Reading Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY

The Reading Specialist is responsible for providing direct instruction to students, individually or in small groups, to ensure students develop necessary literacy skills. They must work collaboratively and coordinate instruction and assessment with other staff members.

MACS has a culture of respect and kindness. Reading Specialists are expected to exhibit respect and kindness for all staff, students and families while maintaining school expectations both behaviorally and academically. Reading Specialists work collaboratively with administration and staff for the benefit of all MACS students. Regular and predictable attendance are essential functions of this position.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide direct instruction in the areas of reading and writing for identified groups and individual students, with an emphasis on emergent, beginning, and transitional readers
• Reviewing and analyzing student data on a daily basis to inform instruction and planning and implementing strategies to achieve targets related to student learning outcomes
• Assess students using a variety of measures to determine appropriate placement and specific instructional needs
• Taking responsibility for student progress, constantly working to respond to students’ learning needs
• Identify literature for use in all content areas in support of the curriculum
• Maintaining a positive and respectful culture in the classroom
• Communicating and upholding school rules, values and expectations in a clear and consistent manner, in and out of the classroom
• Communicating with parents and students and responding to issues on a regular basis via phone, e-mail, and in-person, as needed
• Consulting with Special Education Teachers to modify lessons and create accommodations for special education students
• Working collaboratively with the principal and other teachers to develop and revise curriculum based on assessment data
• Attending Special Education/IEP meetings as needed
• Attending professional development activities
• Ensuring regular and predictable attendance
• Other duties as assigned

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Current PA Certification in appropriate subject area required
• Additional PA teaching certifications preferred
• Commitment to urban education and a belief that all students should be held to high academic standards
• Strong content knowledge
• Highly skilled at teaching a standards-based curriculum and incorporating innovative approaches to instruction
• Ability to deliver engaging lessons
• Experience in using data to drive instruction and inform decision making
• Strong work ethic, positive attitude, teamwork and leadership skills
• High physical and emotional energy
• Strong technology skills
• Excellent time management and multi-tasking skills with the ability to “wear many hats”
• Excellent communication skills
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion

WORKING CONDITIONS

The working conditions of a Reading Specialist include:

• Very high levels of social interaction, with daily and consistent work with children, parents, and other teachers.
• Communicating with people face-to-face on a daily basis, as well as communication through phone, e-mail, letters, and memos.
• Responsibility for the health and safety of the children in their school..
• Working as part of a team of educators.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Reading Specialists are regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, operate a computer, hand-held learning devices and other office equipment, reach with hands and arms, and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.