Comprehensive Literacy State Development Early Literacy Specialist, RPDC, UMKC School of Education

Hiring Department

School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences' Regional Professional Development Center (RPDC)

The RPDC Comprehensive Literacy State Development Early Literacy Specialist will support birth through 5‑year‑old educators in developing knowledge of and implementing evidence‑based early literacy instruction. The CLSD Early Literacy Specialist will provide educators, families, and communities at CLSD selected schools and programs with support to assist in the development and implementation of effective instructional methods, assessments and/or activities related to improving and advancing early language and literacy skills.

The specialists will provide job‑embedded, continuous professional development to CLSD early childhood selected schools and programs through coaching cycles and professional learning aligned with evidence‑based early literacy instruction. The specialists will support classroom teachers on classroom implementation of the EC LETRS professional development course and/or instruction aligned with the science of reading. The specialist will coordinate with existing partnerships and/or develop new partnerships to establish sustainable family and community literacy experiences.

The purpose of the CLSD Early Literacy Specialist is to provide educators, families, and communities at CLSD selected schools and programs with support to assist in the development and implementation of effective instructional methods, assessments and/or activities related to improving and advancing early language and literacy skills in birth to 5‑year‑olds.

The expected outcomes for this effort are to improve the early language and literacy development of children birth to 5 years old by improving the implementation of evidence‑based early language and literacy practices and supporting the literacy learning connections through reciprocal relationships between school and home.

• Report data and grant activities as required in a format and through a system designated by DESE CLSD.

• Participate in all grant activities with CLSD selected schools and programs.
• Participate in collaborative planning meetings with other early childhood specialists and literacy coaches within and across regions.
• Assist DESE CLSD team with the collection of data for statewide analysis and the creation of supporting resources.
• Attend and actively participate in statewide monthly resource, support, and training meetings, as designated by the DESE master calendar and direction from the DESE CLSD team.
• Report data and grant activities each month or more frequently as required by the DESE CLSD team.
• Support CLSD schools and programs with technical assistance and grant activities.
• Assist and support CLSD early childhood selected schools and programs in improving literacy outcomes of students.
• Assist early childhood schools and programs in implementing effective, evidence‑based instructional practices and strategies.
• Establish consistent communication with designated CLSD early childhood selected school or program.
• Attend regional and national conferences as requested by DESE.

• Provide job‑embedded, continuous professional development to CLSD early childhood selected schools and programs through coaching cycles aligned with evidence‑based early literacy instruction.
• Support classroom teachers on classroom implementation of the EC LETRS professional development course and/or instruction aligned with the science of reading.
• Provide professional development to CLSD selected schools and programs that align with CLSD Early Childhood programming.
• Coordinate with existing partnership, if applicable, to implement the following
  • Collaborate with CLSD early childhood selected schools and programs to host family literacy learning events – provide learning opportunities and build reciprocal literacy partnerships with families.
  • Communicate and support specific school‑to‑home early language and literacy learning connections.
  • Collaborate and support, as a liaison, to establish sustainable family and community literacy partnerships for student…