ML Specialist

ML Specialist

JOB CLASSIFICATION / WORK EXPECTATIONS: SALARY: $46,000-$59,000

The ML Specialist is a full time, exempt position. Employees in this position follow the Academic Year Calendar for HOPE's Instructional staff, as determined annually. The expected workday is to be on site 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after the Learning Site's operational hours.

This job description may not be inclusive of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described and may be amended at any time at the discretion of HOPE's management.

SUMMARY:

The ML Specialist is a Site/Learning Site based instructional leadership position. Primary responsibilities include instructional based coaching and support for Learning Site Mentors and Coordination of core content support, language development, and intervention programming for students. This is accomplished by collaborating with Site Coordinators and Edmentum's Student Support Coordinator to serve the needs of our English Learners through:

• Professional Preparation and Planning;
• Instructional Coaching and Leadership;
• Assessment, Data, and Progress Monitoring of Student Learning;
• Communication and Collaboration with all Stakeholders to Provide a Positive, Safe, and Engaging Learning Environment; and
• Professionalism and Commitment to Community.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Priority Area: Collaboration and Leadership in Instruction

35%

Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate with Site Coordinators, Learning Site Mentors, Edmentum's Student Support Coordinator and virtual teachers to ensure that all EL students have access to and receive appropriate instruction to meet grade-level content and language standards and to address academic gaps.
• Collaborate in PLC and provide site-based PD on relevant topics based on EL student achievement data and the needs of mentors and students.
• Use data to determine small groups for language development and acquisition programming.
• Collaborate with Site Coordinators when they refer EL students for additional services including MTSS/RTI to identify and implement educational and behavioral strategies to assist students performing below benchmark.
• Use Situational Leadership (or other coaching/leadership) model to provide differentiated support to address the needs and context of mentors and their EL students; including co-planning, role modeling, resource management, and collaborating on intervention processes.
• Partner with Learning Site Mentors to support them as they plan, prepare, and deliver intervention lessons to all EL students at the learning Site to help them develop their English language skills.
• Utilizes various HOPE approved curriculum resources and technologies to enhance student learning.
• Maintains accurate and complete records of students' progress.
• Collaborate with mentors in planning and selecting relevant and culturally responsive materials and resources to provide language development learning tasks for all students.
• Collaborate with mentors and Site Coordinators in applying effective strategies for English Learners, and guide mentors in the consistent implementation of EL approaches (such as SIOP) within their intervention groups.

Priority Area: Assessment, Data, and Progress Monitoring of Student Learning

35%

Duties and Responsibilities

• Works with staff at the Learning Site to Identify ELs
• Check Home Language Survey on enrollment forms of newly arrived students
• WIDA Assessment
• Determine needs of NEP and LEP students and student groupings for instruction using:
• WIDA SCREENER scores
• ACCESS 2.0 scores
• iReady, MAP data
• Virtual Instructor Reports
• Additional teacher/mentor feedback
• Is trained in the administration of the following assessments and coordinates with HOPE assessment staff, ML staff, and Learning Site staff to organize the administration of the following:
• WIDA SCREENER
• ACCESS 2.0
• WIDA MODEL (when needed
• Coordinates with ML Coordinator to ensure that EL plans (MLPs) are written in a timely manner and provide ongoing progress monitoring of identified goals and/or targets.
• Communicate with Virtual Instructors
• Attends IEP meetings for ELs with IEPs at the Site if needed
• Uses organizational skills and attention to detail to plan, schedule, proctor, and oversee all EL assessments and accommodations while upholding the level of integrity and security required.
• Uses advanced technology skills to collect, analyze and share data on an individual student, class/course, and schoolwide progress toward grade-level/standard mastery, language development, and other Site/school performance targets.
• Oversees communication of individual student progress with each student and other stakeholders.

Priority Area: Communication and Collaboration with Various Stakeholders to Provide a Positive, Safe, and Engaging Learning Environment

10%

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain collaborative, positive, effective relationships with all stakeholders.
• Coordinate with all stakeholders (Learning Site Staff, Site Coordinator, Virtual Instructor, family, etc.) to develop, implement, and maintain a shared plan for consistent communication with (or about) students.
• Use culturally responsive and effective communication strategies to build and maintain trust with all stakeholders; including communicating belief in the capacity of all learners to achieve at high levels (high expectations, post-secondary readiness, growth mindset).
• Regularly participate in learning Site, school, and community-based events and initiatives, including those that may occur outside of traditional school hours (Back to School, parent conferences, extracurricular events, etc.) on an on-going and regular basis.

Priority Area: Professional Preparation and Planning

10%

Duties and Responsibilities

• Attends the DCSD ML Think Tanks hML 4-5 times/year.
• Reads and stays abreast of current topics in English language acquisition.
• Chooses professional development training outside of HOPE to attend that are offered throughout the year.
• Participates in and helps facilitate some of the HOPE ML training sessions.
• Follow-up and implementation of large PD trainings
• Plan in-Site professional development for HOPE and Learning Site staff
• Leads ML mini-workshops at the learning Site for Site Coordinators and mentors.

Priority Area: Lead by Exemplifying Professionalism and Commitment to Community

10%

Duties and Responsibilities

• Adjusts practice and prioritization of other tasks based on the needs of the Learning Site and HOPE.
• Sets personal goals related to student learning outcomes and seeks opportunities to improve personal professional practice through professional development and reflection.
• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION, LICENSURE, AND RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE:

Required

• Bachelor's Degree
• Active Colorado Teaching License with Endorsement Cultural and Linguistically Diverse Education (or in the process of obtaining it within three years of hire).
• Three years of teaching experience, at least two working with at-risk youth in a multicultural setting
• Demonstrated success in instructional coaching of adults to improve academic outcomes of students
• Experience supporting and providing instruction for diverse learners (CLD, SPED, MTSS, GT)
• Able to unpack a Colorado Academic Standard to develop learning targets, success criteria, and tasks that support rigorous instruction
• Experience with data-driven instructional practices
• Experience screening and evaluating potential English Learners language to determine eligibility for ML programming.

Preferred

• Master's Degree in an Education-related major
• Additional CDE license endorsements including Special Education, Principal's or Administrator's License
• Five years of teaching and/or instructional leadership with diverse students in a community based, blended learning environment
• Experience in leading PLCs and providing small group professional development
• Experience in diagnosing the roots of academic gaps in students
• Familiar with state-level and locally identified assessment for secondary students
• Manage, organize and interpret data and share in a meaningful way