Continuous Improvement Coach at SPARTANBURG ACADEMIC MOVEMENT

Description

The Continuous Improvement (CI) Coach is a key member of the Wardlaw Center for Improvement Science at the Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM). CI Coaches support schools, school districts, and internal SAM staff and teams in applying continuous improvement principles to drive academic and life success for children and youth across Spartanburg County. CI Coaches serve as facilitators, trainers, data guides, and mentors. They lead individuals and teams from initial training and readiness assessments to implementation and scaling of successful practices utilizing the Wardlaw CI Coaching Pathway. Coaches are responsible for building the capacity of educators, schools and districts to use improvement science tools and mindsets thereby fostering a culture of disciplined inquiry and collaborative problem-solving 

Essential DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the following:

• Facilitate the CI Coaching Pathway externally with school and district teams, and internally with SAM staff guiding them through each stage of the improvement process. 
• Support the improvement journey by engaging educators in post-training and transitioning them into coaching engagements. 
• Conduct readiness assessments and co-develop Coaching Charters with teams to establish shared goals and expectations. 
• Lead teams in identifying problems of practice, conducting root cause analysis, and developing aim statements and theories of improvement. 
• Coach individuals and teams through the design and execution of PDSA cycles, including planning, data collection, analysis, and reflection. 
• Provide personalized training on CI tools and methods as needed during workshops and coaching engagements. 
• Help teams analyze and visualize data to assess progress and inform decisions. 
• Support teams in documenting and spreading successful practices, including developing sustainability plans and sharing results. 
• Convene CI educators, school and district leaders through the monthly CI Huddles and deliver content that is tailored to their needs as improvers. 
• Collaborate with others to share learning, align strategies, and contribute to the evolution of Wardlaw’s coaching model in support of SAM’s strategic initiatives. 
• Participate in ongoing professional development, including CI Coach forums, training sessions, seminars and conferences as appropriate. 
• Maintain accurate records of coaching activities, team progress, and outcomes for internal reporting and learning. 
• Serve as a thought partner to school and district leaders, helping them align improvement efforts with strategic goals and academic opportunity outcomes. 
• Model a continuous improvement mindset by reflecting on coaching practice, seeking feedback, and contributing to a culture of learning and growth.

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND SKILLS REQUIREMENETS:         

• Bachelor’s degree in education, organizational leadership, or related field required; mater’s degree preferred in education, organizational leadership, instructional coaching, or related field.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in education, nonprofit, or community-based improvement work.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams through data-informed change or improvement efforts.
• Familiarity with improvement science, continuous improvement, or related methodologies and tools (e.g., PDSA, root cause analysis, driver diagrams).
• Experience facilitating adult learning, delivering in-person training and presentations, and/or coaching teams in professional settings preferred.

*This position has an anticipated start on or after January 1, 2026.