What are the responsibilities and job description for the ARI Reading Specialist position at Talladega Co?
Talladega County Schools
POSITION GUIDE
POSITION: ARI Reading Specialist
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Valid Alabama Teacher Certificate for Early Childhood/Elementary
- Minimum 5 years successful teaching experience preferred
- Advanced Coursework or PD in the Science of Reading
- Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable
- Current/complete application
REPORTS TO:
Principal
Coordinator of Elementary/Literacy Instruction
JOB GOAL: To impact student learning by providing coaching and mentoring to teachers in scientifically based reading instruction and intervention so that all students attain grade-level reading proficiency by 3rd grade.
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:
- Specialized knowledge in the science of learning to read and the science of early childhood education, quality reading instruction and intervention, dyslexia specific interventions, and data analysis.
- Excellent communication skills with outstanding presentation, interpersonal, and time management skills.
- Exceptional abilities to work with adult learners to improve their practices through facilitation of targeted, intensive professional development and modeling effective reading instruction.
- Demonstrated professionalism as an on-going learner and teacher leader.
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
To ensure that all students are reading on or above grade level by the end of third grade, the job of the ARI-funded local reading specialist(s) outlined in the Alabama Literacy Act will include the following as evidenced by student reading achievement and growth:
- Collaborating with the principal to create a strategic plan for coaching to support and measure the impact of reading instruction according to the science of reading, school baseline data, and data from approved early reading assessment systems.
- Facilitating school-wide professional development and monitoring and measuring the impact of transfer to practice.
- Modeling effective science of reading instruction for teachers that is explicit, systematic, inclusive of detailed explanations and more extensive opportunities for guided practice, error correction, and feedback.
- Coaching and mentoring teachers daily via planned coaching cycles based on data and gradually releasing responsibility to teachers.
- Utilize results-based coaching tool to measure and reflect on the impact of coaching.
- Facilitating data analysis discussions and supporting teachers by using data to differentiate instruction according to the needs of students by adhering to the framework of tiered instruction.
- Fostering multiple areas of teacher professional learning, including exceptional student education and content area knowledge, and adjusting based on data.
- Prioritizing time for those teachers, activities, and roles that will give the greatest impact on student reading achievement, such as coaching and mentoring in classrooms, as evidenced by coaching logs, student impact data, and site visit data.
- Monitoring the reading progress of all students a minimum of three times per year and making recommendations for the adjustment of instruction according to student-specific needs identified from multiple data points and aligned with the science of reading as specified in the strategic plan for coaching.
- Work to increase teacher efficacy by motivating and encouraging teachers to set high expectations for all students to become proficient readers.
- Engage in ongoing instructional practices (working with students) that demonstrate for others a commitment to the personal improvement of knowledge and skills needed to perform the job of elementary reading specialist.
- Participate in all required district trainings related to literacy instruction.
- Meet routinely with other district reading specialists and LEAs to discuss data and next steps.
- Assist with organizing and managing summer reading camps.
- Adherence to all duties and responsibilities outlined in the ALSDE/ARI Local Reading Specialist Job Description.
- Adherence to the TCBOE Reading Coach Framework.
- Adherence to all TCBOE Board Policies.
- Any other duties as assigned by Principal or Coordinator.
Evaluation:
- ARI reading specialists will be evaluated according to formative and summative measures associated with the completion of required coaching cycles, which will include quantitative and qualitative data measures documented on the results-based coaching tool.
- The performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board’s policy on the Evaluation of Professional Personnel.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 192-day contract term. Salary to be established by the Board according to the Teacher Salary Schedule.
