Position Summary:

Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS is seeking an experienced Elementary Reading Specialist/Teacher to support our 1-6 grade classrooms for the 2022-2023 school year. Under the general supervision of the Principal and teaming with our other specialists, s/he will work and co-plan with the Lower and Upper Elementary Guides/Teachers to support and improve student literacy growth outcomes, writing progress, and achievement. Our teachers possess deep academic content knowledge, hold high expectations for all students, create an inclusive learning environment, and have strong communication/interpersonal skills. The reading specialist will create and implement strategies and develop instructional plans to support (under-performing to advanced readers/writers) students who need reading, writing and/or other literacy-specific academic supports or enhancement in grades 1- 6. The reading specialist will work with students to improve specific reading skills, including, spelling, phonemic awareness, sentence construction and cohesion, reasoning and background knowledge, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension skills. The reading specialist will provide leadership, coordination, collaboration, and innovation in reading instruction. All teachers will be expected to contribute to a vibrant professional learning community, to reflect on and improve their own practice and to mentor, train, and develop resident teachers. The reading specialist position is a full-time, salaried, 10-month position, with an expectation for in-person instruction for the 2022-2023 school year.

Essential Functions & Accountabilities:

• Create and implement a reading program plan that will support the delivery and continuous monitoring of effective high-impact literacy instruction throughout the school. The school is particularly interested in continuing the implementing the Readers and Writers Workshop principles and instructional practices in our Montessori elementary classrooms.

• Provide direct reading intervention and instruction for students who are below grade-level benchmarks

• Support literacy group models within classrooms and literacy assessments and ongoing data analysis

• Help teachers interpret literacy assessment data of students

• Assist administrators, specialists, and Montessori teachers in designing appropriate intervention programs for students at risk of reading loss.

• In collaboration with classroom teachers and administration, use assessment data to identify students who are not making adequate progress and are in need of intervention and subsequent progress monitoring.

• Provide reading instruction and intervention for children who are identified for additional support and services, and conduct progress monitoring for individual or small groups of students.

• Support and co-plan with teachers in the selection and use of appropriate programs, materials, and technology for reading instruction. Serves as a resource for classroom teachers in terms of administering assessments, selecting reading materials, and planning instruction.

• Attend and participate in regularly scheduled meetings throughout the school year for literacy/ language arts teachers from across the district. Assess students' understanding every day to inform instructional decisions.

• Team with other reading specialists to ensure students read and write in all content areas in meaningful ways, on a regular basis. Integrate and connect language, instructional strategies, classroom routines, structures, and academic expectations to our essential principles of problem-solving, independence, creativity, collaboration, and self-determination.

• Coordinate and support literacy (reading and writing) in the classrooms by working with teachers to informally and formally ‘check for understanding ‘ both in an individual classroom or school-wide.

• Familiarity and experience with reading interventions, which target specific reading skills in certain students need more practice Analyzing, interpreting, and regularly reporting out classroom and literacy (i.e., reading and writing) school-level data results

• Provide analysis of student literacy outcomes to teachers and coach them on understanding and implementing data-driven instructional solutions/strategies

• Provide professional development training/workshop appropriate for teachers, classrooms assistants and other specialists in literacy development

• Participate in meeting(s) for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information as required for the Principal, other administrators and/or external agencies

• Other duties as assigned by the Principal and Head of the School

Required Competencies & Qualifications:

• Maintain confidentiality

• A passion for growing independent, confident and intellectually curious children

• Ability to provide services to all children and families with respect and dignity

• Demonstrated ability to work successfully within a multicultural staff and student body and

, academically diverse l community of learners.

• Ability to provide coaching and support to peers that will enhance their educational practice

• Positive interpersonal skills and energy

• Excellent written and communication skills

• A deep belief in the Shining Stars Montessori Academy Public Charter School's mission and vision

• A sense of humor and a love of children

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required from an accredited college or university required

• Master’s Degree in Education with a specialization in English, Elementary Education, reading, literacy and/or curriculum development and instruction strongly preferred

• Elementary teaching license and/or certification or eligibility for certification preferred

• Experience in delivering in-service and or professional development training and/or workshops in the teaching of reading and Readers & Writer’s Workshop.

• Experience with the Common Core Standards for ELA, the Core Knowledge Language Arts Curriculum, Lexia, and reading assessment, intervention programs, and methodologies including the Wilson Reading System, LLI, Gates McGintie, Orton-Gillingham, etc. strongly preferred

• Minimum of 3 years of teaching experience (five years preferred)

• Extensive knowledge of best practices in classroom management and instructional strategies with emphasis in literacy

Compensation:

Salary for this position is competitive and commensurate with prior experience and education. In

addition, a comprehensive benefits package is included.

Benefits

Shining Stars Montessori Academy PCS offers the following benefits to all full-time employees.

• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance premiums subsidized by employer

• 401k Retirement Plan with employer match

• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts

• Life and Disability Insurance

• Paid sick and personal time off