Instructional Design Coach

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio (full-time, on-site)

Anticipated Opening: Please note this listing is to build our candidate pipeline for a potential mid-summer 2026 hire. We welcome your application now, but our team may not begin initial outreach until July.

About Forward Edge

Forward Edge empowers schools to reach tomorrow’s learners. As a company focused 100% on Education, we provide technology solutions and services that remove barriers to learning. We understand that learning time is sacred, and we take a holistic approach to designing and implementing technologies for students, teachers, and staff.

Our Professional Learning Services (PLS) department is made up of former classroom teachers who are enthusiastic about supporting educators in leveraging technology to enhance teaching and learning. We foster a collaborative and inclusive company culture, driven by highly motivated individuals passionate about making a difference.

Core Values at Forward Edge:

These core values aren’t just words on a page to us, we eat, breathe and live these values every day. They serve as the guidepost for our decisions and actions.

• We Expect Excellence: We are confident in our abilities while remaining humble and open to feedback. We go the extra mile to deliver exceptional results, or as we say, "you’re not done until you’re done, done."
• We Are Problem Solvers: We embrace all challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, finding solutions for our customers and our internal team.
• Relationships Matter to Us: We live by the Maya Angelou quote: “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
• We Are Team Players: We are a supportive, inclusive team where no one is too good to "take out the trash." We roll up our sleeves and help each other whenever needed.
• We Believe You Either Grow or Die: We embrace change, constantly improve, and are never satisfied with the status quo.

The Role

The Forward Edge PLS Team is seeking a passionate educator to join us as an Instructional Design Coach (IDC) . This role is commonly referred to as an Instructional Technology Coach or Digital Learning Coach. However, we believe the best instructional coaches and professional development facilitators feature sound instructional design and best practice pedagogy in their work. This is a job-embedded coaching role where you will be on-site in schools in Southwest Ohio, working alongside teachers.

Our department's mission is "to cultivate relationships and share our collective strengths, so that we help people grow and have a positive impact on those around them." As a coach, you will be the face of that mission, working with administrators, teachers, and (in some cases) students to -

• Build Meaningful Relationships
• Create Sustainable Change in Teacher Practice
• Drive District-Wide Culture Shifts

Responsibilities:

• Build Relationships: Proactively communicate with district/building administrators and engage in daily staff and colleague interactions to build strong, trusting relationships and ensure alignment with district goals.
• Apply Our Framework: Consistently apply the methodologies and principles outlined in Forward Edge's "Core of Coaching Framework" in all interactions.
• Model & Co-Teach: Regularly meet with teachers to plan, implement, and reflect new instructional technologies and teaching strategies. Provide additional support by performing classroom observations, providing feedback, co-teaching, and modeling of pedagogy-first best practices.
• Drive Instructional Coaching: Conduct coaching cycles with educators to collaboratively establish SMART professional goals and guide reflective practice.
• Facilitate Professional Development: Design and deliver engaging PD for K-12 teachers, applying adult learning principles (andragogy). Coordinate on-site learning programs every semester that fit the needs of the district you serve.
• Be a Leader in AI: Maintain and share up-to-date knowledge of new instructional technologies, with a particular emphasis on generative AI and its practical application in the classroom.
• Track & Analyze Data: Use data to guide instructional decisions and accurately log interactions across platforms to track coaching activities and impact.
• Stay Current: Research and communicate cutting-edge educational technology trends, pedagogical research, and industry best practices.
• Contribute to the Team: Successfully contribute to team projects across the department, such as creating content for our EdgeU Badges platform, assisting with podcasts or webinars, facilitating district AI cohorts, or earning new certifications.

Job Requirements:

• Minimum of 2 years of classroom teaching experience in a K-12 setting.
• Degree in education, instructional technology, or a related field.
• Proven understanding of effective, pedagogy-first technology integration in classrooms.
• Experience planning and leading professional development for adult learners.
• Strong proficiency with Google Workspace for Education and/or Microsoft 365
• Experience with Learning Management Systems (e.g., Schoology, Google Classroom, Canvas).
• A working understanding of and practical experience with Generative AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc)
• Demonstrated ability to provide equitable support and culturally responsive coaching to educators from diverse backgrounds.
• Highly motivated self-starter with strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Availability to work on some school holidays and a hybrid schedule over the summer.
• Willingness to travel locally to partner schools and occasionally out-of-state (10%-15%) for conferences.

Nice-to-haves:

• Possession of a current teaching license.
• Applicable Google for Education certifications, including: Google Educator Levels 1 and 2, Gemini Certified Educator, Gemini Professional Certification, etc.
• Project management experience/certifications.

Salary Range: $52,000-72,000.

PLEASE NOTE - The base starting salary for this current opening is capped at the midpoint of the salary range to allow for earnings growth over time. Employees are also eligible for additional stipends and bonuses based on their role and performance.

Application Requirements:

Resume

A cover letter AND/OR a two-minute video introduction of yourself. Show us who you are, and let your personality shine (2-minute maximum).

Something representing your expertise in the classroom or school setting, highlighting pedagogical best practices supported by technology (e.g., portfolio, link to a training slide deck, student activity, screencast).

Please note: these application materials can also be sent to the hiring team at [email protected] (if you're applying outside of indeed.com or linkedin.com).

Posting Notes:

Forward Edge is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, and we actively encourage candidates of all races, ethnicities, genders, religions, abilities, and sexual orientations to apply. We believe that diverse perspectives and experiences are essential for fostering innovation and achieving our mission of transforming education.

To learn more about our team, please visit our website at and check out #FEK12 on Twitter.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $52,000.00 - $72,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program

Experience:

• classroom teaching: 2 years (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Cincinnati, OH 45241 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Cincinnati, OH 45241: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person