Position Summary:

This position is accountable for providing leadership, professional development, technical assistance, and consultation with administrators, teachers and parents regarding the implementation of federal and state regulations including ESS and IDEA. The Literacy Coordinator implements the goals and promotes initiatives in K-3 literacy established by Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education and the U.S. Department of Education related to reading and writing curriculum, instruction, assessment, and data informed decision making. In addition, the Literacy Coordinator supports schools in identifying the need for more intensive instruction, use of specific evidence-based strategies, and interventions to enhance their Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and ensure all students have access to developing the necessary literacy and writing skills.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Researches, designs, and conducts professional development and provides technical assistance to school district administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals and school-based teams to increase knowledge of, and successful implementation of federal and state regulations related to the education of students with disabilities, with a specific focus on effective practice in the areas of evidenced-based reading curriculum, instructional strategies and student assessment aligned to Science of Reading research.

2. Facilitates activities related to PDE school improvement and equity initiatives by addressing the components necessary to improve educational outcomes for all students.

3. Provides leadership in the dissemination of resources, facilitation via guided practice, and follow-up technical assistance to school-based teams to build capacity within the district/school surrounding Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), reading and writing, and analyzing school-wide and individual student data to maximize student learning.

4. Facilitates and assists in the analysis of both school-wide and individual student data to maximize student learning in reading including the usage of data from PVAAS, PSSA, and local assessments including universal screeners and diagnostic tools to assess students at risk in beginning reading.

5. Demonstrates professional knowledge in relevant areas of high leverage practices for students who have IEPs, and others who have needs specific to reading and writing to assist education entities in identifying and implementing more intensive and frequent use of strategies and interventions to promote skill development and closing the gap in reading.

6. Coordinates and directs activities related to Pennsylvania Department of

Education/Bureau of Special Education (IDEA)and the State System of Support (SSOS) initiatives in collaboration with TAC and curriculum colleagues surrounding targeted school improvement.

7. Collaborates with AIU colleagues and other programs to expand the AIU's internal and external capacity in meeting the need for increased educational achievement of all students.

8. Promotes the services of the Teaching and Learning Division and other AIU programs and services by developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with PA Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education/PaTTAN, other intermediate units, school district staff, parents and community groups, and agencies.

1. Advanced degree in education or related field required; Reading Specialist certification required.

2. Minimum of eight (8) years related experience required.

3. Expert level knowledge with use of Microsoft Office Suite.

4. Experience in elementary-level reading instruction required.

5. Ability to incorporate research-based instructional practices through the use of data, systems and practices to promote access to learning to read and write in the Least Restrictive Environment.

6. Demonstrated experience in curriculum development and expertise in reading research, pedagogy and theory aligned to Science of Reading and Structured Literacy is required.

7. Experience in design and delivery of quality reading and writing instruction required; Participation in the Reading Achievement Center K-3 Apprenticeship Model strongly preferred.

8. Expertise in administration and interpretation of Universal Screeners and tools such as Acadience, DIBELS and Aimsweb required.

9. Certification as a LETRS trainer or completion of LETRS professional development program preferred.

10. Experience in design and delivery of professional development for a variety of audiences and knowledge of adult learning required.

11. Knowledge of Multi-Tiered System of Support for academic preferred.

12. Knowledge and experience in facilitating systems planning, integration of practices, and monitoring and evaluation of academic data.