Reading Specialist

Reading Specialist – Noble Academy, District 4171 General Purpose

To support a learning environment that is multicultural, gender, and ability fair, is favorable to learning and growth, and is based on a commitment that all children can learn, by developing students’ skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing, fostering communication skills, developing an understanding and appreciation of literature, motivating students to read a wide variety of publications, comprehending the reading materials, and promoting the development of skills in grammar and syntax.

• A valid Minnesota teaching license, certificate, or other legal credentials required for level of assignment (K-6 License or certified as a reading specialist preferred)
• Prior successful experience in urban, multicultural education is desirable
• Demonstrates continued professional development through coursework, research, peer collaboration, and/or job-embedded staff development.
• Working knowledge of the subject matter, classroom management techniques, current researched best practices and strategies, as well as students’ learning styles and needs, both academic and affective
• Data driven

• Acquires knowledge of the school’s academic programs and expectations/goals; works to support and achieve those goals
• Teaches students the required curricula using strategies that foster thinking, reasoning and problem solving
• Collaborates and communicates regularly with families in making educational decisions and uses family and community resources to support learning
• Facilitates positive interactions between students and teacher, student and peers, and student and other adults
• Models learning and behaviors consistent with the expectations for students
• Assesses own instructional effectiveness through the Professional Development Process (PDP)
• Participates in ongoing and regular staff, team and individual professional development
• Collaborates with peers to develop, plan and implement best practices based on the needs/abilities of the students
• Participates in site-based management and shared decision-making
• Always keeps the students’ needs and rights first and foremost in any educational decision-making
• Demonstrates competence in the school’s standards of effective instruction
• Has a working knowledge of and implements the Minnesota State Standards
• Participates in all school/family events beyond the school day
• Develops guidelines for safety and the school day classroom behavior; ensures students follow them
• Participates in all staff development as scheduled
• Maintains consistencies in instructional programs and other academic decisions made by shared leadership of the staff and the senior administration
• Follows other duties as assigned by the senior administration
• Develops and administers Language Arts curriculum consistent with school district goals and objectives
• Develops lesson plans and instructional materials and translates lesson plans into learning experiences to develop pertinent sequential assignments, challenge students, and best utilize the available time for instruction
• Teaches knowledge and skills in English grammar and syntax, sentence and paragraph structure, vocabulary and proper word usage, word denotations and connotations, creative writing, independent thinking, communication and speaking
• Develops standards for critical analysis through group discussions on a variety of reading materials, including the mass media and literature
• Works with students and others to prepare materials for inclusion in literary publications, contests, etc.
• Conducts ongoing assessment of student learning and progress, and modifies instructional methods to fit individual student’s needs, including students with special needs; conducts individual and small group instruction as needed
• Maintains familiarity with district and State standardized tests for the purpose of adapting curriculum to maximize student achievement on such tests
• Encourages parental involvement in students’ education and ensures effective communication with students and parents
• Ensures that student conduct conforms to the school’s standards and school district…