Reading and Literacy Liaison

The Heart of Art is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to using the performing arts as a gateway to foster literacy, education, creativity, and community building. We empower children and youth through programs that combine the magic of storytelling with the transformative power of the arts.

The Reading & Literacy Liaison plays a key role in ensuring that all programming at The Heart of Art is grounded in strong literacy development, measurable outcomes, and academic growth .

Working closely with the Board Chair of Arts & Program Development , this role ensures that our programs not only spark creativity, but also strengthen reading proficiency, comprehension, and confidence in every child we serve.

At The Heart of Art, storytelling is our foundation. The Reading & Literacy Liaison ensures that every story told, read, and performed translates into real literacy gains and lasting educational impact .

This role exists to:

• Design and implement assessment strategies that track student reading growth
• Align programming with literacy development best practices
• Identify trends in student performance to inform program improvement
• Strengthen the organization’s ability to demonstrate measurable literacy outcomes

Key Responsibilities

Assessment Design & Implementation

• Develop and manage pre-, midpoint, and post-program assessments to evaluate:
  • Reading levels (across grade levels)
  • Comprehension
  • Fluency and expression
• Ensure assessments are age-appropriate, engaging, and aligned with program goals

Data Analysis & Insight Generation

• Analyze assessment data to identify:
  • Areas of student success
  • Opportunities for growth and intervention
• Translate findings into clear, actionable insights for program refinement

Curriculum Alignment & Support

• Collaborate with the Chair of Arts & Program Development to ensure literacy is intentionally embedded into all programming
• Recommend strategies to strengthen reading outcomes through storytelling, performance, and creative expression

Program Evaluation & Continuous Improvement

• Support ongoing evaluation of program effectiveness from a literacy lens
• Provide recommendations to enhance student learning outcomes and engagement

Staff & Volunteer Guidance

• Offer guidance to teaching artists and volunteers on:
  • Supporting diverse reading levels
  • Encouraging literacy development through the arts
• Share best practices and simple tools that can be easily implemented in sessions

Impact Reporting & Storytelling

• Contribute to reports, grant applications, and communications by providing:
  • Literacy data
  • Outcome summaries
  • Evidence of student growth and impact

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Background in one or more of the following:
  • Literacy education
  • Reading intervention
  • Elementary or secondary education
  • Curriculum and instruction
• Experience assessing or supporting reading development in children or youth
• Familiarity with literacy benchmarks, reading levels, or assessment tools
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into meaningful insights
• Passion for using the arts as a vehicle for literacy and educational equity

Impact of the Role

With a Reading & Literacy Liaison, The Heart of Art strengthens its ability to:

• Move from anecdotal impact to data-driven literacy outcomes
• Identify and support students across varying reading levels
• Continuously refine programming based on real student needs
• Demonstrate measurable success to funders, partners, and the community