Early Literacy Specialist, Repost 08.14.2025

Date:  August 14, 2025

Reposted (original post date 9.22.2022; 01.16.2024)

Position:  Early Literacy Specialist

Location:  Southwest District

• Please select the District(s) Link to provide the district you are interested in applying for.

Reports To:  Office of Early Learning Director

Terms of Employment:  12 months, full-time (40 hours per week), benefit eligible

Monthly Salary:   $68,000-$74,000 / annually

FLSA:  EXEMPT 

Qualifications/Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in the education field to which assigned from an appropriately accredited institution and a minimum of five years of specifically related experience in public education with demonstrated leadership experience; OR
• Master's degree in the education field to which assigned from an appropriately accredited institution and a minimum of three years of specifically related experience in public education with demonstrated leadership experience;
• School level literacy coaching and/or leadership experience
• Must live in or near the assigned district;
• Travel is required. Must obtain a valid NC Driver's License

Knowledge of: 

• All components of Excellent Public Schools Act (EPSA) Legislation
• Science of Reading research
• Statewide Formal Diagnostic Reading Assessment
• North Carolina Early Learning Inventory (NCELI)
• State provided preschool assessment
• Federal and State laws, regulations and policies related to Read to Achieve and Early Education Preschool-Grade 3 continuum, particularly in the areas of curricula, assessment, learning environment and evidence-informed practices
• Adult learning principles and effective training, coaching, facilitating, and conferencing techniques aligned to the various needs of districts and schools
• Statewide and district level organizational systems, the change process, how to implement new programs and principles associated with implementing projects involving multiple organizations
• Early childhood assessments and screeners
• Effective practices for transitioning children into kindergarten

Selection Criteria: 

• Expert content knowledge in evidence-based early literacy practices
• Strong commitment to the science of reading and LETRS® professional learning
• Able to successfully obtain LETRS® state facilitator certification
• Understanding of district-level early literacy processes and organizational systems involving the change process
• Knowledge in data analysis processes relevant to early literacy with a specific focus on the statewide formal diagnostic reading assessment
• Experience coaching adults in literacy and accurately communicating content
• Understanding of the district level Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Framework
• Knowledge and application of adult learning principles
• Commitment to continuous professional growth and learning

Skills:

• Superior coaching implementation skills
• Sound judgment, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently and plan, organize and implement effectively under stringent timelines
• Ability to administer, interpret, and analyze data to determine professional development needs and recommend next steps and/or changes to improve district/school/classroom instructional practices
• Ability to plan and deliver effective professional development in-person and virtually based on adult learning principles
• Ability to effectively prioritize, schedule, manage, and organize multiple daily tasks
• Ability to identify problems and develop appropriate solutions
• Use effective written and oral communication skills, including the ability to engage in difficult and candid conversations with multiple stakeholders
• Establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with diverse groups of people with varying viewpoints within and across multiple organizations and agencies
• Prepare clear and concise reports

Duties:

• The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is seeking applicants for the Early Literacy Specialist position within the Office of Early Learning. The position will be located in an assigned district-space
• The responsibilities include:

• Aligned Mission and Vision:

  • Coordinate, align, and support the application and professional development (PD) of the Excellent Public Schools Act
  • Collaborate with NCDPI Office of Early Learning to align Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS®) and literacy PD and implementation at the district level 
  • Develop and support pacing LETRS® implementation at the school level in alignment with district and state expectations
  
  

  District Human Resources:

  • Support professional learning community teams in collaboration with district and school leaders to ensure implementation and transfer to instructional practice
  • Support, collaborate, and coach identified focus schools as assigned
  • Model effective coaching and facilitation techniques 
  
  

  Stakeholder Training/Professional Development:

  • Successfully complete and master K-5 and Early Childhood LETRS® professional development per Office of Early Learning Senior Director’s timeline requirement
  • Successfully obtain LETRS® state facilitator certification within two years of initial hiring date
  • Prioritize and provide state, district, and school level professional development, coaching, and feedback as determined in collaboration with state, district, and school leaders
  • Attend monthly virtual professional learning support sessions led by NCDPI OEL.
  • Attend no more than four face-to-face state required professional development sessions to learn, review, and align communication of developed resources with district teams to plan strategic district and school level professional development 
  
  

  Fiscal Resources:

  • Collaborate with district and school level leaders to identify aligned curriculum, literacy promising practices and prioritize support
  • Support all aspects of state-wide implementation to prioritize resources and support aligned, evidence-informed practices in Preschool through Grade 5 
  
  

  Data and Outcomes:

• Guide alignment of district and school-level data analysis and assessment implementation with state requirements

• Collaborate with state, district, and school leaders to plan for measuring the impact of reading instruction congruent with the science of reading using school baseline data and data from approved early reading assessment systems

• Assist in identifying and planning aligned coaching support for assigned schools within the district

Additional duties as assigned by the Office of Early Learning Senior Director 

         Necessary Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in the education field to which assigned from an appropriately accredited institution and a minimum of five years of specifically related experience in public education with demonstrated leadership experience; OR
• Master's degree in the education field to which assigned from an appropriately accredited institution and a minimum of three years of specifically related experience in public education with demonstrated leadership experience; 
• Successful completion of K-5 LETRS;
• Must live in or near the assigned district;
• Travel is required. Must obtain a valid NC Driver's License

• Essential Knowledge/Skills:
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state laws, and policies related to Excellent Public Schools Act and Early Education within the Preschool – Grade 5 continuum
• Demonstrated knowledge of evidence-informed literacy professional development and practices aligned to the Science of Reading
• Demonstrated knowledge of successfully delivering professional development virtually and in-person
• Demonstrated knowledge of formulating, planning, and managing multiple projects

• Management Preferences: 
• Knowledge in data analysis processes relevant to early literacy with a specific focus on the statewide formal diagnostic reading assessment
• Experience coaching adults in literacy and accurately communicating content

Application Deadline:  Position Open Until Filled

Application Process:  All candidates are required to complete an on-line application via Applicant Tracking.  Please go to the Lincoln County Schools website (www.lincoln.k12.nc.us), select EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, and APPLICANT TRACKING to begin the process. Questions should be addressed to the contact person below.

Mrs. Diana Carpenter, Superintendent of Human Resources

dcarpenter@lincoln.k12.nc.us

Lincoln County Schools

201 Jeb Seagle Drive

Lincolnton, NC 28092

Phone: 704-732-2261

Fax:  704-736-4216

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

EMPLOYER DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON BASIS OF AGE,

HANDICAP, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RACE, RELIGION, OR SEX

Salary : $68,000 - $74,000