Mountain Empire Unified School District

Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) Early Literacy Specialist

Under the direction of the principal and with guidance from the Education and Instructional Services, the responsibilities of the position fall into two categories. As a teacher, the reading specialist is responsible for providing direct instruction to students, individually or in small groups, to enable students to develop literacy skills. As a literacy leader, the position supports the implementation of a comprehensive literacy program at the assigned school through coaching, supporting, and guiding teachers in best practices for literacy instruction.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

DIRECT INSTRUCTION OF STUDENTS

(No less than 50% and no more than 70% of the reading specialist’s time shall be devoted to this category, depending on the enrollment of the school site.)

1. 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.

LITERACY LEADER
(At least 30% of reading specialist’s time shall be devoted to collaborating with teachers, assessing students and coaching staff.)

1. Provide curriculum support and professional learning for all teachers and continuous staff development that supports the goals of the District’s LCAP; related to reading and writing instruction and reading intervention.

2. Model and coach instructional methods in a variety of settings (whole group and small group) and provide follow-up support.

3. Contributes to planning and actualizing of long-term and short term objectives for the school and district administration.

4. Collaborate with and coach teachers on the use of assessment data to plan instruction; analyze school literacy data and plan for future literacy needs

5. Provide ongoing support and follow-up in the use of assessment tools.

6. Select instructional materials to meet student needs.

7. Participate in collaborative instructional planning.

8. Assess students using a variety of measures to determine appropriate placement and

   specific instructional needs.

9. Conduct classroom visitations and provide coaching on student learning to develop the

   school/district literacy program in collaboration with administrators and the Education

   and Instructional Services department.

10. Serve as a member of the District Instructional Leadership Team to assist in the

    selection, coordinator, and training of curriculum, media, and software materials and how

    they can be best used in a literacy classroom.

11. Maintain an organized system and accessible location for the storage and circulation of

    shared literacy materials.

1. Assist with the planning and delivery of parent workshops and informational sessions involving the language arts program.

2. Participate in parent conferences and provide instructional suggestions.

3. Remain grounded in the Science of Reading and primary content standards and

   objectives in order to facilitate integrated and concept based instruction.

4. Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

•  Bachelor’s Degree required.

•  5 years teaching experience preferred.

•  Strong communication, interpersonal, technology, and presentation skills.

•  Experience coaching and collaborating with teachers

•  Familiarity and experience with evidence based reading research and small group skill

  instruction.

•  Excellent interpersonal skills and flexible, responsive work style.