Reading Specialist- High School

Job Description

Department: Special Education

FLSA Status: Unit A

Reports to: Special Education Department Head/Principal

Starting Date: Aug 27, 2026

In compliance with state and federal laws, Newton Public Schools is committed to equity, anti‑racism and a nondiscrimination policy for students, employees, and prospective applicants. All educational and employment determinations are based on qualifications and achievements without regard to protected characteristics.

Summary: The Reading Specialist provides direct reading services to students with reading disabilities, including those with language‑based learning disabilities, to develop strong reading and writing skills in accordance with IEP goals and benchmarks. The specialist also participates in the special education process, including IEP meetings and service recommendations.

• Provide direct instruction and intervention to struggling readers for encoding/decoding, reading comprehension, and reading fluency.
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with other professionals and service providers in planning instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of reading and language‑based disabilities and evidence‑based interventions for supporting students with varying reading and language‑based challenges.
• Apply specialized instructional techniques to support the written expression work of struggling readers.
• Provide formal and informal literacy assessment and data analysis for progress monitoring and reporting.
• Provide case management to students on caseload, including running team meetings and developing individualized educational programs.
• Maintain consistent, reliable, and punctual attendance essential for supervision and instruction of the students.
• Implement additional job‑related duties as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Valid Massachusetts Special Education/Moderate Special Needs teaching license.
• Orton‑Gillingham, Wilson, and/or Linda Mood Bell Certification.
• Reading Specialist license (preferred).
• Master’s Degree.
• Experience teaching and assessing reading skills.
• Ability to handle a multitude of varying and complex literacy issues.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Computer experience.

Desired

Qualifications:

• Familiarity and experience with encoding and decoding literacy instructional methodologies.
• Familiarity with language‑based instructional methodologies.
• Experience with the administration of reading assessments, analysis of data from assessments, and writing comprehensive educational evaluation reports from assessment data.
• Familiarity with progress monitoring methods and utilization of data to drive intervention.
• Experience with individual and small group instruction and intervention in reading and writing.

Work Environment: The majority of work is performed in a school/classroom HyFlex environment where students participate both in‑person and virtually. The role requires in‑person presence and moderate noise level. Regular attendance is essential; rarely late or absent unless an emergency occurs.

Physical Requirements: The position frequently requires kneeling, stooping, bending, and crouching; periodic standing while talking and listening; occasional sitting, walking, lifting, or carrying; and regular lifting of objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

Position Type: Full‑Time

Salary: Up to $134,270 per year

• Katie Lindley
• Newton North High School
• Email: lindleyk.ma.us