Great Minds, a rapidly growing challenger brand in the PK-12 instructional materials space, seeks a Content Lead focused on K-12 assessment to join our dynamic Humanities team.
COMPANY PROFILE
Great Minds, a mission driven Public Benefit Corporation, brings teachers and scholars together to craft exemplary instructional materials that inspire joy in teaching and learning. Our English curriculum, Wit & Wisdom®, Eureka Math™ and PhD Science™, all support teachers as they take students beyond rote learning to provide a deeper, more complete understanding of the humanities, mathematics, and the sciences. Founded in 2007, Great Minds now employs more than 1000 people.
For additional information please visit: www.greatminds.org
OUR MARKET POSITION
Great Minds’ Eureka Math is the most widely used curriculum in the history of American education. It enjoys an unrivaled 40+ net promoter score. Eureka and its sister products, Wit & Wisdom English and PhD Science, embrace much higher expectations for all students and all teachers. In a market dominated by scripted, procedural materials that drive expectations down, Great Minds produces curricula that celebrate knowledge, respect the craft of teaching, and acknowledge the true capabilities of students.
Position Summary
The Content Lead, Assessment will lead a project to develop a set of unique Achievement Descriptors (ADs), or learning objectives, for Humanities Team curriculum and assessments; ingest the ADs into our digital content platform; and align the ADs to state standards. In addition to leading the project, the Content Lead will manage a project team of four curriculum developers who will draft the ADs for various grade bands.
The project team will be a part of the Humanities Assessment team, which supports the development of curriculum-embedded assessment systems that reflect and elevate instruction, align to standards, and drive equity. The team is committed to disrupting the assessment landscape by emphasizing the essential roles of texts, knowledge, and content in assessment. This work will help bring high-quality, knowledge-building curriculum and assessment to all students by supporting educators throughout the country in aligning Wit & Wisdom content to their state’s standards.
The role is an exceptional opportunity for experienced teachers, writers, and curriculum developers who possess K-12 content knowledge and pedagogical expertise, passion for high-quality, knowledge-building curriculum, and the belief that every child is capable of greatness. This role also requires deep knowledge, understanding, and experience with standards-aligned instruction and assessment development at the K-12 level. While the work is remote and the ideal candidate will work well independently, this will also be a highly collaborative position, necessitating a strong sense of teamwork and cooperation.
Reports To:
- Managing Editor, Assessment
Responsibilities
- Lead the Achievement Descriptor (AD) project, which will include:
- Creation of tools (e.g. achievement descriptors and standards crosswalks) to support the alignment of instructional and assessment content to state standards
- Development, revision, and editing of a set of Achievement Descriptors aligned to state standards and Wit & Wisdom
instructional goals
- Coordination with the Managing Editor (ME), Assessment as well as the Curriculum Design and grade-band content teams to ensure the Achievement Descriptors align with the Wit & Wisdom instructional vision
- Ingestion of Achievement Descriptors and standards data into a digital content platform and proper tagging of Wit & Wisdom content
- Aligning Achievement Descriptors to various sets of state standards
- Editing of curricular and assessment content to align with Achievement Descriptors
- Working closely with the technology and product teams to design, prioritize, and develop technology solutions to accommodate the project tasks described above, including a digital content tagging and taxonomy system
- Manage a team of four Curriculum Developers focused on the development of achievement descriptors and standards alignments
- Adhere to a deadline-driven workflow by completing the appropriate scope and sequence of work within the timeline required at each phase
- Collaborate effectively with the Managing Editor, Project Manager, and Curriculum Developers on the Assessment Team; the Content Leads and Content Developers on the content team; the technology team; and the product team on both process and content to ensure coherence and alignment with the Humanities Team’s product vision
- Contribute to additional Humanities Assessment Team development projects as needed, including developing and editing print and digital literacy assessments for reading and writing; authoring and testing content in a digital platform; and logging metadata
- Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in the education field; teaching experience preferred
- Demonstrated experience managing and/or leading teams
- Possessing a leadership style that is collaborative and inclusive, creating the conditions, structure, and the framework leading to optimal levels of trust, efficiency, and success
- Experience leading complex projects that require coordination among multiple teams and fast-paced delivery of multiple components against multiple ambitious deadlines
- Substantial knowledge and understanding of the Common Core State Standards for ELA (CCSS for ELA)
- Demonstrated experience aligning content to the CCSS for ELA
- Familiarity with the entire K-12 scope and vertical progression of the CCSS for ELA
- Experience mapping specific state standards to the CCSS for ELA (e.g., creating crosswalks, correlations, or alignment studies), including the ability to identify salient connections and subtle differences across similar concepts
- Experience developing Achievement Descriptors, a content taxonomy, or similar project
- Experience designing literacy assessments or writing literacy assessment content
- Experience writing or developing literacy curriculum or similar resources
- Skilled user of spreadsheet software (e.g., Excel or equivalent tool)
- Experience authoring, ingesting, or tagging content in a Content Management System or equivalent digital platform
- Proven track record demonstrating personal accountability, urgency, and persistence in completing high-quality work products, preferably in a fast-paced publishing environment
- Excellent attention to detail and the ability to produce precise, error-free work while adhering to editorial guidelines and processes
- Strong organizational habits necessary for successful goal setting, project management, collaborative decision-making, and deliverable execution
- Familiarity with a mindset that values an iterative cycle of ideation, thought partnering, prototyping, drafting, development, review, and revision
- Experience and the aptitude to maintain a positive, professional attitude under tight timelines and with multiple competing priorities
- Strong written, verbal, and social communication skills needed to incorporate different points of view in service of developing a high quality product
- Capacity to prioritize flexible thinking to make solutions-oriented decisions by established deadlines
Ideal Attributes
- Ability to remain flexible in an ambiguous, fast-paced entrepreneurial environment
- Passion for and commitment to the importance of high-quality, knowledge-rich curriculum
- Avid commitment to and concern for details required in accomplishing a task, no matter how small
- Capacity to embrace a learner mindset that is receptive to and elevates different perspectives
- Appreciation for the challenges and victories faced everyday by classroom teachers
- Commitment to high standards, instructional quality, and continuous improvement
- Empathy, curiosity, and the desire to continually grow as a learner
- Proficiency at both working independently and collaborating as part of a team
- A flexible, growth-oriented mindset with a receptivity to feedback and a focus on reflective practice
- Positivity in all situations, bringing proactive problem-solving orientation to every task
- Willingness to exemplify Great Minds culture in all work environments, with an emphasis on trust, collegiality, continuous improvement, and quality
- Commitment to collective authorship
- Deep belief that every child is capable of greatness
Required Education
Status
Location
- Remote
- Future travel (5-10%) may be required.
New employees will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, subject to potential accommodation as required by law or otherwise permitted by the Company.
The salary range displayed is specifically for those potential hires who will work or reside in the state of Colorado if selected for the role. For residents of the State of Colorado the expected salary range for this position is $63,353.99 – $74,440.94. This range may vary above and below the expected amounts in the State of Colorado. In addition to the Company's benefit offerings, the position may be eligible for additional annual incentives at the Company's discretion. Any offered salary and other incentives are based on market data, applicant skills and relevant experience, degrees, certifications and internal equity considerations.
If selected for an interview a background check will be required.
Great Minds is an equal opportunity employer. We will extend equal opportunity to all individuals without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, disability, age, genetic information, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws. Our policy reflects and affirms the organization’s commitment to the principles of fair employment and the elimination of all discriminatory practices.
