Reading Specialist

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION

Reading Teachers are professionals whose goal is to improve reading achievement. Responsibilities include teaching, assessing, and helping with data reviews for intervention literacy programs. Reading teachers serve as a resource in reading and writing for teachers. They work collaboratively with other professionals to implement literacy programs for individuals and groups of students and serve as advocates for students who struggle. The primary role of the reading teacher is determined by the needs of students, so yearly responsibilities may vary.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Instruction

• Use a wide variety of instructional methods and strategies to meet the needs of individual students.
• Work with students who struggle in literacy to engage, motivate, and create independent learners.
• Use a combination of in-class instruction and pull-out interventions to meet the needs of students.

2. Assessment

• Help select, develop, administer and interpret assessments.
• Use assessment information to plan and evaluate instruction.

3. Leadership

• Design, facilitate, lead, and evaluate effective and differentiated professional development opportunities.
• Support learning by planning and collaborating with teachers, supporting classroom instruction, and providing specialized support to help develop individual goals to improve instruction.
• Develop positive collaborative relationships with teachers to effectively identify issues or needs, set goals, and solve problems.

4. General

• Maintain student and student record confidentiality to the extent possible.
• Maintain complete and accurate records as required by district policy and administrative regulation.
• Attend all building, faculty, department, and student/parent meetings, including Individual Education Plan meetings, etc.
• Stay abreast of district news through staff bulletins, email messages, etc.
• Follow district and school policies, guidelines, administrative regulations, and the employee handbook.
• Serve as a positive role model for students and to help instill in students the belief in and practice of ethical principles and democratic values.
• Perform other duties within the scope of employment and certification as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Must possess an excellent understanding of reading and writing development as well as a variety of ways to teach reading and writing, when to use each method, and how to combine methods into an effective instructional program. Understand the workshop model of literacy and how to support it.  Possess a good understanding of and use different types of assessments and their purposes, strengths and limitations. Because new strategies and techniques are developed and refined over time, reading teachers must view themselves as lifelong learners and continually improve their practices based on the most current research. 

CERTIFICATION 

Must hold Reading 316 or 317 with relevant training or experiences in reading, language acquisition, instructional coaching, or leadership.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, talk, hear, walk and sit.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 50 lbs. such as boxes of books, and mobile computer lab carts.  The employee is directly responsible for safety, well-being or work output of other people.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, and the ability to adjust focus, as well as far vision such as to supervise students.  The position requires the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and interact with the public and other staff.   The job will require occasional balancing, stooping and kneeling; bending at the neck and at the waist is frequently required; the use of the fingers and hands to grasp and feel small objects is also frequently required.  The ability to talk, hear and express and understand ideas and thoughts are constantly required.

The employee shall remain free of any alcohol or illegal substance in the workplace in compliance with Policy 3122.01 throughout his/her employment in the District.

The Delavan-Darien School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.