Reading Specialist - CCS

Job Description

Job Title: Reading Specialist

Starting Date: Immediately

FLSA Status: Exempt

Contract Length: 191 contract days

Under the direction of the Principal, the Reading Specialist’s responsibilities fall into two categories. As a teacher, the role involves providing direct instruction to students individually or in small groups to develop literacy skills. As a literacy leader, the specialist implements a comprehensive literacy program at the assigned school, coaching and supporting teachers in effective literacy instruction practices.

• Provide direct instruction in reading and writing for identified groups and individual students, emphasizing emergent, beginning, and transitional readers.
• Utilize the division’s Tier 3 intervention resources for the lowest‑performing 5% of students as designed.

• Support teachers in organizing classroom libraries with books at appropriate independent reading levels.
• Assist teachers in selecting books for guided reading instruction, supplementing leveled readers in the core program as needed.
• Provide curriculum support and training for all teachers and administrators, ensuring continuous staff development and a thorough understanding of school division initiatives, current SOL English resources, and assessment blueprints.
• Model and coach instructional methods in whole‑group and small‑group settings, including pre‑conferencing, feedback, and follow‑up observation of teacher implementation.
• Provide ongoing training on the design and implementation of literacy work statistics.
• Gather, analyze, and communicate literacy data to support continuous improvement, set SMART goals, and make data‑based recommendations to principals.
• Collaborate with teachers on using assessment data to plan instruction and analyze school literacy data to identify future needs.
• Participate in collaborative instructional planning at least monthly.
• Assess new students and others as requested by the Principal to determine placement and instructional needs.
• Conduct classroom visitations and provide feedback on the school’s literacy program.
• Serve as liaison between the school and the Department of Instruction.
• Maintain organized systems for storage and circulation of reading and writing materials.
• Maintain a comprehensive inventory of literacy materials, including supplemental Title I resources.
• Plan with Literacy Support Assistants for meaningful extension lessons aligned to classroom instruction.
• Ensure the school’s home‑reading program is organized and updated annually.
• Assist in planning and delivering parent workshops and information sessions on the language‑arts program.
• Participate in parent conferences and Child Study Team meetings as requested, providing instructional suggestions.
• Remain grounded in content standards and objectives to facilitate integrated and concept‑based instruction.
• Identify literature for use across all content areas to support the curriculum.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Must possess a Master’s degree and be eligible for a Virginia Teaching License with an endorsement as a Reading Specialist. At least three (3) years of successful classroom teaching experience, with reading as a primary responsibility, is required. Candidates should have:

• Knowledge of ACPS curriculum resources and techniques for integrating curriculum, ACPS policies, and effective instructional practices.
• Knowledge of the needs of students requiring literacy interventions and the core literacy program in ACPS.
• Tech skills to model use of available literacy resources, gather and organize data.
• Thorough understanding of teaching and learning processes, multicultural perspectives, and the ability to infuse technology into the curriculum.
• Ability to guide and train teachers in practical techniques and strategies.
• Ability to work effectively with administrators, colleagues, central office staff, school board staff, parents, and community.
• Ability to use diagnostic data to tailor instruction to meet student needs.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and human‑relations skills.

Ability to sit and stand for extended periods; manual dexterity to dial a telephone and enter data on a computer; vision and hearing adequate for classroom and phone communication; physical agility to lift up to 25 pounds and perform basic movements such as bending, stooping, and climbing stairs.

Criminal Justice Background Check, Fingerprinting, TB Assessment.

Dependent on grade level and subject; may include instructional assistants, volunteers, and tutors.

Principal.

The Accomack County School System does not discriminate based on age, sex, handicap, race, religion, color, or national origin in its employment practices.

We are an equal opportunity employer.

Salary: $51,932 to $77,545 per year