Needham Public Schools K-5 LITERACY SPECIALIST Job Description

General Responsibilities:

Under the direction of the Principal and the K-5 Director of Literacy, the Literacy Specialist/Coach will provide student-centered support and coaching for classroom teachers to extend their capacity to teach literacy to all learners. The literacy specialist provides direct support in the areas of reading and writing to students and teachers. They are responsible for implementing professional development, researching, collecting data, and assisting teachers and principals to interpret data to inform practice and make decisions regarding best practices, resource materials, and curriculum integration. The focus is exclusively on literacy development inclusive of intervention and extension. The position is designed to support, not replace, the instruction delivered by classroom teachers.

Essential Functions and Duties of the Position: The essential functions and duties listed below are intended as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

1. Provide coaching to teachers by:

• Coordinating the implementation of the district literacy curriculum at his/her respective school
• Providing demonstration lessons and co-teaching with classroom teachers as needed
• Acting as a coach for teachers regarding identified curriculum and instructional needs
• Training and supporting teachers in the delivery of assessments and interpretation of data
• Participating as a member of school-based RTI/child support teams
• Extending and supporting district-wide literacy professional development by consulting with district and building administrators and teachers to identify individual school/classroom needs and provide professional development as appropriate

2. Provide direct service to students by:

• Conducting diagnostic assessments of current/new students
• Offering short term/long term individual and small group literacy instruction

3. Provide curriculum/instructional guidance to teaching assistants

4. Collaborate with school principals to coordinate the organization, management, and assessment of school literacy programs

5. Collaborate with the Special Education Department to provide assessment, differentiation/consultation, curriculum modification, and integration of special and regular education services.

6. Provide parent outreach by:

• Offering presentations (i.e. PTC literacy events, Curriculum Nights, etc.)
• Offering information/training on literacy development at home
• Attending parent conferences, as requested

7. Collaborate with the K-8 Literacy Coordinator and department members to enhance literacy learning of all students district-wide by:

• Participating in ongoing professional development to maintain currency with respect to of research and best practices
• Coordinating literacy data among schools across the district
• Implementing the Common Core State Standards including curriculum integration of all disciplines

8. Coordinate use of current materials related to literacy instruction and collaborate with teachers, principals, and the K-8 Literacy Coordinator in the ordering of supplies and assessment materials.

Education and Experience:

• Master's Degree, with specialization in reading instruction
• DESE License as an elementary teacher and reading specialist
• Experience with a balanced literacy approach to literacy instruction (preferred)

License:

• Holds a Massachusetts Teaching License as a elementary teacher and reading specialist
• Holds an SEI endorsement, dual certification in ESL, or qualifies for such certification
• Core Academic Teachers (early childhood, elementary, teachers of students with moderate and severe disabilities, English, reading, language arts, mathematics, science, civics and government, economics, history, and geography)

Skills, Abilities & Knowledge:

• Sophisticated knowledge of student literacy skill acquisition and development
• Depth of knowledge regarding literacy (reading & writing) curriculum and instruction
• Skill in administering and interpreting literacy assessments and using data to inform and differentiate literacy instruction
• Demonstrated skill in teaching whole and small group reading instruction and providing consultation services to professionals
• Strong interpersonal and written/oral communication skills enable information sharing and the development of collaborative relationships
• Ability to collect, organize, and analyze data in order to make recommendations for instructional programming and professional development.
• Working knowledge of Massachusetts ELA Common Core Frameworks

Reports To:
Director of Literacy, Lisa Messina in collaboration with the school principal

Selection Procedure:
All resumes will be screened and selected candidates will participate in a thorough interview process

Application Procedure:
Please apply online: http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/careers

Applications will be considered only when a cover letter, resume, three letters of recommendation, license, and transcripts have been attached to your online application.

Compensation and Benefits:

Please review Unit Contract A and this page to learn more about employee compensation and benefits.

Salary is determined by education and experience, ranging from Bachelor's (Step 1) $63,217 to Doctorate (Step 14) $133,922 (This range is based on a 1.0 FTE).

Needham Public Schools has a strong commitment to equity. Candidates who also have a strong commitment to this work are encouraged to apply. For more information on our equity work please visit our equity website.