Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Curriculum Coach

🎯 Role Definition

The Curriculum Coach is an instructional leader who partners with classroom teachers, school leaders, and district teams to design, refine, and implement rigorous, standards-aligned curriculum. This role blends classroom modeling, job-embedded professional development, and data-driven coaching cycles to accelerate student learning, ensure coherence across grade levels and content areas, and build teacher capacity in differentiation, assessment literacy, and culturally responsive pedagogy. The ideal candidate uses adult learning theory to facilitate collaborative professional learning communities (PLCs), leads curriculum mapping and adoption processes, and monitors implementation fidelity through observation, feedback, and outcome analysis.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Classroom Teacher (K-12) with evidence of instructional leadership
Instructional Coach or Lead Teacher
Curriculum Specialist or Content Coordinator

Advancement To:

Director of Curriculum & Instruction
Coordinator of Instructional Programs or PD
Assistant Principal / Principal (instruction-focused)

Lateral Moves:

Professional Development Specialist
Assessment & Data Coach
MTSS/RTI Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Partner with classroom teachers to plan, model and co-teach high-quality, standards-aligned lessons that incorporate evidence-based instructional strategies, providing follow-up coaching cycles that include goal-setting, observation, modeling, feedback, and reflection.
Lead instructional coaching cycles (pre-conference, classroom observation or co-teaching, post-conference) using formative evidence to coach toward specific teacher practices and measurable student outcomes.
Analyze student achievement, formative assessment, and progress-monitoring data to identify learning gaps, prioritize instructional focuses, and recommend targeted interventions aligned with district goals.
Design and deliver job-embedded professional development and workshops based on identified teacher needs, adult learning principles, and current research on pedagogy, assessment, and culturally responsive instruction.
Facilitate Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and collaborative planning sessions to support vertical and horizontal curriculum coherence, pacing, unit planning, and common assessment development.
Lead curriculum mapping and unit design processes to ensure alignment with state and national standards (e.g., Common Core, state standards), clear learning targets, progression of skills, and vertical articulation across grade levels.
Develop, refine, and evaluate formative and summative assessments, scoring rubrics, and progress-monitoring tools to ensure reliable measures of student mastery and to inform instructional adjustments.
Support teachers in designing differentiated lessons and scaffolds for diverse learners, including English learners (ELs), students with disabilities, gifted learners, and students who need accelerated support.
Coach teachers to implement high-impact instructional routines (e.g., explicit instruction, guided practice, academic discourse, scaffolding techniques) that increase student engagement and evidence of learning.
Observe classrooms regularly and provide specific, actionable, and timely written and verbal feedback tied to instructional frameworks and student-learning evidence.
Pilot, evaluate, and recommend instructional materials and digital resources; manage the classroom-level rollout and professional learning associated with new curriculum adoptions.
Coordinate with school and district leadership to set measurable implementation goals, monitor fidelity of curriculum rollout, and produce progress reports that link instructional practices to student achievement.
Support assessment literacy by training teachers on data interpretation, item analysis, creating common assessments, and using assessment results to plan instruction and interventions.
Build capacity for culturally responsive and trauma-informed instructional practices, guiding teachers to integrate diverse perspectives, equity-minded approaches, and inclusive materials into daily instruction.
Collaborate with special education and EL specialists to align accommodations and modifications to grade-level curriculum and ensure access to core instruction for all students.
Create and maintain pacing guides, unit timelines, and curriculum documents that provide transparent expectations for instruction while allowing teacher agency for local adaptation.
Use adult learning frameworks to model differentiated professional learning experiences, providing coaching and resources tailored to individual teacher readiness and growth goals.
Lead implementation of school-wide instructional initiatives (e.g., literacy campaigns, math fluency programs, formative assessment cycles) and coordinate cross-departmental efforts to sustain momentum.
Conduct needs assessments and stakeholder surveys to inform professional development priorities and to measure the impact of coaching and curriculum work on teacher practice and student outcomes.
Mentor new teachers and support teacher induction programs with curriculum-oriented onboarding, observation cycles, and classroom management strategies that align to instructional expectations.
Serve as a liaison between classroom teachers, building administrators, and district curriculum teams to ensure consistent messaging, resource allocation, and problem-solving during curriculum transitions.
Document and disseminate best practices, exemplar lessons, and case studies from the coaching work to build a repository of teacher-facing resources and to promote continuous instructional improvement.

Secondary Functions

Support the preparation and presentation of curriculum implementation reports for school and district leadership, highlighting trends, successes, challenges, and recommended next steps.
Participate in district curriculum review committees and vendor selection processes by conducting classroom pilots, feedback collection, and cost-benefit analysis of instructional materials.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of state standards, assessment changes, and instructional research to inform curriculum updates and professional learning content.
Advise school leaders on strategic allocation of resources (time, staffing, professional learning) to support sustained curriculum implementation and teacher development.
Facilitate cross-site learning by coordinating peer-to-peer visits, instructional rounds, and demonstration lessons to spread effective practices across schools.
Contribute to the development and maintenance of an instructional coaching calendar that aligns with school assessment windows, unit rollouts, and professional learning days.
Collect and manage evidence of implementation fidelity (walkthrough data, observation notes, teacher artifacts) to inform continuous improvement cycles.
Assist in developing and refining teacher evaluation rubrics and observation protocols to ensure alignment with instructional expectations and curriculum goals.
Provide targeted support for remote and blended learning contexts by adapting curriculum pacing, digital resources, and assessment strategies to virtual environments.
Offer on-demand consultation to teachers working on specialized projects (e.g., interdisciplinary units, project-based learning, performance assessments).

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Curriculum design and unit development aligned to state and national standards (e.g., Common Core, NGSS).
Instructional coaching cycle implementation (pre-conference, observation/co-teaching, feedback, reflection).
Assessment literacy, including creation of common formative and summative assessments, item analysis, and use of benchmark data.
Data analysis skills to interpret student achievement trends and disaggregate data by subgroup (proficiency with Excel, Google Sheets; familiarity with assessment platforms preferred).
Curriculum mapping and pacing guide development to ensure vertical and horizontal alignment.
Differentiated instruction strategies and designing accommodations/modifications for ELs and special education students.
Experience with learning management systems (LMS) and digital curriculum tools (e.g., Google Classroom, Canvas, Nearpod, Seesaw).
Knowledge of MTSS/RTI frameworks and experience coordinating tiered interventions.
Familiarity with culturally responsive teaching practices and equity-centered curriculum review.
Project management skills for leading adoption cycles, PD rollouts, and multi-stakeholder initiatives.

Soft Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication, able to translate data into practical classroom actions and leadership reports.
Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence for coaching adult learners and building trust-based relationships.
Facilitation and group-leading skills to run PLCs, workshops, and adult learning sessions effectively.
Coaching mindset with patience, persistence, and the ability to provide constructive, nonjudgmental feedback.
Collaborative leadership, able to influence peers and senior leaders without direct authority.
Problem-solving and strategic thinking to prioritize instructional changes with the greatest impact on student outcomes.
Adaptability and resilience in dynamic school environments and changing instructional landscapes.
Cultural competence and a commitment to inclusion, equity, and anti-bias instructional practices.
Time management and organizational skills to balance multiple coaching cycles, PD planning, and data work.
Continuous learner mentality—curiosity about new research, technology, and best practices in teaching and learning.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Education or a related field and a valid state teaching credential/certificate.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Leadership, Teacher Leadership, or related field; additional coaching certification or endorsement preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Curriculum & Instruction
Educational Leadership
Literacy / Mathematics Education
Special Education
English Language Acquisition / TESOL

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–7 years of successful K–12 classroom teaching experience; 2+ years of instructional leadership, coaching, or curriculum development preferred.

Preferred:

5+ years teaching with demonstrable impact on student outcomes and 2–4 years of experience as an instructional coach, curriculum specialist, or lead teacher; experience with curriculum adoption processes and adult professional learning design strongly preferred.