Job Description
We are seeking a Literacy Specialist to join our Wellness team here at Near North Montessori School for our upcoming 2024/25 school year. This is an exciting, brand new position.
The Literacy Specialist ensures that effective and efficient literacy interventions and support systems are in place to support all students in achieving appropriate grade-level skills in reading. The specialist will also assist in creating systems that support quality literacy instruction. The Literacy Specialist will report to the Learning Support Program Manager.
** Schedule :** 40 hours per week, typically Monday through Friday, with shifts falling between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm during the school year, with adjustments or additional time as needed. This role may also include required daytime & overnight field trip participation. This is a school year role, starting in August and ending in mid June each year. There will be an opportunity to work summer camps if desired. We are searching for someone to start in August 2024 for our 2024/25 school year!
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
COACHING AND SUPPORT
- Use the most up-to-date knowledge in the field to collaborate with the Learning Support Team in supporting the use of Montessori materials and methodology to drive literacy outcomes for children at all levels, particularly children with lagging skills.
- Train members of the Academic Team in foundational, agreed-upon, structured literacy strategies. This includes teachers, classroom assistants, and learning support specialists.
- Work with classroom and learning support teams (during Professional Development, Child Study, office hours, and other meeting times as required and assigned) on interpreting individual student literacy assessment scores to determine support strategies as needed.
- Hold office hours to collaborate with teachers to provide insight and guidance as they create plans for differentiated instruction in the classroom for accommodations and learning extensions as necessary.
- Support the Professional Development of NNM faculty in the area of literacy.
- Participate in developing Child Study plans for students with literacy needs and advise staff around data collection and interventions.
TEACHING AND PRACTICE
- Have/develop a clear understanding of the Montessori philosophy in practice, in particular when it comes to literacy materials and implementation.
- Work with identified children, individually or in small groups, to strengthen literacy skills.
- Prepare materials and lessons that meet the needs and interests of the children, are appropriate to their development, and are based on Montessori philosophy and practice, as well as best educational practices, and utilize the strategies from the agreed upon school-wide structured literacy model.
- Communicate clearly and accurately with children, conveying clear expectations and managing student behavior positively, respectfully, and effectively.
- Keep literacy support materials in good condition, maintain and grow the reader set library, and order new materials as needed.
- Promote the values contained in the school’s mission statement.
- Create an emotional climate that is warm and comfortable and in which children feel safe and nurtured and facilitate a cooperative learning community.
PROFESSIONAL/PERSONAL GROWTH
- Keep up-to-date on current research on best practices for reading instruction.
- Set and accomplish realistic and meaningful annual goals in consultation with the Learning Support Program Manager.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as required, assigned, or requested.