Literacy Specialist

Educational Support Services Professional

Responsible professional work delivering educational support services utilizing a broad range of prescribed approaches, specialized instruction, and tools to promote literacy. Involves a broad range of training and development activities, assessment skills, and consultation and requires quality documentation of services provided. Participates in the organization's continuous quality improvement efforts.

Essential Functions:

• Helps children to develop literacy skills needed to enrich their lives and further their goals.
• Assesses and gathers information about child's reading deficiencies in order to help implement a plan for literacy support.
• Attends the Family Team Conference with the intention of participating as a multidisciplinary team member to assist with development of a support plan and increasing effectiveness of the group's teamwork.
• Completes timely documentation in accordance with program requirements.
• Provides direct support services to SEEDS students utilizing designated curriculum.
• Monitors ongoing academic progress of the student; and serves as a liaison between the family, SEEDS Family Support Coordinator, and School Teacher.
• Conducts pre and post reading assessments in order to measure progress and participates in the plan at closure.
• Services as a resource to families and develops a plan for educating parents in the area of early literacy.
• Maintains fidelity to the SEEDS program model.
• Participates as a member of the SEEDS Team.
• Evaluates effectiveness of the Family Service Plan as it relates to literacy support.
• Works within the philosophy and function of Children's Home Network
• Adheres to virtual office procedures
• Performs other duties as assigned*

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

Education and Experience:

• Bilingual Required.
• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university or college required, with at least two years of experience working with children and families. Bachelor's Degree must be in a field related to elementary education, literacy, or related field.
• Preferred individuals with experience in working with English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)/English Language Learners (ELL).
• This individual must have a working knowledge of Florida's Benchmark for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards for English Language Arts (ELA), with at least 2 years of experience in working with students indicating a range of reading abilities.

Licenses & Certifications:

• Preferred Teaching Certification
• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida driver's license with no record of criminal driving offense of license suspension.
• Must possess means of providing job related transportation and show proof of required insurance. Must be insurable under CHN's current auto insurance policy.
• Must be able to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Must successfully complete and maintain FDLE clearance, Federal background and state criminal background checks, and sexual predator screening.

Competencies & Professional Development:

Annual Training Requirements:

• The following training topics are required annually: Sexual Harassment, Blood borne Pathogens, Workplace Accident Prevention and Reporting, Confidentiality and Privacy Practices, Diversity/Cultural Competency, Child Abuse and Neglect Mandated Reporter Statutes and Methods, Prevention of Violence in the Workplace, OSHA–related training, Crisis Prevention, and other Programmatic Trainings.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing. Ability to establish effective working relationships with families, coworkers, supervisors, and other individuals. Possess effective interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of agency's organizational structure, standard operating procedures, and policies.
• Knowledge of child abuse or neglect reporting procedures and methods.
• Knowledge of infant and child development inclusive of developmentally appropriate strategies.
• Knowledge of intervention and behavior management methods, strategies, and techniques.
• Knowledge of quality documentation as required by agency standards, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to conduct reading assessments and develop goals, and to provide follow-up services.
• Knowledge of Florida's Benchmark for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards for English Language Arts (ELA)
• Ability to work as a multi-disciplinary team member in a positive, productive manner.