Reading specialist job description

About Mastery:

We believe educational inequity is the most pressing social problem facing our country and the civil rights issue of our day. Mastery exists to help solve this problem. Our ultimate goal is to create a model urban school district that serves all students with excellence. We are organized around one driving mission: All students learn the academic and personal skills they need to be truly prepared for postsecondary success and able to pursue their dreams. To fulfill this mission, we attend to the whole child - academically and emotionally - matching high expectations for students with high levels of support.

Mastery Charter Schools is a nonprofit network of more than 24 schools serving over 14,000 students in Philadelphia and Camden. We are the largest turnaround school operator in the nation and have been lauded by President Obama and the US Department of Education for our ability to dramatically boost academic achievement in historically low-performing schools.

We know neighborhood schools matter, all students deserve access to a great education, and the people in our buildings can grow and develop sustainably to make the biggest impact possible in this work.

Mastery's Equity Vision:

We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to achieving our mission.

We strive to be an anti-racist school district that eliminates the inequities in academic achievement that limit our students' choices; that cultivates classrooms where every student is affirmed, supported, and held to high expectations; and that nurtures a diverse organization where students, staff, and families are valued, respected, and included.

The Opportunity:

Mastery Charter Schools is seeking dynamic and passionate reading specialists to help lead our urban school turn-around efforts in Philadelphia. Mastery teachers work to create a warm and welcoming school culture that is driven by student achievement, and are committed to outrageously high expectations and high support for students.
Duties and Responsibilities:Implement Mastery's curriculum and utilize classroom routines and procedures with consistency Work with small groups of students on reading skills and strategies Develop rigorous lesson plans, homework assignments and assessments Work closely with school leaders to analyze student assessment data and use data to inform instruction Collaborate in grade level teams to discuss student work, share best practices, and ensure student mastery of standards Form and maintain relationships with students' families, including phone calls and conferences Participate in on-going professional development in the spirit of continuous improvement Additional duties and responsibilities as assigned by your supervisor/Principal
Qualifications:Ability to adjust instructional strategies in order to reach year-end goals Receptiveness to feedback and a desire to continuously improveA strong sense of personal accountability for student achievementA belief that all students should be held to high standardsA positive attitude and a drive for personal excellence Outstanding instructional skills, including the ability to motivate and challenge students and maintain an orderly classroom environment
Education and Experience:Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred Must have Reading Specialist certification Demonstrated expertise in subject area Classroom teaching experience in an urban school setting Documented experience using data-driven instruction to achieve significant student gains
Physical Requirements:Standing, walking, sitting for long periods of time, speaking loudly and clearly, seeing and hearing things both near and far away, stooping, kneeling, fine finger and hand manipulation in use of a computer, chalkboard, dry erase board or projector.
Mastery Charter Schools is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. We offer a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth.

UPDATE AS OF MAY 2022 - Please review Mastery's Health and Safety Plans here to learn about our approach to vaccination and testing as well as our response to COVID-19 for the 2021-22 school year. For ongoing positions, Mastery roles are designated as in-person, with regular on-site responsibilities, unless otherwise noted. As such, Employees must be able to support Mastery Schools' academic plan and business strategies on-site - at a Mastery campus - as required.

Exceptions to this requirement will be considered on an individualized basis.

Full-time (12-month employee)

Comprehensive benefits package at no additional cost to the employee

SCHOOL DESCRIPTION

We are an inner-city Arts and Technology K-5 Elementary School seeking strong leadership from a dedicated person who is data-driven and is passionate about closing the achievement gaps found in many urban school settings while also creating a loving environment where students, families, and staff feel comfortable and at home. We are a family-oriented environment with family and community involvement being an integral part of our mission to enrich the lives of our students. Some important aspects of the work as the principal include maintaining visibility throughout the building; establishing a professional rapport with students and staff, cultivating a collaborative environment, and establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with parents, parent organizations, outside agencies, and the community.

JOB SUMMARY

The reading specialist is responsible for providing direct instruction to students, individually or in small groups, to enable students to develop literacy skills. The 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.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide direct instruction in the areas of reading and writing for identified groups and individual students, with an emphasis on emergent, beginning, and transitional readers
• Identify literature for use in all content areas in support of the curriculum.
• Provide curriculum support and training for all teachers and continuous staff development that supports school division initiatives.
• Model and coach instructional methods in a variety of settings (whole group and small group) and provide follow-up support.
• Collaborate with and coach teachers on the use of assessment data to plan instruction; analyze school literacy data and plan for future literacy needs
• Provide ongoing training and follow-up in the use of assessment tools.
• Select instructional materials to meet student needs.
• Participate in collaborative instructional planning.
• Assess students using a variety of measures to determine appropriate placement and specific instructional needs.
• Conduct classroom visitations and provides feedback to teachers and administrators on the school's literacy program.
• Serve as a liaison between the school and the Department of Curriculum and Instruction by attending meetings and disseminating information.
• Maintain an organized system and accessible location for the storage and circulation of reading and writing materials.
• Maintain a comprehensive inventory of instructional materials and resources.
• Assist with the planning and delivery of parent workshops and informational sessions involving the language arts program.
• Participate in parent conferences and provide instructional suggestions.
• Remain grounded in content standards and objectives in order to facilitate integrated and concept based instruction.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have a Bachelor's Degree in Education
• PA Teacher Certification
• 2 years teaching experience
• Must have all background clearances (Federal, PA State, & Child Abuse)
• Reading Specialist Certification

This posting is for the 2022-2022 School Year.

The Specialist, under the direct supervision of the campus principal, will provide targeted support to small groups of students in literacy or math skills. The ideal candidate is highly knowledgeable in core literacy and math content, research-based instructional strategies, and standards-based instruction.

Duties

• Provide research-based instructional interventions in reading and/or math through direct instruction of students
• Attend team/parent meetings as required; provide input to teams regarding student academic strengths and weaknesses
• Maintain data-based documentation of continuous monitoring of student performance and progress during interventions; identify which students require additional support.
• Provide data to the school leadership team and participate in decisions about student progress
• Support teachers in using data to identify and group children who need additional supports at the Tier 1 Level; assist teachers in creating a differentiated instruction plan for students who require Tier 1 interventions
• Conduct classroom observations for the purpose of data gathering to support intervention planning
• May also participate in the STAT process for students with academic deficits.
• Participate in the district-wide Interventionist/Specialist PLC and in all district professional development as it relates to the interventionists area of support (i.e., literacy or math).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education or related field (Master’s Degree preferred)
• Experience in research-based practices for literacy development (if supporting in literacy)
• Strong skill set (demonstrated experience and successful data) with students in an elementary setting
• Minimum of 3 years of urban teaching experience (five years preferred)
• Extensive knowledge of best practices in classroom management and instructional strategies with emphasis in literacy and/or mathematics
• Proficiency in analyzing student achievement data and using it to inform instructional choices
• Ability to utilize various data to drive instruction
• Efficiency in meeting deadlines
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint strongly preferred
• Excellent organizational, strategic planning, and oral and written communication skills
• Must be able to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19

Benefits

Center City 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

For more information about our schools, please visit our website www.centercitypcs.org.

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