Reading Specialist (SY26-27)

Position: Reading Specialist

Position Type: Full-time

Department: Student Services

Location: Watertown Middle School

Reports to: Principal

Affiliation: Watertown Educators Association Unit A

Salary range: As determined by Salary Schedule, Unit A

General Description:

Provide strong reading support 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 MCAS, 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 SIT teams and grade-level teams on the appropriate use of data in making educational decisions.
• Administer a variety reading assessment tools, 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.

Qualifications:

• MA DESE Certification as a Reading Specialist
• Minimum of 3 years of teaching experience
• Master's degree in education, 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.
• Successful classroom teaching experience, preferred
• Experience working with EL students, preferred
• Multilingual, preferred
• In-depth knowledge of the reading process with regard to acquisition, assessment and instruction, and remediation, especially for adolescents.
• Understanding of the literacy curriculum and standards
• Skills, knowledge, and disposition to effectively and collaboratively work with a range of teachers
• Ability to individualize instruction according to students' learning needs, including English learners and students with disabilities
• Experience with a range of reading assessments, (diagnostic, formal, informal) and the ability to analyze and interpret the data to make instructional decisions.
• Understanding of and experience working with a range of diverse range of disability types, particularly in regard to reading acquisition.
• Experience working with special education staff and familiarity with the IEP process (goal writing, progress reports, Team meetings)

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.