dept@forward-edge.net. Provide the following:

  1. Resume
  2. A cover letter AND/OR a two-minute video introduction of yourself. Show us who you are, and let your personality shine (2-minute maximum).
  3. Something representing your expertise in the classroom or school setting, highlighting pedagogical best practices supported by technology (e.g., portfolio, link to a training slide deck, student activity, screencast).

If your application passes our screening process, you'll be invited to schedule a phone interview. If you'd like to learn more about what to expect during the interview process, click here. 

 

Forward Edge is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, and we actively encourage candidates of all races, ethnicities, genders, religions, abilities, and sexual orientations to apply. We believe that diverse perspectives and experiences are essential for fostering innovation and achieving our mission of transforming education.

To learn more about our team, please visit our website and check out #FEK12 on Twitter.

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