Director, Language Acquisition and Instruction

ABOUT ALLIANCE COLLEGE-READY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools is one of the largest and most successful nonprofit public charter school networks in the nation, operating 25 high-performing, middle and high schools that educate nearly 13,000 scholars who make up the heart of Los Angeles’ Latinx, Black, and recent immigrant communities. Alliance schools have been recognized as among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, the U.S. Department of Education, and the California Department of Education. Since opening our first school in 2004, 95% of Alliance scholars have graduated from high school. We strive to uplift our scholars and their communities by fostering unparalleled educational opportunities that encourage scholarly thought, resilient learning, powerful communication, mind-body wellness, and community advocacy. To learn more, visit www.LAalliance.org.

ROLE SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Vice President, Diverse Learners, the Director, Language Acquisition and Instruction is charged with ensuring that multilingual learners have access to daily instruction and opportunities to grow their language proficiency. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned English Language Development leader, with experience as a teacher, school, and systems leader serving scholars developing proficiency in English alongside additional languages that they speak, and deep expertise in Language Acquisition instructional programming. The Director, Language Acquisition and Instruction will directly manage and coach two Instructional Specialists and report to the VP, Diverse Learners.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

English Language Acquisition Instructional Strategy

• Build upon and strengthen our established ELD strategy and academic model, ensuring high-quality instructional materials directly support scholar growth, English Learner Progress Indicator (ELPI) results, sense of belonging, and Graduate Profile goals.
• Continuously improve our core academic framework across curriculum, Designated and Integrated ELD, assessments, and targeted scholar supports to stay aligned with network goals.

• Lead ongoing, routine data analysis for multilingual learners by combining quantitative metrics (ELPAC, ELPI, reclassification rates, and benchmark assessments) with real-time classroom observations to track progress, pinpoint effective practices, and deliver tailored support.
• Facilitate regular data-review routines with school leadership and the Diverse Learners team to monitor scholar growth, refine coaching strategies, and adjust supports, especially for long-term multilingual learners (LTMLLs).
• Help administrators and teachers select and effectively use curriculum materials, supplemental resources, and instructional technology for multilingual scholars.
• Strengthen targeted systems that accelerate growth for LTMLLs and monitor RFEP scholars post-reclassification to ensure long-term success.

• Work across Diverse Learners and Teaching & Learning teams to design a thoughtful, year-long learning plan that keeps our goals for multilingual learners front and center.
• Listen closely to what teachers and leaders need on the ground, creating flexible, tailored support that builds naturally on network-wide efforts.
• Lead engaging sessions on English Language Development that model strong teaching practices and give educators practical, ready-to-use tools for their classrooms.
• Partner with content Directors and Specialists across the Home Office to build our collective muscle in Integrated ELD strategies so everyone shares responsibility for multilingual learner success.
• Guide, support, develop, and mentor two Instructional Specialists, offering regular coaching, constructive feedback, and opportunities to stretch and grow; utilizing qualitative and quantitative data
• Build genuine, trusting relationships with school leaders, teachers, and staff, emphasizing real partnership and growth alongside meeting operational requirements.
• Share a clear, inspiring vision for multilingual learner success that brings people together and highlights wins across our schools.
• Listen thoughtfully to different points of view, using data, research, and a deep understanding of school life to keep us moving forward together.
• Create open channels for feedback so our work stays grounded in real school needs while maintaining consistency across the network.

• Work in Partnership with the Director, Diverse Learner Compliance to handle ELD requirements as a unified team.

IDEAL CANDIDATES WILL HAVE

• Deep expertise in research-based instructional models, standards (including 6-12th California English Language Development Standards), integrated/designated ELD strategies, and bilingual education frameworks.
• Proven track record in system-level leadership, leveraging robust multi-level data analysis (e.g., ELPAC, ELPI, reclassification) to refine academic strategy, lead data-review cycles, and continuously elevate scalable initiatives across multiple schools.
• Strong management skills with experience coaching diverse, cross-functional teams, fostering an inclusive culture, and guiding adult learners through complex change management.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building abilities to collaborate with teachers, school leaders, superintendents, and home office staff.
• Solid understanding of state and federal regulations, compliance, and funding streams supporting multilingual learners, often referred to as “English Learners” (e.g., Title II).
• Unwavering dedication to uplifting systemically underserved scholars and building equitable educational opportunities in urban public schools.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• 4+ years of school leadership or systems leadership experience in bilingual education,language acquisition instruction, English language development,, or a related field

• 5+ years of classroom bilingual or language development teaching experience in an urban school setting required (preferably middle and high school). 

BENEFITS

In alignment with our commitment to equity for our scholars, Alliance is dedicated to promoting equity and transparency within our team, offering competitive salaries commensurate with experience, as well as generous retirement and health benefits. This position is Exempt.

• We strive to be the best employer possible by offering excellent benefits for our employees and their families. Please click HERE for more information about our health benefits, retirement options, as well as our paid holidays and leave.
• Relocation: Individuals residing outside of the Greater Los Angeles area are eligible for a relocation bonus of $5,000 for individuals and $7,500 for new staff with families/partners. 
• Professional Development: At Alliance, we believe in supporting staff growth by providing substantial professional development support. Home Office staff are allocated $500 per year for professional development expenses.

WORK LOCATION

This position is a hybrid role which will include a combination of working from home, our network office, and travel to school sites. The successful candidate will be given a $400 work-from-home set-up allowance and receive a monthly stipend of $100.

COMPENSATION

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should submit an application. If you advance to the next step, you will be contacted for a phone screen and/or interview. Only candidates who advance will be contacted.

If you would like to view the progress of your application, you can log in to your Candidate Home Account by signing in at the top right of our jobs page.

Unfortunately, we are not able to sponsor or support applicants on visas at this time or in the foreseeable future.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools is dedicated to fostering an inclusive, anti-racist, pro-Black community that celebrates diversity, equity, and the unique identities of all scholars and staff. Nearly two-thirds of our teachers and administrators identify as people of color, reinforcing our commitment to representation and the power of diverse role models. We recognize the richness of the cultures and communities we serve, and we believe that embracing and empowering these identities is essential to the success and pride of our scholars. Working at Alliance means joining a movement to drive transformative change, nurture resilience, and build lifelong, meaningful connections with scholars and their communities.

Champion Alliance’s Anti-Racist, Pro-Black Mission: The strongest candidates will bring a commitment to Alliance’s mission of building an anti-racist, pro-Black community that prioritizes the success and well-being of Black and Brown scholars. Candidates should have a passion for promoting equity through anti-racist, student-centered teaching practices that celebrate racial and cultural identities. This role is rooted in service to systemically underserved communities in Los Angeles, helping scholars graduate “college-ready” with pride in who they are.

This job description is subject to change at any time based on the evolving needs of the organization.

• Alliance College-Ready Public Schools are tuition-free public charter schools that do not discriminate against any scholar, parent, community member, or staff member based on actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

• Alliance College-Ready Public Schools requires that all team members complete a LiveScan background check and TB clearance.

• Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the requirements, women and other underrepresented people tend to only apply when they match every criterion. If you think you meet some of the qualifications, but don't necessarily check every box in the job description, we encourage you to still apply. If you have questions contact the Talent Acquisition Team at joinus@laalliance.org.