Reading Specialist

Overview

Wayside is one of Massachusetts' most respected youth and family-serving agencies, supporting more than 6,000 youth and families annually across Central, Eastern, and Northeastern regions. We invest in our employees' wellness with comprehensive benefits, including tuition and training reimbursement, a PTO package with 3 wellness days, 9 paid holidays, and up to 3 weeks of vacation in the first year. Enjoy a learning environment with free training, CEUs, and more, along with exceptional medical benefits, financial health supports, and career development opportunities.

We offer a $2,000.00 sign-on bonus (pro-rated for part-time).

Position: Reading Specialist

Location: Wayside Academy – Framingham

Salary: $56,000.00 to $58,000.00/year plus a sign-on bonus (half paid after 6 months of employment and half paid after 1 year of employment; pro-rated for part-time).

Wayside Youth and Family Support Network is hiring a Reading Specialist to work 40 hours/week as part of our Academy. We are seeking someone who can provide leadership, coordination, collaboration, and innovation in reading curriculum and instruction so that each student may drive maximum benefit from the K-12 reading curriculum in a 220-day setting. By using various methods and materials to suit topic, IEP, and/or learning style, the Reading Specialist will provide support and instruction to allow students to develop their reading skills.

They will contribute, through a team approach to providing a learning environment which is physically safe and intellectually open and in keeping with special education best practices.

• Observe struggling readers in the classroom, upon teacher’s request.
• Assist classroom teachers in establishing the need for intervention in regards to reading support and collaborate in planning instructional strategies.
• Assist in the selection of appropriate materials used by the classroom teacher for corrective measures.
• Provide demonstrations of new methods and materials (e.g., team teaching).
• Interpret and disseminate results of both internal and external assessment data to teachers.
• Develop and implement a remediation plan for struggling readers.
• Maintain the literature collection in conjunction with the ELA teacher.
• Plan and conduct periodic evaluations to assess the need for changes in the reading program.
• Plan and develop special reading projects in conjunction with teaching staff.
• Serve as a resource to Academy management in areas of reading instruction and curriculum.
• Provide leadership in the development and implementation of the reading program.
• Assess the reading capabilities of newly enrolled students.
• Provide for remedial instructional needs of students through collaboration with Wayside Academy staff, occasional small group instruction, and staff development in content area reading strategies.
• Attend program functions and parent engagement opportunities as scheduled.
• Participate in scheduled engagement activities with students.

• Demonstrates ability to work independently (self-direct on projects, propose solutions in curriculum and lesson planning).
• Demonstrates flexibility and creative thinking (adapt to changing situations and respond to planned lessons).
• Demonstrates ability to teach, mentor, and coach others (provide constructive feedback to Teachers and aides in reading instruction).
• Demonstrates dependability and persistence (excellent follow-through on tasks).
• Demonstrates good judgment regarding behavior intervention and student support strategies.
• Demonstrates ongoing commitment to craft and professional development opportunities and new approaches based on evolving best practices (materials, curriculum, etc.).
• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• At least 1 year of experience within an academic setting.
• Possesses or is working toward a license in Academic Specialist License (Reading).

Training and Certification:
We will train you in Motivational Interviewing;
Courageous Conversations;
Attachment, Regulation and Competency Model (ARC);
Trauma-Informed Practice; MAP, TCI, CPR, and First Aid upon hire.