[Hiring] Literacy Specialist / Coach @Summit Management Consulting

Role Description

The Literacy Specialist/Coach role is designed to significantly impact literacy outcomes across Uplift by providing expert coaching and support to general education teachers in evidence-based literacy practices. The ideal candidate possesses deep expertise in the science of reading, a compassionate approach to student support, and strong collaborative skills to work effectively with both general and special education teams.

The Literacy Specialist is responsible for guiding, leading, and assessing student growth in literacy/reading skills and coaching all K-6 teachers to support literacy education across content areas. This position is also responsible for creating and improving literacy courses across the K-6 grade bands. The Literacy Specialist/Coach will also be responsible for helping to lead our Standards-Based learning transition and ongoing implementation.

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of both reading and writing processes and acquisition.
• In-depth knowledge in how to recognize the varied purposes for assessment (e.g., screening, diagnostic, monitoring progress, achievement), select specific assessments that meet those purposes, administer, and score assessments, and use assessment results to inform instruction.
• In-depth knowledge of and appropriate use of research-informed instructional practices (Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy K-3) to help all students develop literacy knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• In-depth knowledge of adult learning principles.
• Able to create a literate learning environment that shows an understanding of how the physical arrangement, materials, group work, routines, and motivational factors such as choice and purpose contribute to learning in today’s diverse classrooms.
• Successful classroom teaching experience at the Pre-K to 3 level as evidenced by positive student learning.
• Master’s degree in literacy or reading and continually engage in professional development in evidence-based literacy instructional strategies.
• Reading Specialist (BR) endorsement from the Michigan Department of Education. Eligible candidates with a BT endorsement will be considered but BR is preferred.

Requirements

• Provide individualized and group coaching to general education teachers on the implementation of Uplift's core literacy curriculum and evidence-based instructional strategies (e.g., phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension).
• Design and deliver professional development sessions and workshops for general education staff on best practices in literacy instruction, differentiation, and assessment, at least 2x per year.
• Design and deliver professional development sessions and workshops for all staff on Dyslexia identification, screening, and accommodations, in accordance with Michigan’s Dyslexia law.
• Model effective literacy lessons and intervention techniques in classrooms.
• Support teachers in analyzing classroom literacy data to inform instruction and identify student needs.
• Lead and monitor DIBELS assessments for K-6 staff and students.
• Engage in observation for numerous purposes, including documenting specific literacy behaviors of students and how literacy instructional practices are being implemented.
• Engage in co-planning with teachers to ensure that instructional planning includes delineating learner outcomes, selecting appropriate practices, determining grouping options, and developing outcome-based assessments.
• Assist teachers with instructional strategies to improve MSTEP and College Board reading comprehension.
• Design and conduct 1x monthly workshops or resources for parents about ways to help their children with literacy skills at home.
• Collaborate with the Curriculum and Instruction teams to ensure effective implementation and fidelity of the K-6 literacy curriculum.
• Develop and/or adjust literacy and reading curriculum within Accelerate, as needed to ensure proper literacy support for students.
• Assist in the selection, evaluation, and implementation of literacy resources and instructional materials for general education.
• Support general education teachers in administering universal screeners and diagnostic assessments for literacy.
• Assist in interpreting literacy assessment data to identify students at risk and inform instructional adjustments.
• Ensure progress monitoring fidelity.

Benefits

• This is a full-time, salary position that requires 40 hours plus, if necessary to complete required tasks.
• This is a remote position, but the hours are not flexible.

Work Environment

This job operates in a virtual home office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing all day. The employee must frequently lift and/or move items over 50 pounds.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.