School-Based Structured Literacy Support Coach

Job Summary:

The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) – Division of State Schools is recruiting for (1) one School-Based Structured Literacy Support Coach. Under the supervision of the School-level Superintendent, the School-Based Structured Literacy Support Coach will be assigned to support the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf (AASD) in Clarkston, Georgia, one of the three State operated schools for Deaf and blind students. The School-Based Structured Literacy Support Coach will support the implementation of the Georgia Early Literacy Act and provide appropriate services to AASD so that there can be a cohesive, sustained, intensive and classroom-focused approach that is rigorous, engaging, and relevant for students. The School-Based Structured Literacy Support Coach will provide a non-threatening, open, professional, and collaborative work relationship with school leaders, other support staff, and K-3 teachers. The School-Based Structured Literacy Support Coach will be required to effectively identify the needs of AASD in order to prioritize, schedule, organize, and provide technical assistance to the school, so students can achieve grade level reading proficiency by the end of 3rd grade. Travel will be required.

Description of Duties:

·       Assist school leadership with aligning schoolwide systems, processes, and resources to structured literacy as defined by Georgia Early Literacy Act

·       Assist school leadership with providing regular and user-friendly data reports to internal school stakeholders and external school stakeholders

·       Assist K-3 teachers in addressing grade specific curriculum by developing an effective school-wide literacy plan and providing strategies for monitoring the plan’s implementation

·       Collaborate with Regional Structured Literacy Support Coaches to design and conduct professional development to meet the varied needs of K-3 teachers

·       Facilitate and lead structured coaching cycles with teachers, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented environment that includes goal setting, modeling, lesson observation, constructive feedback, and reflective discussions to enhance literacy instruction and student outcomes

·       Provide clear, practical, timely, and candid written and oral feedback to teachers about their instruction

·       Conference with teachers identified for additional support to create, implement, and monitor goals and plans for improving practice

·       Meet regularly with school leadership, other school-based coaches, and K-3 teachers to review data and make recommendations for adjustments in instructional practices

·       Maintain an organized system for documenting coaching services 

·       Provide monthly reports related to the literacy components of the school improvement plan

·       Meet monthly with the regional structured literacy support coach as a professional learning community to ensure consistency of services and discuss trends in needs across districts

·       Attend regular training and professional learning sessions developed by the statewide structured literacy coaching coordinator 

Preferred Qualifications:

Preference will be given to applicants who, in addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, possess one or more of the following:

·       Possess a thorough understanding of the following:

o   Reading processes, acquisition, assessment, and instruction

o   Systematic, explicit instructional process

o   Instructional coaching approaches and strategies for teaching adult learners

o   Scientific reading research and its application to effective classroom instruction, structure, and practices, as well as intervention

o   Georgia Standards for Excellence in English Language Arts, Social Studies, Science as well as new Georgia K-12 ELA Standards

o   Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports

o   Data analysis and application

·       Hold a Master’s degree in Elementary Education, Reading, Special Education, or related field 

·       Have Advanced preparation in instructional coaching through completion of Coaching Endorsement, Teacher Leader Endorsement, or independent training program (e.g., Instructional Coaching Group), or  3 years instructional leadership experience including curriculum design, professional development, and implementation support at the school or district level

·       Possess certification in Special Education, VI, and/or DHH Education

·       Have documentation of satisfactory completion of one of the identified Teacher Preparation Programs outlined by the Georgia Literacy Act

·       Have advanced preparation in Reading/Literacy through completion of Reading Endorsement, Dyslexia Endorsement, or independent training program approved by International Dyslexia Association

·       Have a minimum of 5 years elementary teaching experience including evidence-based word recognition and comprehension instruction

·       Have ASL proficiency at 3 or above as measured by the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) if assigned to a Deaf school.

Consideration/interviews will begin as soon as a list of applicants is established.  Applications/resumes will be evaluated and only those meeting the qualifications may be forwarded to the hiring manager to be considered.  Candidates chosen for interviews will be contacted directly.  No notification will be sent to applicants except those who are selected for interviews.

It is the policy of the Georgia Department of Education not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, disability, or age in its employment practices.  The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) and each associated State School is a registered participant in the federal work authorization program commonly known as E-Verify.  The GaDOE utilizes the program to verify employment eligibility of individuals hired on or after July 1, 2007.