Reading Specialist

Introduction

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is the state agency that advances public education and libraries in Wisconsin. Our mission is to advance equitable, transformative, and sustainable educational experiences that develop learners, schools, libraries, and communities in Wisconsin. Working at DPI offers you the opportunity to build on our long-standing commitment to public education so that students are learning the skills and knowledge necessary to become contributing members of our communities.

At DPI, we are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. Equity and inclusion are at the core of our organizational values, which include belonging, integrity, love, humility, and honor. These values guide how we build our teams, develop our leaders, and create a culture that empowers everyone to be their authentic selves. When employees are respected and valued for who they are and staff are held accountable for demonstrating that respect to others, we believe it drives greater engagement and collaboration, ignites creativity and innovation, and fosters connection between teams and those we serve.

Our employees enjoy an exceptional employee assistance program that offers a variety of programs and tools to help promote wellness. We have a team-oriented atmosphere and a focus on work-life balance.

The Wisconsin School for the Deaf (WSD) within the Division of Access and Opportunity is seeking applicants for a Reading Specialist position. This position is a full time, school year position with some additional days beyond the regular school year (92% full time equivalency). WSD is a vibrant, residential school dedicated to serving students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind. Our team is passionate about providing a rich, bilingual educational environment where students thrive academically and socially. If you're looking to make a meaningful difference and lead in a supportive, student-centered community, we encourage you to apply.

Position Summary

The Reading Specialist will lead school-wide literacy efforts by establishing reading goals for Deaf, Hard of Hearing (D/HH), and/or Deafblind students ages 3-21. The specialist will deliver direct instruction and interventions, and supervise, coach, and mentor instructional staff, including teachers and interventionists, to enhance literacy instruction that aligns with the unique language and communication needs of D/HH students. The specialist will also collaborate with staff to implement evidence-based, accessible literacy practices grounded in bilingual ASL/English development, provide feedback on instructional methods, and support professional growth across the school's literacy program.

Salary Information

This position is in classification Teacher Supervisor. Depending on qualifications, the salary will be between $38.76 - $41.96 per hour (approximately $74,171 - $80,294 per year). For current and eligible former State employees, compensation will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan effective at time of hire.

Employees in this position may be eligible for a $1.00 per hour add-on for fluency in American Sign Language (ASL), contingent upon achieving an ASL Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) rating of 2+ or higher. Additional compensation up to $2.97 per hour may be given for relevant credits beyond a Bachelor's degree. This position is in pay schedule 81, range 03. A one-year probationary period will be required.

This position offers excellent benefits . The State of Wisconsin is a qualifying employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program .

Job Details

Special notes : Candidate must be fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) upon hire. An American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) rating level of at least 3 by the end of probation is required.

Candidates must be licensed or eligible for licensure as an Administrator with the Department of Public Instruction as a Reading Specialist. In order to be eligible for this license, a candidate must meet all of the requirements laid out in PI 34.065 , which includes having a Master's Degree .

A selected candidate who does not already possess an Administrator license must :

• Be eligible for and apply for a Tier I, 1-year administrator license within 6 months of their start date. See PI 34.035 for more information.
• Make consistent progress toward completing their approved preparation program. The program must be completed within 2 years, as this license is valid for 1-year and may only be renewed once.

For more information on licensure requirements and licensure application procedures, please refer to the following DPI resources:

• Administrator Licensure Information
• Administrator Licensing Pathways
• Out of State Licensing Pathways
• Application Directions for Administrators

Headquarters : The position is headquartered at the WI School for the Deaf located at 309 West Walworth Avenue in Delavan, WI. Reimbursement for traveling to or from the employee's headquarters is not provided (e.g., mileage, meals, parking, lodging, etc.).

Remote Work : This position is not eligible for remote work and requires the employee to be onsite at their headquarters at the Wisconsin School for the Deaf during all regular working hours.

Pre-hire requirements : A criminal background check will be conducted prior to an offer of hire. A TB screen will be required prior to start.

Legal authorization : Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the U.S., without DPI sponsorship). The Department of Public Instruction does not sponsor visas, either at time of hire or at any later time.

Qualifications

Please address the following in your resume or supporting documentation:

A minimally qualified applicant must have all of the following:

• Licensure or eligibility for licensure as a Reading Specialist (5017) with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
• American Sign Language fluency.
  
  

Well-qualified applicants will also have experience :

• Developing reading intervention.
• Delivering literacy instruction with Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind students.
• Collaborating with multi-tier, multi-department teams (e.g., diagnostic, and educational staff).

How To Apply

For this position, please submit an updated resume and support documentation. Review our Application Tips page on the DPI website for additional guidance.

Upload a current resume, transcripts and a copy of your licensure or eligibility for licensure as an Administrator with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction as a Reading Specialist (5017). Please upload these documents in Step 5 of 6 labeled "Supporting Documentation."

Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the process. References will be requested from top candidates once interviews have taken place.

The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30% or greater service-connected disability. If you are a qualified veteran, please visit the Veterans Employment page for application instructions to be considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program. Once you have applied, please send an email indicating your interest in being considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program to the HR staff listed in the job posting.

The State of Wisconsin is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to applicants of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

Questions? Please contact the recruiter at:
Maria Butters
DPI Human Resources Specialist-Senior
Email: View email address on click.appcast.io

Deadline to Apply

Applications will be accepted until the needs of the Department are met. Applications will next be reviewed after August 31, 2026.