Literacy Coach

Description

This is a grant funded opportunity open for immediate hire. 

ABOUT ASPIRE

Aspire Public Schools operates a network of high-performing, college preparatory charter schools serving TK-12 scholars in communities across California. Founded in 1998—in an effort to transform the inequitable racial, social, and gender outcomes that our communities persist through—Aspire is one of the largest and most forward-thinking open-enrollment public charter school systems in the nation.

Our purpose is to prepare our scholars for success in college, career, and life. At Aspire, we set a foundation for our scholars to gain knowledge, skills, and power to access and make choices for their families and post-secondary lives. Every day, our community of students, families, teachers and staff comes together to learn, work, and play in an environment grounded in our values of Bienestar (Well-Being), Culture of Belonging, Community Partnership, Agency & Self-Determination, and Joy.

 

JOB SUMMARY

The Literacy Coach serves as a resource to improve reading achievement and disrupt inequitable outcomes at their school site. The Literacy Coach will work closely with the Aspire Los Angeles Regional Office Instructional Team, their administrators, teachers, and students. This position provides coaching and professional development to teachers on site related to culturally responsive teaching, reading foundational skills, reading and writing instruction, reading intervention, reading across the content areas, and English Language Development. The Literacy Coach will improve instruction and effectiveness by working at various levels (classroom, school, region-wide) to directly support instruction, intervention, integrated English Language Development, and equitable practices. 

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

 

Instructional Coaching

• Provides coaching that supports teachers who are teaching phonics (i.e. grades TK-2nd) to implement effective literacy instruction based in the Science of Reading.

• Coaches teachers to disrupt inequitable outcomes for English Learners, Students with IEPs, Black/African American Students, and/or any other marginalized student group. 

Professional Development

• Assesses individual teacher needs and the collective needs of the school site.

• Conducts professional development in a variety of ways -demonstration lessons, planning sessions, professional book studies, and/or provides summer training.

• Keeps up-to-date on educational research and best practices in order to best support teachers of diverse learners.

• Provides professional development to both general education and special education teams with a deep understanding of educational equity, diversity, and inclusion principles.

 

Reading Intervention

• Leads the implementation of a comprehensive reading intervention program.

• Provides small group intervention to various groups of students throughout the school day.

• Works closely with the principal to identify needed resources (i.e. consultants, curriculum materials).

• Uses data to identify inequities, track progress, and make informed, equity-minded decisions.

 

School Site Leadership

• Facilitates team, grade level, or department meetings as a part of the Instructional Leadership Team. 

• Participates in walkthroughs with administrators.

• Collaborates with the special education department. 

 

Regional Responsibilities

• Monitors the implementation of the Aspire Los Angeles Region instructional program, ensuring Guaranteed and Viable Instruction for every student.

• Provides constructive feedback to the Aspire Los Angeles Regional Instructional Team.

• Actively participates in the Aspire Los Angeles Literacy Coach Community of Practice.

 

Additional:

• Demonstrates knowledge of, and supports the Aspire Public Schools mission, vision, value statements including antiracism, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and the code of ethical behavior. 

• Performs other related duties as required and assigned.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 

Competencies:

• Deep knowledge of theories of literacy, including the Science of Reading, Core Skills, and Structured Literacy

• Strong understanding of Culturally Responsive Teaching

• Experience coaching adults and facilitating adult learning

• Strong organization skills

• Strong data analysis skills

• Strong classroom management skills

• Strong communication and community-building skills

• Outstanding training and presentation skills

• Strong problem analysis and problem resolution skills 

• Ability to work well with colleagues

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment; flexible, able to work autonomously as well as take direction as needed

 

Minimum educational level:

• Bachelor's Degree

• Master’s Degree in Reading and/or Reading Specialist - Preferred

Credential or Certificate 

• CA Multiple or Single Subject Teaching Credential 

 

Experience required:

• 5+ years teaching 

• Proficiency with Google Suite, common collaboration tools (Zoom, Teams, Docs, etc.), and Digital Literacy

• Record of success in coaching and developing teachers

 

Physical requirements:

• Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces.

• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods.

• Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.

• Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.

• Communicating with others to exchange information.

• Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.

 

Work authorization requirements: 

• Clear the Department of Justice background screening

• Authorized to work in the United States

• Provide health (TB) clearance (renewed every four years)