What are the responsibilities and job description for the FY26-27 Reading Specialist position at The Biome School?
Position: 2026-2027 Reading Specialist
Insurance: 100% Employer-Paid Medical, Dental, Vision, STD/LTD, Life
Retirement: Mandatory participation in the St. Louis Public School Retirement System
The Biome School Mission
The Biome engages children in an individualized and challenging educational environment, enriching minds and cultivating confident, creative builders of the future.
The Biome School
The Biome is a tuition-free, k-5, public charter school that provides a unique academic experience for children who live in the City of St. Louis. Biome students are actively involved in their own learning and are integral to the development of new ideas and ways of thinking. The school’s learner-centered, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) framework guides instruction across disciplines and provides students with rigorous and holistic academic experiences. The learning environment, characterized by high expectations, differentiated instruction, relentless encouragement and student support, is critical to the academic, social, and emotional progress of Biome learners. Similar to a tropical rainforest biome, which sustains a diverse array of life forms, The Biome School supports the diverse academic interests, skills, and needs of each individual learner.
Position Description
The Biome School is looking for a Reading Specialist to support student achievement in reading for all learners, with special attention to learners receiving Tier II and Tier III, services. The Reading Specialist will work with learners in one-on-one sessions or in small groups and will provide in-class support to classroom leaders, as appropriate. Primary goals for the Reading Specialist are to develop students’ foundational skills, to assist students in identifying and correcting errors, and to lead students to develop meaningful connections in reading.
The Biome School may be a good fit for you if…
- You enjoy the energy and curiosity of elementary school children
- You believe every child has unique gifts and talents
- You enjoy working in an environment where you get to help create the instructional “roadmap”
- You collaborate well and are comfortable sharing your ideas and questions
- You are organized, hard-working, and detail-oriented
- You are excited about working in a school community characterized by high expectations
Essential Responsibilities
- Implements instructional practices that accelerate learning for students who struggle with
- Collects and uses student data to inform instruction for individuals and small groups
- Documents learner progress and communicates growth and/or decline to classroom leaders, administrators, and families
- Participates in ongoing professional development in order to stay up to date on best practices in mathematics instruction, intervention, and assessments
- Assists in the development of intervention plans for learners
- Attends Tier II, Tier III, and IEP meetings, as appropriate
- Attends family conferences for students who are receiving services
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree is required; Master’s degree is preferred
- Reading certification is preferred, but not required
- Holds a valid elementary teaching certificate for Missouri
- Three years of successful teaching experience at the elementary level
The ideal candidate will have a Reading Specialist Certification, experience with RSP's, HMH, CKLA and i-Ready.
Preferred skills and characteristics
- Strong interpersonal, communication, collaboration, and organizational skills
- Self-confident and resilient
- Consistent and reliable
- Data-driven and results-oriented
Physical Demands/Work Environment:
- Ability to work in a school environment with students and staff
- Frequent use of computer systems, phones, and other office equipment
- Occasional lifting of supplies or materials (up to 25 lbs)
- Ability to move between classrooms and various school areas
Please include the following with your application:
- Resumé (not to exceed two pages; 12-point font)
- Cover letter, which explains the candidate’s interest in the position as well as the skills and experiences that make the applicant a good candidate for the position (not to exceed two pages; 12-point font)
Phone calls will not be accepted.