SUMMARY:  Assists K-3 teachers in the improvement of teaching literacy.
 
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  Other duties may be assigned.

• Support and provide initial and ongoing professional development to teachers in the following areas:
  • Each of the five major reading components (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension) as needed,  based on an analysis of student performance data
  • Administering and analyzing instructional assessments
  • Providing differentiated instruction and intensive intervention
  • Using progress monitoring
  • Identifying and addressing reading deficiencies
• Model effective instructional strategies for teachers
• Facilitate study groups
• Train teachers in data analysis and using data to differentiate instruction
• Coach and mentor colleagues
• Work with teachers to ensure that evidence-based reading programs such as comprehensive core reading programs, supplemental reading programs, and comprehensive intervention reading programs are implemented with fidelity
• Train teachers to diagnose and address reading deficiency
• Work with teacher in applying evidence-based reading strategies in other content areas, including, but not limited to, prioritizing time spent on those teachers, activities, and roles that will have the greatest impact on student achievement and prioritizing coaching and mentoring in classrooms.
• Help to increase instructional density to meet the needs of all students
• Help lead and support reading leadership teams at the school
• Continue to increase his or her knowledge base in best practices in reading instruction and intervention
• Model for the teacher, and coach the teacher in, instruction with students in whole and small groups in K-3 classrooms
• Share expertise with other literacy coaches and teachers
• Attend literacy coach meetings to foster two way communication between the district and buildings
• Work with the principal and district to collect and analyze literacy data
• Facilitate parent workshops in literacy and assessment

 
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:  None.
 
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: 

• Bachelor’s Degree with valid Michigan Teaching Certificate
• Elementary endorsement preferred
• Major/Minor in Language Arts/Reading preferred
• Demonstrated successful classroom experience, early literacy experience preferred
• Strong knowledge base in working with adults
• Proven credibility with peers
• Experience using formative assessment data to adjust literacy instruction to meet individual student needs
• Recent participation in Literacy and Coaching Training, and/or advanced coursework in reading, and/or completion of professional development in evidence-based literacy instructional strategies.

 
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:  Valid Michigan Elementary Teacher Certification with Major/Minor in Language Arts/Reading preferred.  Participation in Language Arts Curriculum Development required.  Participation in MLPP training and experience using MLPP in classroom. 
 
LANGUAGE SKILLS:  Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, technical procedure, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.  Ability to manage and interpret various forms of data. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of administrators, staff, students, parents and the general public.
 
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:  Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
 
REASONING ABILITY:  Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.   Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
 
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:  Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program; ability to plan and present lessons based on school objectives and the needs and abilities of students to whom assigned.  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, school staff and parents; skills in oral and written communication. 
 
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to walk.  The employee is occasionally required to stand and reach with hands and arms.
 
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds such as books and teaching material.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance, vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The ability to travel to other building is required. The position requires the individual to sometimes work irregular or extended work hours and meet multiple demands from several people.
 
WORK ENVIRONMENT:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
 
The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position.  Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.