Exciting opportunity at Wissahickon School District! At Wissahickon we are looking for individuals who will foster EQUITY and INCLUSION in our schools, seeking to create a learning community in which all students are appreciated, inspired, and equipped to engage and excel.  I encourage you to visit our website to learn more. 

Apply today if you want to truly BELONG at Wiss Nation. 

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POSITION TITLE: Reading Specialist, LTS, Middle School (approx. January to June 2025, Semester 2)

POSITION GOAL: To work collaboratively with the classroom teacher and the literacy intervention teacher in order to implement and provide a quality reading program to identified students that will assist the students in mastering the reading skills and strategies appropriate to grade level and individual capacity; to assess student reading progress and serve as a resource to instructional staff and building principal.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Creates a classroom and/or instructional environment that is attractive, safe, supportive, and conducive to learning and appropriate to the maturity, interest and abilities of students. Risk-taking is encouraged, students feel free to contribute their ideas, and teacher and student interactions are respectful and polite to promote a positive learning environment for all students.
• Creates a classroom and/or instructional environment that have materials in good condition and accessible to students, including but not limited to creating educational bulletin boards, web pages, parent/student newsletters, and other similar communication vehicles consistent with district practice.
• Teaches District approved curriculum.
• Guides the learning process toward the achievement of established District curriculum goals and establishes and communicates clear objectives to the students for all lessons, units, and projects.
• Strives by instruction and action to employ the District’s philosophy of education, District curriculum and research-based programs, instructional goals and objectives, and performance expectations and instructional collaboration.
• Prepares for classes and shows written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisor.
• Develops lesson plans and instructional materials and employs a variety of instructional techniques and teaching strategies to meet different aptitudes, interests and abilities of students, including current technology and whole-group/small-group learning.
• Translates lesson plans into developmentally appropriate learning experiences to best utilize the available time for instruction.
• Designs activities to engage students in cognitively challenging work aligned to standards.
• Manages allotted learning time to maximize student achievement.
• Uses resources that will promote high levels of learning and student engagement in the classroom environment.
• Reflects on practice and student work to determine what went well and what changes could improve instruction and uses reflection to inform future instruction.
• Assesses students' academic and social growth on a regular basis as related to desired educational goals, objectives, and outcomes, keeps appropriate records and prepares progress reports as required, and communicates with parents/guardians.
• Maintains accurate, complete, and correct records as required by the District Policy, Administrative Policy, and Pennsylvania law.
• Closely monitors student learning in order to understand how students are progressing toward the learning objectives and provides age-appropriate communication with students on instructional expectation and keeps them informed of their progress in meeting those expectations.
• Seeks the support of district specialists when concern regarding student progress arises. Cooperates with other professional staff members in assessing and developing strategies to help students solve health, attitude, and learning problems. Follows the District multi-tiered system of supports and develops strategies for individual education plans.
• Develops a code of conduct for the classroom which is consistent with established Administrative Policies and develops rules of classroom behavior which are enforced in a fair and just manner.
• Provides clear behavior expectations for students and monitors student behavior throughout the class and school.
• Communicates regularly with parents/guardians during and outside normal classroom day to create partnership around student learning by means of newsletters, notes, phone calls, conferences, and other means to discuss student’s progress and the reading program.
• Conducts diagnostic assessments to determine the reading abilities of all students.
• Plans and implements the remedial reading program.
• Interprets student needs and progress in reading remediation for the classroom teachers and the parents/guardians.
• Interprets, as appropriate, test results and statistical data concerning reading.
• Confers with parents concerning individual students having special reading problems or requiring special remedial help, and with parents requesting such a conference.
• Works in a self-contained, team, departmental, or itinerant capacity as assigned.
• Ensures confidentiality of information in reference to HIPPA/FERPA and IDEA regulations.
• Communicates with all school personnel regularly, both written and oral, in reference to the students IEP, with continual monitoring and reporting of progress.
• Attends district department and faculty meetings and serves on district committees as required by the CBA.
• Attends established traditional school-sponsored activities (i.e.: back-to-school night, open house, and other activities customarily attended by classroom teachers and/or faculty members) as required by the CBA.
• Actively participates in building or district educational experiences such as science fairs, mathematic competitions, programs associated with the arts and other student activities.
• Participates in curriculum related and programmatic activities that are a part of the regular District program, including but not limited to field trips that have been historically part of the school curriculum and programming.
• Participates in in-services and staff development activities and staff meetings as required or assigned.
• Maintains an ongoing program of professional growth that satisfies District requirements but also satisfies personal expectation as a professional
• Conducts in-service workshops and demonstrations pertinent to methods and materials appropriate to various levels of reading instruction.
• Recommends the use of varied instructional materials, including text books, reference units, kits, trade books, audiovisual aides, and the like.
• Provides, when appropriate, information and recommendations (verbal and written) when requested for student placement, course selection, awards, scholarships and in pursuit of other academic, extra-curricular endeavors or employment.
• Establishes partnerships with the community as appropriate in support of the academic program.
• Demonstrates professionalism and adheres to the Professional Code of Conduct.
• Administers group standardized tests, including specialized ESL assessment (e.g. WIDA) in accordance
• with District testing program.
• Plans and coordinates the work of paraprofessionals, parents/guardians, and volunteers in the classroom and on field trips.
• Selects and requisitions books and instructional materials.
• Follows established policies and procedures for reporting incidents (e.g., child abuse, substance abuse, harassment, and violence).
• Other duties as assigned by the Building Principal and/or Administration.

QUALIFICATIONS:

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.

The Reading Specialist shall possess the following:
1. Bachelors’ degree and Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
2. Valid PA Department of Education Instructional Certificate; Reading Specialist Certificate.
3. Understanding of Pennsylvania Core Standards.
4. Strong skill set in human relations, communications, problem solving and organization.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. The Reading Specialist will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform other job-related duties requested by the Principal and/or Administration.

Wissahickon School District is an equal opportunity employment, educational and service organization.