Literacy Specialist 3-5 (SY 24-25)

Position Title:    Literacy Specialist      

Contract Length:  11- month 

Immediate Supervisor:     Principal           

Basic Function: The role of the literacy specialist will be to increase the quality and effectiveness of classroom instruction through observation and feedback, lesson-modeling, co-teaching, mentoring, and facilitating academic reflection. The specialist will assist in implementing a plan for targeted support using evidence-based literacy practices aligned with the Science of Reading to meet the needs of all students. The literacy specialist will collaborate with building leaders and departments to ensure cohesive momentum in achieving the district's strategic goals, specifically goal #1, in academic excellence.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Coach and provide job-embedded professional learning to classroom teachers and other instructional support personnel.
• Ensure that student achievement data is routinely collected, reported, and used to drive instructional decisions at the school-and-classroom-level, while offering feedback and reflection.
• Collaborate with district coordinators on researching best practices in the area of literacy.
• Develop collaborative relationships with building administrators to effectively support individual building school improvement planning.
• Assist in instructional planning, and expand teachers’ use of a variety of resources to provide high-quality Science of Reading opportunities.
• Model for teachers as appropriate to support the coaching process.
• Co-teach, model, conduct small group instruction with students, and deliver effective professional learning in order to meet the needs of student and adult learners.
• Possess a deep understanding of the Indiana Academic Standards at multiple grade levels, protocols for standards analysis, and unpacking.
• Provide training on formative assessment administration based on the integration of the Science of Reading.
• Provide leadership in helping teachers create a literacy-rich environment that supports language and literacy learning for all students across disciplines, media, modalities, and are able to do this in practice.
• Ensure that teachers understand the value of using the literacy curriculum and engage in instructional practices that positively impact students’ knowledge, beliefs, and engagement with the features of diversity.
• Prepare teachers to develop curricula that stress the role of writing in student lives and overall literacy learning in and outside of school while providing opportunities for students to compose for a wide array of audiences and purposes in multiple genres, modes, and media.
• Support teachers in the assessment, identification, and intervention for students with reading difficulties.
• Participate in training provided by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE).
• Perform other duties as assigned by the principal.

Qualifications:  Incumbent must hold a valid certification in elementary education and reading specialist endorsement preferred. Ability to plan and implement lessons based on Science of Reading instructional practices reflecting the needs and ability of all students. Possess strong planning, listening, organizational, supervisory, analystica, problem-solving, computer, accountability, multi-tasking, flexibility, resourcefulness, and oral and written communications skills. Ability to work well with a variety of personnel in the organization including building principles, teachers, and students. Self-motivation and team-oriented approach are mandatory for this position.

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Preferred Qualifications: A Master’s Degree with a focus on literacy instruction as well as certification in grades K-12.

Physical Demands:

Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office; dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard and other technologies and office equipment, sitting, standing and walking for extended periods of time; kneeling; bending at the waist; lifting; pushing; pulling and carrying equipment, supplies and materials weighing up to 25 pounds; repetitive hand movement and fine coordination to use a computer keyboard; emotional stability to work effectively under pressure and to keep all aspects of the job under control; hearing and speaking to exchange information in person or on the telephone; seeing to read; prepare and assure the accuracy of documents.

*Position is subject to grant funding.