Elementary Literacy Specialist (2026-2027)

Nature and Scope:

The Literacy Specialist works directly with both teachers and students to support literacy development in students K-5.  The Specialist works with students in general and special education, providing targeted instruction and intervention in literacy skills including decoding, reading fluency, and encoding. The Specialist supports teachers in a variety of ways, including individual and small-group coaching, co-teaching, modeling, and consultation.  The Specialist supports the whole school in administering assessments, analyzing data, participating in Child Study Teams, developing and facilitating literacy professional learning, and collaborates with the district-wide Literacy Specialist team.  

Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

• Provides direct reading intervention and instruction for students
• Provide instructional coaching to teachers by modeling effective literacy practices, co-planning lessons, observing instruction, and offering constructive feedback to support the implementation of high-quality, evidence-based reading instruction.
• Administers literacy assessments and engages in ongoing data analysis
• Helps teachers interpret literacy assessment data of students.
• Collaborates with literacy and math specialists to identify students in need of greater support, and develop intervention schedules
• Assists administrators and teachers in designing appropriate intervention programs for students struggling to read
• Designs and delivers school-based and districtwide professional development training and workshops for teachers and instructional assistants in literacy best practices.
• With the K-5 Literacy Coordinator, plans and conducts periodic program evaluations to assess the need for improvements in reading instruction and/or assessments.
• All other responsibilities as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s degree preferred
• Massachusetts DESE Reading certification
• Ability to assess reading and general literacy needs of students.
• Effective oral and written communication.
• Familiarity with educational testing and informal assessment and structured multi-sensory sequential reading programs preferred.
• Orton Gillingham and/or Wilson Reading Level One or Two Certification preferred

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITY, AND SKILL

- Knowledge of the standards set forth in the MA curriculum frameworks 

- Knowledge of the relevant content; stays current in literacy research and best practices
- Knowledge of relevant School Committee Policies, district and building goals, needs of the students in the class, and relevant state and federal laws.
- Ability to execute the performance standards set forth in the WPS teaching rubric.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Strong organizational and planning skills.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues.
- Ability to forge effective working relationships with students and parents.
- Technological proficiency, both in the use of technology for communication and for instruction.
- Ability to work under time constraints and meet deadlines.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

- Demonstrates caring and concern for all students and colleagues
- Conveys a love of learning to students and adults.
- Makes positive contributions to the larger school community.
- Communicates clearly.
- Maintains professional demeanor, uses good judgment.

- Demonstrates a growth mindset for themselves, students, and colleagues

JOB ENVIRONMENT

Work takes place in classrooms and other building rooms/areas, including offices, auditorium, gym, lunchroom and hallways, within a school building setting, primarily indoors. Job takes place in a high-performing school district with high expectations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

- Requires sufficient vision to read printed documents and to view detail on a computer screen for extended periods.
- Requires frequent standing, walking, sitting, bending, and reaching, as well as carrying and occasionally lifting up to 30 lbs.
- Ability to speak in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in normal conversation, on the telephone, and in the classroom.
- Ability to hear sounds clearly up to twenty feet.
- Travel among buildings may be required.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Westwood is an inclusive community that supports diversity among its staff and student body

The Westwood Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status.

Salary information for this position can be found in the applicable collective bargaining agreement on the district’s website: https://www.westwood.k12.ma.us/district/school-committee/Agreements.cfm.

Salary : $59,047 - $134,970