Job Summary
Position is responsible for implementing a comprehensive literacy program at the assigned school through coaching, supporting, and guiding teachers in best practices for literacy instruction; including the integration of literacy and best practices throughout the day and across all content. Position coaches teachers, supports lesson development and implementation, collaboratively plans, and conducts professional development. Position is responsible for analyzing school literacy data and collaborating with administrators in planning for future literacy needs. Position may also be responsible for instructing students individually or in groups to enable students to develop literacy skills.
Essential Duties
- Supports teachers in planning, delivering, and assessing quality literacy instruction throughout the day and in all content.
- Implements coaching cycles to develop teachers’ capacity in best practices for literacy instruction.
- Assists administrators in conducting learning walks to provide feedback to teachers to improve literacy instruction at the school and use data to plan for ongoing monitoring and support.
- Coordinates the school’s reading program across all content.
- Assists administrators and teachers at the assigned school in the implementation of a comprehensive literacy program, including its impact across content.
- Facilitates the school’s literacy team to implement a support framework for student achievement in literacy and to review the reading progress of students.
- Collects and facilitates the review and use of school literacy data to guide instruction and plan for student needs.
- Coordinates the literacy work of other reading staff in the building as applicable.
- Provides individual and/or small group instruction to meet the needs of students as applicable.
- Assists with screening, evaluating, and recommending interventions for students reading in the lower quartile.
- Completes reports, collects data, and provides information for program monitoring as requested.
- Confers with parents/guardians regarding the English reading and writing performance of students as requested.
- Participates in developing, revising, and monitoring the implementation of the curriculum.
- Participates in the construction and selection of literacy assessments.
- Selects, requisitions, and maintains books, instructional materials, and instructional aids.
- Models non-discriminatory practices in all activities.
(These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.)
Other Duties:
- Attends staff development programs, curriculum development meetings, and other professional activities.
- Keeps abreast of developments, research, and new technology in the field.
- Performs any other related duties as assigned by the school principal or other appropriate administrators.
Job Specifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified, to perform the essential functions.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and/or Abilities Required)
Must possess a Master’s degree and be eligible for a Virginia Teaching License with an endorsement as a Reading Specialist. Must have completed at least three years of successful teaching experience in grade levels 6-8. Must possess effective instructional delivery techniques and excellent communication skills. Must possess knowledge of the needs of students requiring remedial reading instruction. Must possess an in-depth knowledge of instructional best practices and adult learning theory. Must possess the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with school colleagues, school administrators, parents and students.
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time; exhibit manual dexterity to dial a telephone, to enter data into a computer; to see and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids; hear and understand speech at normal classroom levels and on the telephone; speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly in normal classrooms and on the telephone; physical agility to lift up to 25 pounds to shoulder height; ability to bend, stoop, climb stairs, and reach overhead.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Duties are normally performed in an office/school/classroom environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Supervision Exercised: None
Supervision Received: Principal and Executive Director of Curriculum & Development
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. The Reading Specialist will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other related duties as assigned by the principal or appropriate administrator. Newport News Public Schools reserves the right to update, revise or change this job description and related duties at any time.