Literacy Specialist

Title
Literacy Specialist
FLSA Status
Non-exempt
Employment Type
Part time, Hourly
Reports to
Principal, Miriam High School
Position Start Date: 2024-25 school year
About Miriam School and Learning Center
Miriam has provided services within the St. Louis community for over 100 years, with our Lower School first established in 1956. Since then, Miriam School has expanded to provide services to students with complex learning challenges from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade as well as through our Learning Center, which provides services to over 1600 additional students throughout the area. We strive to meet our Mission of empowering unique learners by building confidence and a foundation for success. Through a team-approach, small class sizes, and specialized instruction, Miriam School provides a variety of accommodations and curriculum modifications to meet academic, social, and sensory needs. Miriam High School prepares students for graduation and readiness for college, vocational training, and/or the workforce.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Summary
Miriam High School is seeking a creative, passionate and student-centered Literacy Specialist to join our team. The ideal candidate would bring a collaborative mindset and adaptability to serve students with diverse learning needs using current research and best practices in the area of literacy instruction. The Literacy Specialist provides supplemental instruction to help students develop and improve their reading and writing skills. As a literacy leader, the specialist will work with academic leadership to improve school-wide literacy programs by supporting other faculty with curriculum planning, instruction, and coaching.
Essential Functions

• Establishes a school culture for ongoing literacy program improvement and support teachers in improving instruction to support literacy growth across the curriculum.
• Creates and examines data to understand students' progress and guide instruction. Provides timely feedback to students, teachers, staff, and parents.
• Teach targeted literacy intervention to small groups of students using research-based strategies and resources.
• Identifies literature for use to support curriculum.
• Provides curriculum support and training for all teachers including ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Engages teachers in learning new instructional skills and students in acquiring new knowledge and skills.
• Employs best practices in the planning, delivery and assessment of instruction to improve learning achievement of students.
• Oversee student instructional intervention programs and recommend interventions including technological tools.

Required Education/License/Certification(s) and Experience

• Master's Degree in Reading, Writing, and/or Literacy Instruction preferred
• At least 3 years of experience
• Valid degree or certification as reading and/or writing specialist for grades 9 -12
• Advanced understanding of reading and writing content and instruction
• Possess excellent oral and written communication skills
• Passion for teaching adolescents
• Strong knowledge of current research-based practices for learning instruction
• Aptitude to learn new systems, software, and platforms including data and student information systems and use of adaptive technology with students
• Knowledge about differentiation for struggling learners and ability to employ instructional methods, strategies and technologies to meet the needs of all students
• Demonstration of strong collaborative, teaching, coaching, and leadership skills to support student programming and work in a team setting
• Problem solving skills to support student success
• Flexibility and organizational skills to balance demands of a multi-tasking position
• Data analysis and analytic skills to evaluate and recommend changes in programming
• Ability to communicate effectively with all constituents in a school environment

Working Conditions

• Part time position
• 10-month contract according to the school calendar
• Days and hours of work are typically Wednesday and Friday 9:00AM to 3:00PM
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: standing or sitting for long periods of time, walking long distances (field trips), some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling.
Additional Requirements
Satisfactory outcome of fingerprint background check and reference checks
Other Duties
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. The employee will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other related duties as assigned by the supervisor/manager. Miriam reserves the right to update, revise or change this job description and related duties at any time.