Literacy Support Specialist

Key Responsibilities

Direct student support (50-80%, based on needs)

• Use research-based best practices to provide small group and individualized literacy support to students in need of intervention
• Adjust small groups and individualized instruction based on progress monitoring data
• Communicate students' progress toward reading and writing goals with parents and establish and maintain relationships with families through updates and opportunities for involvement (as needed)
• Collaborate with supervisor and classroom teachers to determine which students will receive literacy support, and work to create a schedule aligned to students' needs & classroom schedules

Data monitoring (10%)

• Support the administration of literacy screeners
• Administer progress monitoring assessments to all students receiving literacy intervention
• Monitor student performance on internal assessments
• Maintain frequent communication with administrators and lead teachers regarding data on student growth in reading and writing

Staff professional development and teacher coaching (10-30%)

• Work with supervisor and teachers to support the implementation of WCS' literacy program
• Coach teachers in literacy
• Model literacy instruction for teachers in their classrooms
• Support the coordination of school-wide literacy-related activities, such as spontaneous celebrations, competitions, literacy nights and other initiatives that generate excitement about literacy in students & families

General expectations

• Consistently implement WCS' student management practices
• Exemplify WCS' CARES values in all interactions with students, families and colleagues
• Seek out and be receptive to feedback from the supervisor and peers
• Stay current on professional resources; disseminate resources to individuals and groups; help facilitate conversations re: resources.
• Participate in all professional development, team planning and data analysis meetings
• Assume other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred
• 4 or more years of experience teaching literacy (in the 4th-8th grade range strongly preferred)
• Prior experience coaching or mentoring teachers in literacy and/or leading grade band or school-wide literacy work
• Reading Specialist certification in Pennsylvania preferred
• Teaching experience in an urban setting; preference for individuals with experience teaching grades across a range of grade levels
• Knowledge of current literacy curricula and familiarity with the science of reading
• In-depth understanding of literacy teaching best practices for grades 4 through 8
• Experience assessing student progress toward achievement of benchmarks
• Strong instructional and management skills, with a record of increasing student growth in literacy
• Receptiveness to feedback, positive attitude, and a desire to continuously improve
• Flexible and able to adjust instructional strategies in order to reach goals
• High level of personal organization, planning, and follow-through
• Strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to effectively communicate with students, families, supervisors and colleagues
• Collaborative work style
• Belief in Wissahickon Charter Schools' mission and environmental education model

How to Apply

To be considered, visit our website at http://wissahickoncharter.org/join-our-team and click on the Apply Now button.