School Based State Literacy Coaches Education Program Specialist I

Introduction

The Maryland State Department of Education is dedicated to supporting a world-class educational system that prepares all students for college and career success in the 21st century. With excellent stewardship from our divisions, we oversee State and federal programs that support the needs of a diverse population – students, teachers, principals, and other educators throughout Maryland.

State of Maryland Salary Grade 21, $53 per hour

Please indicate on your application each county in which you are willing to work. Selected Staff will be eligible for travel reimbursement in accordance with State of Maryland policies.

These School-Based Literacy Coach positions will serve a critical role in improving K-3 reading achievement by providing non-evaluative, job-embedded instructional coaching grounded in the Science of Reading using high-quality instructional materials (HQIM). The Literacy Coaches will be responsible for supporting the implementation of evidence-based practices and the internalization of HQIM. The Literacy Coaches support the implementation of Maryland’s Comprehensive PreK-3 Policy by promoting coherent literacy instruction across grade levels, strengthening Tier I reading instruction, and helping teachers internalize units and lessons aligned to evidence-based literacy practices.

Finally, these positions will advance the Maryland State Department of Education Strategic Plan, Objective 3, by leading improvements in early literacy proficiency through recurring coaching cycles, targeted feedback, data-driven instructional decision-making, and professional learning aligned to state literacy priorities.

• Lead teachers through individual literacy coaching cycles.
• Provides non-evaluative, job-embedded coaching to strengthen reading instruction aligned to the Science of Reading and Maryland's Comprehensive PreK-3 Policy (i.e., writing SRIPs, delivering screeners, etc.).
• Supports teachers in delivering systematic, explicit foundational skills instruction including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
• Models structured literacy practices through co-teaching, lesson modeling, and elbow coaching and conducts observations focused on reading instruction and provide targeted, literacy specific feedback.
• Guides and supports teachers in implementing high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) for reading and in administering and interpreting early literacy screeners and diagnostics to select appropriate interventions.
• Delivers professional learning aligned to the Science of Reading, structured literacy, and HQIM implementation.
• Provides training for teachers on using literacy assessment data to make instructional decisions within an MTSS literacy framework and facilitates professional learning on evidence-based interventions, structured literacy instruction, academic routines and procedures, text complexity, and metacognition.
• Builds teacher capacity to deliver coherent literacy instruction across grade-levels aligned to Maryland's Comprehensive PreK-3 policy, the Ready to Read Act, and COMAR 13A.03.08 Students At-Risk for Reading Difficulty.

Education: A Master’s degree or the equivalent of 36 credit hours of post-baccalaureate course work from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Four years of administrative or teaching experience in, or affiliated with Literacy, Reading and/or related programs in prekindergarten through 12 settings.

• Candidates may substitute two additional years of experience directly related to the position option for the required education.
• Candidates may substitute the possession of a Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to the position option for one year of the required experience.
• The required field of education and experience are unique for each option and are established by MSDE in accordance with Education Article, Section 2-104 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The specific education and experience qualifications for each position are on record in the Human Resource Management Branch of the Division of Business Services.
• Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Education Program classifications or Education Program specialty codes in the Education field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education. DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference will be given to applicants who possess the following preferred qualification(s). Include clear and specific information on your application regarding your qualifications.

• Active teacher certification in any state with experience as a classroom teacher.
• Experience supervising and/or coaching professional education staff.
• Experience with the Science of Reading, Structured Literacy, associated HQIM and PreK-3 learning theory and various approaches to…