Tiered Literacy Systems Coach and Coordinator Early Literacy; PRISM Salem, MA SY

Tiered Literacy Systems Coach and Coordinator for Early Literacy (PRISM)

Salem Public Schools, where belonging leads to opportunity.

Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district enrolling nearly 4,000 students in 10 schools. Our vision is to ensure that all students will be locally engaged, globally connected, and fully prepared to thrive in a diverse and changing world. We hold dear our core values of belonging, equity, and opportunity in everything we do.

We seek individuals who are passionate about urban education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement for all students, regardless of ability, economic status, gender/gender identity, language, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other backgrounds.

The Tiered Literacy Systems Coach and Coordinator will be responsible for the district wide design, oversight, implementation, and integration of early literacy screening and intervention systems. This role addresses a critical need to move from school-based silos to a coherent, equitable, and sustainable district wide system. The Coach and Coordinator will ensure that all students, particularly those in K-2, have access to a unified diagnostic process and to evidence-based Tier 2 supports that are closely aligned with Tier 1 instruction.

Additionally, this role will provide targeted support and coaching to educators implementing Tier 2 to strengthen implementation at one of Salem's elementary schools.

• Unified Diagnostic Framework: Establish and codify district wide definitions for tiered supports (Tier 1, 2, and
  3) and create consistent intervention parameters, including group size, frequency, and duration. Develop a shared diagnostic process that connects universal screening (STAR) and other key data points to specific instructional actions.
• Progress Monitoring Protocol: Implement a shared district protocol for progress monitoring (using CBMs) that anchors data collection to specific student goals and instructional response.
• Coaching and Capacity Building: Collaborate with school leaders to design intervention services and provide embedded professional learning for staff, including reading specialists, on data interpretation and targeted instruction; provide targeted coaching for teachers to strengthen Tier 2 implementation.
• Data Integration: In partnership with the Instructional Technology and Student Support departments, lead the transition to a single, district wide platform (e.g., Open Architects) for tracking intervention data, ensuring it is the "single source of truth and information" for all schools.
• MTSS Alignment: Refine and standardize the Student Support Team (SST) referral process for early literacy to ensure it is data-driven and consistently applied across all elementary buildings. Collaborate with elementary City Connects Coordinators to review the SST process in each school for clarity and consistency of practice.
• Learn and Serve: Takes the initiative to proactively learn about unique contexts for this work including Dual Language, Multilingual Learner Education, and Early Childhood and intentionally and proactively adjusts and refines systems to meet those unique needs in partnership with Early Childhood and DL leaders

What You'll Bring:

We are looking for candidates who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, are inspired by our mission and are highly motivated to change children's lives through education. You'll be right at home here if you are a reflective practitioner who values collaboration with colleagues and pushes yourself, your work and the people around you to the next level. In this position, candidates will bring:

• Expertise in Literacy Systems: Deep knowledge of the DESE MTSS Blueprint, Mass Literacy guidance, WIDA Proficiency Scales, and the MA Dyslexia Guidelines.
• Diagnostic Proficiency: Demonstrated ability to use screening and diagnostic data (STAR, CBMs) to identify specific skill gaps and form instructional groups.
• Leadership & Coaching: Experience building staff capacity through embedded professional learning and facilitating data-informed instruction (DII) meetings.
• System Management: Ability to manage district-level data platforms and monitor implementation fidelity across multiple school sites

We are looking for candidates who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, are inspired by our mission and are highly motivated to change children's lives through education. You'll be right at home here if you are a reflective practitioner who values collaboration with colleagues and pushes yourself, your work and the people around you to the next level. We expect our SPS employees to:

• Hold a deep commitment to students and families and value diversity: The SPS community is vibrant, diverse in background, ethnicity, language, and perspective. You embrace and affirm the backgrounds of all members of the SPS community and view our diversity as a powerful…