Reading Specialist (SY26-27)

Position: Reading Specialist

Position Type:  Full-time, 1.0 FTE

Department: Special Education

Location: Lowell Elementary School

Reports to: Principal

Affiliation: WEA Unit A

Salary range: Per the Unit A Salary Scale

This is an anticipated position, contingent upon approval of the school budget.

General Description:

Lowell Elementary School is hiring for a Reading Specialist to provide strong, structured reading support to students in grades K-5 so that students who need additional literacy skill development are provided with targeted instruction. The Reading Specialist will be responsible for providing reading instruction for students who are reading below grade level, and/or have not met proficiency on DIBELS or other District assessments and/or might have reading support on their IEP.

Responsibilities:

• Provide research-based, direct instruction in small intervention groups for the majority of the workday; monitor and report on the results of these interventions.
• Work collaboratively with the school-wide Student Intervention Teams and grade-level teachers on the appropriate use of data in making educational decisions.
• Administer a variety reading assessment tools (including DIBELS), and analyze data to determine strengths and needs of students.
• Communicate assessment results and targeted intervention plans to parents, teachers, and administration.
• As needed, support tier one instruction through collaborative planning and/or co-teaching.
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with other professionals in planning programs to meet the needs of diverse populations of learners.
• Assist building administration in reviewing data to develop and assist in building level professional development which supports literacy interventions.

Core Competencies: Using the Massachusetts Model System for Educators Rubric, priority skills and abilities that all Watertown Public School teachers should possess:

• Curriculum, Planning, and Assessment: (Subject Matter Knowledge, Well-Structured Lessons, Curriculum and Planning Indicator, Child and Adolescent Development)
• Demonstrates mastery of and enthusiasm for the content area and the pedagogy it requires
• Can convey a grasp of child development and how students learn
• Designs effective and rigorous standards based units of instruction consisting of well-structured lessons with measurable outcomes.
• Familiarity with any or all of the following programs preferred: Fundations, Wit & Wisdom, Eureka2, and responsive classroom
• Teaching All Students: (Meeting Diverse Needs, Student Engagement, Safe Learning Environment)
• Uses instructional practices that are likely to challenge, motivate, and engage all students and facilitate equitable, active student participation
• Builds a productive learning environment where every student participates and is valued as part of the class community
• Cultural Proficiency:
• Actively creates and maintains an environment in which students’ diverse backgrounds, identities, strengths, and challenges are respected
• Family and Community Engagement: (Parent/Family Engagement)
• Engages with families and builds collaborative, respectful relationships with them in service of student learning
• Professional Reflection & Collaboration 
• Professional Culture: (Reflective Practice, Professional Collaboration)
• Regularly reflects on practice, seeks and responds to feedback, and demonstrates self-awareness and commitment to continuous learning and development
• Seeks to participate in and contribute to a collaborative adult learning community.

Qualifications Required:

• MA DESE Certification as a Reading Specialist and SEI endorsement.
• Master’s degree in education, Reading, English as a Second Language, or Special Education, preferred.
• Working knowledge and understanding of the Response to Intervention (RtI) process, at-risk supports, and literacy development.
• In-depth knowledge of the Science of Reading and best practices in structured literacy interventions

Preferred:

• Orton Gillingham Preferred, with an understanding that in this position you will need to obtain this certificate within the first year of employment
• Minimum one year of experience in teaching with successful classroom teaching, especially with Multilingual students
• Multilingual candidates are encouraged to apply, with Spanish and Portuguese language skills preferred.

Physical Demands:

• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, operate a computer, hand-held learning devices and other office equipment, reach with hands and arms, and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Watertown Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.