Community Literacy Coordinator, Innovative Approaches to Literacy

Partners for Rural Impact’s (PRI) ultimate goal is for an America where all kids are successful, regardless of zip code, income, background, or ability.  At PRI, our focus is on ensuring that all children in rural places achieve success. Partners for Rural Impact was born out of our place-based partnership in Appalachia, where we’ve worked for 25 years to create student opportunity and success. 

Partners for Rural Impact’s (PRI) ultimate goal is for an America where all kids are successful, regardless of zip code, income, background, or ability.  At PRI, our focus is on ensuring that all children in rural places achieve success. Partners for Rural Impact was born out of our place-based partnership in Appalachia, where we’ve worked for 25 years to create student opportunity and success. 

Position Summary 

This is a key full-time, grant funded position for Partners for Rural Impact and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) Initiative.  Reporting to the Project Director, IAL, the Community Literacy Coordinator (CLC) will engage families, community members and cross-sector stakeholders in developing a community literacy plan to ensure all young people are able to access educational opportunity and economic mobility. The CLC will connect public and private organizations to build robust, rigorous, and relevant cradle to career literacy initiatives and work with partners to align services to students and families, including book distribution. The CLC will work closely with Literacy Coaches to engage the families of students who are below proficiency.  The position leads and operates with the goal that All Rural Students Succeed.    

Primary Duties and Responsibilities 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily. The requirements of the position are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required, with regular and predictable attendance essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Coordinate and facilitate a locally driven, cross-sector community literacy plan 

• Collaborate with school media specialists, the public librarian, and other partners to align services to students and families 

• Align with Literacy Coaches to engage families of students performing below Proficient in reading and English language arts 

• Develop and implement out-of-school literacy programming for students and families 

• Design Family Literacy Nights 

• Coordinate distribution of literacy materials to students, families, and community partners 

• Develop and facilitate literacy campaigns 

• Analyze data, identify trends, and report literacy data to the community 

• Assist the Project Director in writing and producing required reports 

• Communicate with leadership team on schoolwide literacy progress 

• Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist and support in the attainment of our mission, All Rural Students Succeed 

Position Location & Schedule 

The Community Literacy Coordinator will be considered for hybrid work with local, state, and sometimes national travel required.  The primary work location will be in Knott County. 

Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with in-office and/or remote work a possibility. Because of the nature of the responsibility to schools, partners, funders, and the service region, individual offices or departments may have operating hours that extend beyond this period and may include evening and/or weekend hours. 

Minimum Qualifications 

Education required to ensure success in this position: 

• Bachelor's degree required; Master’s degree preferred in field related to education, social work, or related field 

Experience required to ensure success in this position: 

• Minimum of three effective years of experience working in the field of literacy or literacy education 

• Proven results in literacy attainment 

• Strong knowledge of how children learn to read 

• Experience leading communitywide initiatives 

• Knowledge and experience working with multi-sector groups 

Special skills, knowledge and abilities: 

• Experience working in rural schools or communities. 

• Understanding of first generation, low-income youth, and families. 

• A desire to develop innovative approaches to meet outcomes. 

• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment. 

• Capacity to manage multiple tasks and to meet deadlines and expectations. 

• Event planning experience. 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 

• Experience working in high poverty schools providing services to students and families. 

• Computer skills including data processing and financial spreadsheets; Microsoft Office, Adobe. 

License, certification, or registration necessary: 

• Valid driver’s license 

• Successfully complete pre-employment background check 

Physical requirements: 

• Ability to work in a high energy office 

• Ability to accurately communicate and exchange information with partners, stakeholders, and/or meeting participants 

• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 lbs 

• Ability to travel independently by car and plane regionally and nationally 

• Ability to operate standard office equipment 

• Ability to operate motor vehicle 

Environmental conditions: 

• Work in a fast-paced setting with frequent interruptions and shifting priorities 
   

Additional Company Information  

PRI offers a wide array of benefit options, to meet the financial, educational, and health needs of you and your family. 

• Comprehensive insurance plans including medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage. 

• Flexible spending accounts, plus an employee assistance program. 

• Life and long-term disability insurance and retirement plan. 

• Generous paid time off work options including vacation, sick leave, and annual holidays, in addition to paid parental leave. 

• Tuition assistance and professional development for employees. 

Partners for Rural Impact is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.