Ace Classroom Observer - TNTP Academy

TNTP is a national nonprofit founded by teachers that believes our nation’s public schools can offer all children an excellent education. Today we’re a diverse team from a wide range of fields, united by a fierce commitment to helping school systems end educational inequality and achieve their goals for students.

We are looking for amazing people who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, are inspired by our mission and are highly motivated to change children’s lives through education. If you’ve been pegged as a problem solver, complimented for your communication skills, and proven you thrive in a fast-paced environment, you’ll be right at home here. We’re looking for talented people who learn from failure and overcome adversity, cultivate strong relationships, and push themselves, their work and the people around them to the next level. Successful applicants to the ACE Observer position will demonstrate strong time management, organizational, and communication skills, both oral and written; are self-motivated; and display a commitment to improving teacher effectiveness for all students.

ACE Observers are responsible for conducting classroom observations and evaluating alternate route teachers who are participating in TNTP Academy. Observers will be required to complete 20-25 hours of virtual training as well as 3-4 ongoing professional development sessions for the observer team throughout the academic year. Initial training will be conducted virtually via an online course supplemented by conference calls. ACE Observers will also attend one-on-one check-in meetings with the local site staff as needed; these will be in-person meetings to discuss observation logistics like caseload and scheduling or to practice norming with other ACE Observers. ACE Observers will conduct observations in 4-5 distinct rounds lasting 2-4 weeks each beginning in October 2015 and continuing through April 2016, although specific staffing needs will vary by site. The information gathered by observers will aid in TNTP Academy’s understanding of beginning teachers’ growth trajectory and form an important part of how we ultimately measure their effect on student learning. **Specifically, ACE Observers will be expected to:** * Observe each assigned teacher during the scheduled Observation Round for an announced observation during the regular school day that will last 45-90 minutes per participant (October through April) *Please note: this means observers cannot be full time teachers * Travel to local schools, using personal transportation * Evaluate each teacher using the TNTP Core Teaching Rubric * Write a comprehensive observation report aligned to the TNTP Academy standards for ratings, and submit reports electronically to the program * Participate in all required introductory and ongoing training, team meetings, and one-on-one check-ins * Demonstrate the ability to accurately evaluate teacher performance based on TNTP’s observation rubric

* Have a strong education background, content knowledge, and instructional skill set with a minimum of 2 years teaching experience in high-need schools * Demonstrate strong familiarity with and understanding of the Common Core State Standards in states other than TX * Support alternate routes to teacher licensure * Demonstrate a track record of meeting ambitious academic goals with students * Have strong written and communication skills * Possess the ability to provide polished, professional, and comprehensive written observation reports of new teachers * Have experience piloting or improving teacher feedback/evaluation systems (preferred) * All candidates must also pass the final assessment administered at the close of initial training to continue as an ACE observer. In the event that a candidate does not pass, s/he will be paid for attendance at initial training but not for any of the subsequent follow-up meetings or check-ins.