Literacy Specialist-Elementary

Reports to:

Director for English Language Arts PK-12

The literacy specialist is responsible for helping every child in the school develop strong reading writing speaking and listening skills. A Literacy Specialist provides and leads literacy instruction and assessment through coaching providing student instruction and intervention and coordinating assessment and tiered support services.

Required Qualifications:

• K-12 Reading Specialist License and valid Massachusetts teaching license with SEI endorsement or additional license in ESL
• Masters Degree in Education with a concentration in Literacy/Reading
• Three or more years of recent experience teaching at the elementary level
• Current knowledge of research and effective practices in the areas of literacy development literacy instruction assessment and professional development
• Excellent interpersonal skills and flexible responsive work style

Desired Qualifications:

• Familiarity and experience with
• Curriculum implementation and support
• EL Education literacy program.
• UFLI Foundations curriculum and Wilson Fundations curriculum
• a variety of literacy assessments and interventions.
• administering analyzing and forming groups using literacy diagnostic assessment
• Coaching experience
• Experience supporting teachers in shifting from a Balanced Literacy model to a Knowledge Building curriculum.
• Experience collaborating and problem-solving with teachers.
• Experience and coursework in anti-racist anti-bias instruction.

• Provide leadership and support for the implementation of the district literacy curriculum.
• Provide professional development to teachers and paraprofessionals related to literacy programs and instructional practices through trainings workshops in-class modeling and advising.
• Support Newtons curriculum and professional development by modeling best practices coaching teachers and encouraging reflective practice
• Participate in grade-level meetings (i.e. PLCs GLDs) regularly to facilitate instructional conversations and activities regularly reflecting on a wide range of qualitative and quantitative student data points.
• Serve as a resource in the area of reading and writing for paraprofessionals teachers administrators and the community.
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with other professionals in planning instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners
• Provide and support literacy assessment and data analysis
• Provide direct instruction and intervention to struggling readers
• Regularly attend professional learning communities and professional learning with other literacy specialists
• Coordinate Tier I and Tier II literacy support
• Support literacy instruction and intervention during WIN blocks and small group instructional times; demonstrate flexibility to address broader academic needs that may emerge occasionally through ongoing student assessment and team collaboration.
• Consistent and on-time attendance to the job-related duties as required

Work Environment:

Majority of work is performed in a school/classroom environment. The noise level in the environment is usually moderate. Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function. Rarely absent or late unless the situation is of an emergency nature.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job the teacher is frequently required to kneel stoop bend and crouch. The teacher is periodically required to stand; while talking and listening. The teacher is occasionally required to sit; walk; lift; or carry.