Introduction

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is the state agency that advances public education and libraries in Wisconsin. Our mission is to advance equitable, transformative, and sustainable educational experiences that develop learners, schools, libraries, and communities in Wisconsin. Working at DPI offers you the opportunity to build on our long-standing commitment to public education so that students are learning the skills and knowledge necessary to become contributing members of our communities.

At DPI, we are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. Equity and inclusion are at the core of our organizational values, which include belonging, integrity, love, humility, and honor. These values guide how we build our teams, develop our leaders, and create a culture that empowers everyone to be their authentic selves. When employees are respected and valued for who they are and staff are held accountable for demonstrating that respect to others, we believe it drives greater engagement and collaboration, ignites creativity and innovation, and fosters connection between teams and those we serve.

Our employees enjoy an exceptional employee assistance program that offers a variety of programs and tools to help promote wellness. We have a team-oriented atmosphere and a focus on work-life balance.

The Wisconsin School for the Deaf (WSD) within the Division of Access and Opportunity is seeking applicants for a Reading Specialist position. This position is a full time, school year position with some additional days beyond the regular school year (92% full time equivalency). WSD is a vibrant, residential school dedicated to serving students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind. Our team is passionate about providing a rich, bilingual educational environment where students thrive academically and socially. If you're looking to make a meaningful difference and lead in a supportive, student-centered community, we encourage you to apply.

Position Summary

The Reading Specialist will lead school-wide literacy efforts by establishing reading goals for Deaf, Hard of Hearing (D/HH), and/or Deafblind students ages 3-21. The specialist will deliver direct instruction and interventions, and supervise, coach, and mentor instructional staff, including teachers and interventionists, to enhance literacy instruction that aligns with the unique language and communication needs of D/HH students. The specialist will also collaborate with staff to implement evidence-based, accessible literacy practices grounded in bilingual ASL/English development, provide feedback on instructional methods, and support professional growth across the school's literacy program.

For more information, please view the complete position description.

Salary Information

This position is in classification Teacher Supervisor. Depending on qualifications, the salary will be between $38.00 - $41.13 per hour (approximately $79,040 - $85,550 per year). For current and eligible former State employees, compensation will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan effective at time of hire.

Employees in this position may be eligible for a $1.00 per hour add-on for fluency in American Sign Language (ASL), contingent upon achieving an ASL Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) rating of 2+ or higher. Additional compensation up to $2.97 per hour may be given for relevant credits beyond a Bachelor's degree. This position is in pay schedule 81, range 03. A one-year probationary period will be required.

This position offers excellent benefits . The State of Wisconsin is a qualifying employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program .

Job Details

Special notes : Candidate must be fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) upon hire. An American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) rating level of at least 3 by the end of probation is required.

Candidates must be licensed or eligible for licensure as an Administrator with the Department of Public Instruction as a Reading Specialist. In order to be eligible for this license, a candidate must meet all of the requirements laid out in PI 34.065 , which includes having a Master's Degree .

A selected candidate who does not already possess an Administrator license must :

• Be eligible for and apply for a Tier I, 1-year administrator license within 6 months of their start date. See PI 34.035 for more information.
• Make consistent progress toward completing their approved preparation program. The program must be completed within 2 years, as this license is valid for 1-year and may only be renewed once.

For more information on licensure requirements and licensure application procedures, please refer to the following DPI resources:

• Administrator Licensure Information
• Administrator Licensing Pathways
• Out of State Licensing Pathways
• Application Directions for Administrators

Headquarters : The position is headquartered at the WI School for the Deaf located at 309 West Walworth Avenue in Delavan, WI. Reimbursement for traveling to or from the employee's headquarters is not provided (e.g., mileage, meals, parking, lodging, etc.).

Remote Work : This position is not eligible for remote work and requires the employee to be onsite at their headquarters at the Wisconsin School for the Deaf during all regular working hours.

Pre-hire requirements : A criminal background check will be conducted prior to an offer of hire. A TB screen will be required prior to start.

Legal authorization : Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the U.S., without DPI sponsorship). The Department of Public Instruction does not sponsor visas, either at time of hire or at any later time.

Qualifications

Please address the following in your resume or supporting documentation:

A minimally qualified applicant must have all of the following:

• Licensure or eligibility for licensure as a Reading Specialist (5017) with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
• American Sign Language fluency.

Well-qualified applicants will also have experience:

• Developing reading intervention.
• Delivering literacy instruction with Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind students.
• Collaborating with multi-tier, multi-department teams (e.g., diagnostic, and educational staff).

How To Apply

Applying is easy! Click "Apply for Job" to start your application process. Sign into your account or click "Register Now" to create an account before applying for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application.

Helpful Tips:

• Current state employees must apply through the STAR "Careers" tile. Do not create an external applicant account.
• There will be no opportunity to change your application materials once you have clicked "Submit".
• The system will automatically log you off after 30 minutes of inactivity, so click "Save as a Draft" often.
• Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions section for general Wisc.Jobs user information and technical assistance.
• Candidates may need to check their spam or junk email folders for correspondence about this position.

Each time you apply for a state job; you should update and tailor your resume. You should clearly describe your education, training, and experience related to the items listed in the " Qualifications " section of the job announcement. These qualifications should be addressed in your resume. This will allow a fuller assessment regarding your qualifications and those required for the job applying for. Please review these resume tips for more information on your application materials.

Upload a current resume, transcripts, and a copy of your licensure or eligibility for licensure as a Reading Specialist (5017) with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Please upload these documents in Step 5 of 6 labeled "Supporting Documentation."

Your resume should include the following:

• Your educational background including any course work that relates to the position in which you are applying.
• Your employment history, including experiences and/or duties and a summary of accomplishments and skills learned or used.
• Any training or experience, including volunteer work or internships, you have related specifically to the "Qualifications" section of the assessment.
• Spell out any acronyms and/or abbreviations the first time used.

What not to include in your resume:

Your application materials should not include any information that is not job-related, such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, creed, disability, or genetic information. Further, do not include any self-identifying information such as photos, social security numbers, political affiliation, citizen status or conviction records. This document is not a letter of recommendation that someone else wrote about you.

Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the process. References will be requested from top candidates once interviews have taken place.

The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30% or greater service-connected disability. If you are a qualified veteran, please visit the Veterans Employment page for application instructions to be considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program. Once you have applied, please send an email indicating your interest in being considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program to the HR staff listed in the job posting.

The State of Wisconsin is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to applicants of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

Questions? Please contact the recruiter at:

Jamie Smith
DPI Human Resources Specialist
Phone: (608) 267-9119
Email: [email protected]

Deadline to Apply

Applications will be accepted until the needs of the Department are met. Applications will next be reviewed after November 11, 2025.