State Literacy Director

State Literacy Director

The State Literacy Director serves as the state's chief literacy officer, housed within the Governor's Office of Education and Workforce Strategy (formerly the Governor's Office of Student Achievement). This position leads the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Georgia's statewide literacy and reading education strategy, with responsibility for the birth-through-grade-three continuum aligned to the science of reading. The State Literacy Director chairs both the Georgia Literacy Coordinating Committee and the Georgia Literacy Task Force, serves as the primary liaison across multiple state agencies, and exercises supervisory authority over all GOEWS staff dedicated to literacy efforts, including the Georgia Literacy Coach Coordinator.

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

Strategic leadership and state-wide coordination:

• Provide executive leadership for the design, maintenance, and ongoing evaluation of the state-wide Georgia Literacy Plan in collaboration with the Georgia Literacy Coordinating Committee and relevant stakeholders.

• Evaluate state-wide literacy and reading education programs across state, regional, and local agencies, systems, and initiatives, and make continuous improvement recommendations.

• Make recommendations for effective implementation of the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026 and related legislation, policies, rules, and regulations relative to literacy and reading instruction across all ages and grades.

• Serve as chairperson of the Georgia Literacy Coordinating Committee, facilitating its responsibilities, including maintaining the Georgia Literacy Plan, reviewing literacy outcomes, supporting coordination of all state-wide literacy efforts, and making recommendations for legislation and appropriations.

• Serve as chairperson of the Georgia Literacy Task Force, overseeing its recommendations regarding the state-wide professional learning program, universal reading screeners, and high-quality instructional materials for kindergarten through grade three.

Interagency liaison and partnership:

• Serve as the primary point of contact and liaison between GOEWS and the following agencies with respect to state-wide literacy and reading education efforts:

Georgia Department of Education

Department of Early Care and Learning

Department of Public Health

University System of Georgia

Technical College System of Georgia

Georgia's Regional Educational Service Agencies (RESAs)

Professional Standards Commission

• Collaborate with the State Board of Education, the Department of Education, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment of literacy policies, rules, and regulations.

Supervision and staff management:

• Supervise, evaluate, and support the Georgia Literacy Coach Coordinator and other GOEWS staff assigned to the Georgia Literacy Coordinating Committee.

• Ensure cohesive coordination across regional leadership literacy coaches, regional literacy coaches, and school-based literacy coaches state-wide through the Literacy Coach Coordinator.

Reporting and accountability:

• Oversee preparation of the annual report on the impacts of implementation of the Georgia Early Literacy and Dyslexia Act, due to the Governor, legislative leadership, and the State Board of Education by November 1 each year.

• Support GOEWS in authorizing individuals with subject matter expertise to work with the Georgia Literacy Coordinating Committee as needed.

Minimum qualifications:

• A master's degree in education, literacy, reading, educational leadership, or a closely related field from an accredited institution.

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in literacy or reading education, including at least three (3) years in a leadership, administrative, or policy role at the district, regional, or state level.

• Demonstrated expertise in the science of reading, structured literacy, and foundational literacy skills, with demonstrated ability to improve student achievement.

• Experience leading or coordinating multi-agency or multi-stakeholder initiatives.

• Eligibility for certification by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, or possession of a valid Georgia educator certificate at the leadership or specialist level, preferred.

Preferred qualifications:

• Doctoral degree in reading, literacy, educational leadership, or a closely related field.

• Experience at the state level with literacy policy, curriculum adoption, or educator preparation program review.

• Knowledge of Georgia's K–12 education system, the Quality Basic Education Act, and existing literacy related statutes.

• Familiarity with dyslexia-specific instructional interventions and the International Dyslexia Association framework.

• Experience with public-facing communications, legislative testimony, or government relations.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Deep, current knowledge of the science of reading, structured literacy, and evidence-based reading instruction.

• Exceptional leadership and organizational skills; ability to set and advance a strategic vision across a complex, multi-agency environment.

• Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills, including the ability to present complex information to diverse audiences, including legislators, educators, families, and community partners.

• Ability to establish collaborative relationships, build coalitions, and influence without direct authority.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to use data to assess program effectiveness and drive improvement.

• Commitment to equity in literacy outcomes for all Georgia students, including students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties, English learners, and students with disabilities.