Literacy Specialist-Middle School

Job Information

Starting Date: Aug 25, 2026

Job Title: Literacy Specialist

Department: Teaching and Learning

Reports to: Director for English Language Arts PK-12

FLSA Status: Exempt, Unit A

Position Type: Full-Time

Salary: up to $134,270 per year

The literacy specialist is responsible for helping every child in the school develop strong reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. A Literacy Specialist provides and leads literacy instruction and assessment through coaching, student instruction and intervention, and coordinating assessment and tiered support services.

Required Qualifications:

• K‑12 Reading Specialist License and valid Massachusetts teaching license, with SEI endorsement or additional ESL license
• Master’s Degree in Education with a concentration in Literacy/Reading
• Three or more years of recent experience teaching at the middle school level
• Current knowledge of research and effective practices in literacy development, instruction, assessment, and professional development
• Excellent interpersonal skills and flexible, responsive work style

Desired

Qualifications:

• Familiarity and experience with
  • Curriculum implementation and support
  • EL Education literacy program
  • UFLI Foundations curriculum and Wilson Fundations curriculum
  • A variety of literacy assessments and interventions
  • Administering, analyzing, and forming groups using literacy diagnostic assessment
• Coaching experience
• Experience supporting teachers in shifting from a Balanced Literacy model to a Knowledge Building curriculum
• Experience collaborating and problem‑solving with teachers
• Experience and coursework in anti‑racist, anti‑bias instruction

• Provide leadership and support for the implementation of the district literacy curriculum
• Provide professional development to teachers and paraprofessionals related to literacy programs and instructional practices through trainings, workshops, in‑class modeling, and advising
• Support Newton’s curriculum and professional development by modeling best practices, coaching teachers, and encouraging reflective practice
• Participate in grade‑level meetings (i.e. PLCs, GLDs) regularly to facilitate instructional conversations and activities, and reflect on a wide range of qualitative and quantitative student data points
• Serve as a resource in reading and writing for paraprofessionals, teachers, administrators, and the community
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with other professionals to plan instruction that meets the needs of diverse learners
• Provide and support literacy assessment and data analysis
• Provide direct instruction and intervention to struggling readers
• Regularly attend professional learning communities and learning with other literacy specialists
• Coordinate Tier I and Tier II literacy support
• Support literacy instruction and intervention during WIN blocks and small group instructional times; demonstrate flexibility to address broader academic needs that may emerge through ongoing student assessment and team collaboration
• Maintain consistent and on‑time attendance to job‑related duties as required

Majority of work is performed in a school/classroom environment. The noise level is usually moderate. Regular attendance is essential; rare absences or lateness are acceptable only in emergencies.

Physical requirements:

frequently kneel, stoop, bend, and crouch; occasionally stand during talking and listening; occasionally sit, walk, lift, or carry.