Literacy Specialist

Why Walden School?

Walden is a vibrant learning community that inspires students to think critically and creatively, encourages and supports risk-taking in the classroom, and emphasizes the importance of intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning. Our responsive, dedicated, and compassionate teachers create a classroom environment that leads students to discover and develop their passions and provides them with the tools required to be successful in today’s complex, global society.

Teachers are empowered to engage in curriculum design and execution by bringing their enthusiasm and creativity to the classroom. Walden teachers are given creative agency to build and support our students' various learning styles, along with creating trust-based observation through a collaborative learning and teaching approach. Walden focuses on equitable grading and teaching practices as well as shared decision-making on student success. Walden administration and faculty work in partnership to develop supportive classroom management as well as opportunities for continued professional development. Walden School believes in empowering faculty while providing each with classroom resources and community support while building autonomy as knowledgeable and skillful educators.      

Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Walden School fosters a community of inclusion that respects, celebrates, and compassionately champions the culture, ethnicity, race, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and gender identities of our LGBTQ community and the personal diversity of each member of the Walden family. Walden strives to promote cultural competency and understanding through its curriculum, instruction, programming, and community outreach.

Position Overview

The Literacy Specialist will work under the Director of Kindergarten-6th Grade and collaboratively with Director of Student Academic Support Service. The Literacy Specialist will work with students in grades K-4 who have been identified as needing additional support. The Literacy Specialist will work directly with teachers to provide classroom demonstrations in rigorous standards-based teaching. The specialist will provide collaborative and one-on-one instructional coaching and will facilitate teacher inquiry and related professional development. The specialist will focus on enhancing teachers’ abilities to provide instruction that builds students’ literacy skills, is academically rigorous, addresses the curriculum standards, and enhances students’ engagement and ownership of their learning.

The main roles of the Literacy Specialist will include:

• Provide high-quality systematic,  instruction to individual students and small groups
• Uses data to provide instruction to students and to bring their skills to grade level
• Collaborates with teachers, administration, and families to help identify best practices for individual and small groups of students
• Uses identified research-based interventions focusing specifically on individual student needs 
• Identifying issues or needs, goal setting and problem-solving with teachers, and developing and providing materials
• Establish learning goals on Student Support Plans (SSP)
• Maintains data-based documentation of continuous monitoring of student performance and progress
• Continuing to develop curriculum and unwrap standards, participating in professional development activities
• Co-planning lessons with teachers 
• Holding team meetings with specific grade levels and teachers, analyzing student work
• Assessing students and interpreting assessment data to decide how to future plan for instruction, holding individual discussions with colleagues about teaching and learning
• Making professional development presentations for teachers
• Modeling and discussing lessons
• Co-teaching lessons
• Visiting classrooms and providing feedback to teachers
• Evaluating the reading program and its outcomes

Qualifications

• A valid US state teaching certificate, a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education, a Master’s in Reading and/or Literacy, or an equivalent endorsement
• Experience working with adult learners, coaching teachers, and delivering professional

development

• A deep understanding of theories of literacy, including the diagnostic teaching of reading and

reading intervention

• An understanding of the Common Core Standards and current trends and best practices in curriculum design and instruction
• Significant experience with ELA curriculum development and daily lesson planning
• Experience in analyzing data and using results to modify curricula 

Experience

Minimum of five years of teaching experience as an elementary teacher (preferably in secondary) and two years experience as a Literacy Specialist (or have recently completed an accredited literacy and/or coaching preparation program or endorsement).

Knowledge Requirements

• The specialist/coach will have in-depth knowledge of Common Core Standards; reading processes and acquisition, assessment and instruction. 
• The specialist/coach will have advanced knowledge in Balanced Literacy, Guided Reading, and direct phonics instruction.
• Preferred training: Orton-Gillingham 
• Experience in Miscue Analysis
• Has experience working with teachers to improve their practices; experience observing and modeling in classrooms and providing feedback; and the ability to develop open, trusting relationships.

About Walden School

Walden is a K-12 independent school community located in St. Matthews, KY where all students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our students benefit from personalized learning, hands on experiences, and connections to nature in an environment that celebrates individuality.

Connections working at Walden School