Short-Term Substitute Reading Specialist (Approximately until 122026)

Position: Short-Term SubstituteReading Specialist

Position Type: Full time

Location:WMS

Reports to: Principal

THIS ISA SHORT TERM SUB POSITIONthat is expected to start now until 01/2026.

General Description:

Watertown Middle School seeks an exceptional short-term Substitute Reading Specialist who is highly qualified and knowledgeable to join our community of teachers learners and leaders. This is an exciting opportunity for teachers who desire to serve where their efforts matter. Watertown Middle School is a great place for those who seek to work in an environment that supports their creativity and innovation and respects their skills and abilities as an educator.

The Reading Specialist will be responsible for providing reading instruction for students setting who are reading below grade level and/or have not met proficiency on MCAS and/or might have reading support on their IEP.

Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates mastery of related subject matter instructional skills and resource materials for the course(s) taught.
• Provide research-based direct instruction in small intervention groups for the majority of the workday; monitor and report on the results of these interventions.
• Work collaboratively with the school-wide SIT teams and grade-level teams on the appropriate use of data in making educational decisions.
• Administer a variety reading assessmenttools and analyze data to determine strengths and needs of students.
• Communicate assessment results and targeted intervention plans to parents teachers and administration.
• As needed support tier one instruction through collaborative planning and/or co-teaching.
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with other professionals in planning programs to meet the needs of diverse populations of learners.
• Assist building administration in reviewing data to develop and assist in building level professional development which supports literacy interventions.
• Maintains a safe organized classroom that supports students independent learning collaboration and choice.
• Utilizes a variety of effective instructional and management techniques.
• Demonstrate preparation and skill in working with students from diverse cultural economic and ability backgrounds.

Core Competencies:Using the Massachusetts Model System for Educators Rubric priority skills and abilities that all Watertown Public School teachers should possess:

Curriculum Planning and Assessment

(Subject Matter Knowledge Well-Structured Lessons Curriculum and Planning Indicator Child and Adolescent Development)

• Demonstrates mastery of and enthusiasm for the content area and the pedagogy it requires
• Can convey a grasp of child development and how students learn
• Designs effective and rigorous standards based units of instruction consisting of well-structured lessons with measurable outcomes.

Teaching All Students

(Meeting Diverse Needs Student Engagement Safe Learning Environment)

• Uses instructional practices that are likely to challenge motivate and engage all students and facilitate equitable active student participation
• Builds a productive learning environment where every student participates and is valued as part of the class community
• Cultural Proficiency
• Actively creates and maintains an environment in which students diverse backgrounds identities strengths and challenges are respected

Family and Community Engagement

(Parent/Family Engagement)

• Engages with families and builds collaborative respectful relationships with them in service of student learning
• Professional Reflection & Collaboration

Professional Culture

(Reflective Practice Professional Collaboration)

• Regularly reflects on practice seeks and responds to feedback and demonstrates self-awareness and commitment to continuous learning and development
• Seeks to participate in and contribute to a collaborative adult learning community.

Qualifications:

• In-depth knowledge of the Science of Reading and best practices in structured literacy interventions.
• B.A/B.S degree in teaching from an accredited institution or related field and a Massachusetts State certification (DESE Certification as a Reading Specialist and SEI endorsement).
• Masters degree in education Reading English as a Second Language or Special Education preferred.
• Understanding of the literacy curriculum and standards
• Skills knowledge and disposition to effectively and collaboratively work with a range of teachers
• Ability to individualize instruction according to students learning needs including English learners and students with disabilities
• Experience with a range of reading assessments (diagnostic formal informal) and the ability to analyze and interpret the data to make instructional decisions.
• Working knowledge and understanding of the Response to Intervention (RtI) process at-risk supports and literacy development.
• Successful classroom teaching experience preferred
• Experience working with EL students preferred
• Multilingual preferred

Equal Opportunity EmployerWatertown Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race color religion national origin pregnancy gender identity sexual orientation marital/civil union status ancestry place of birth age citizenship status veteran status political affiliation genetic information or disability as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.

Required Experience:

IC