Reading Specialist

POSITION:                READING SPECIALIST

PRIMARY FUNCTION:      To provide expert attention to the needs of students in the area of reading.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

1.  Hold a valid Virginia teaching license with an endorsement in elementary education or a related field.

2.  Possess a Master's degree and be eligible for a teaching license with an endorsement as a Reading Specialist or a comparable Master's degree with the requirement to complete a Reading Specialist certification program.

3.  Possess a comprehensive knowledge of reading acquisition and pedagogy, learning theory, and best practices for Tier I, II, and III instruction.

REPORTS TO:                      Building Principal

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

•         The reading specialist understands the major theories and empirical research that describe the cognitive, linguistic, motivational, and sociocultural foundations of reading.

•         The reading specialist works with specific students who have been identified as needing additional literacy support.

•         Interventions and strategies are designed to meet the needs of students.

•         The reading specialist supports, supplements and extends classroom teaching, works collaboratively to implement a quality reading program that is research-based.

•         The reading specialist works with students to improve literacy through reading, writing and speaking.

•         Demonstrates an understanding of the ways in which diversity influences the reading and writing development of students, especially those who struggle with reading and writing.

•        Provides leadership, coordination, collaboration, and innovation in reading curriculum and instruction.

•        Plans and conducts periodic student evaluations to assess the reading level of students and/or mastery of skills.

•        Analyze and use assessment data to examine the effectiveness of specific intervention practices and monitors students' responses to instruction.

•         Serves as a resource to colleagues in providing reading instruction and/or professional development.

•         Analyze and report assessment results to a variety of appropriate audiences for relevant implications, instructional purposes, and accountability.

•         Demonstrate the ability to communicate results of assessments to various audiences.

•         Provide support through modeling, co-teaching, planning, and/or providing resources.

•         Assists classroom teachers in the diagnosis of students and collaborates in planning instructional strategies.

•         Demonstrate an understanding of established purposes for assessing the performance of all readers, including tools for screening, diagnosis, progress monitoring, and measuring outcomes.

•         Provide intensive, supplemental instruction to students who struggle with reading.

•         Support teachers and other personnel in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the reading and writing curriculum for all students.

•         Perform other duties as assigned by the Principal.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:         Ten-month year.  Salary to be established by the School Board.

EVALUATION:         Performance of this job will be evaluated annually in accordance  with school board policy and administrative regulations on                                                 evaluation of certificated personnel.