Elementary Literacy Specialist (2026-2027)

The Literacy Specialist works directly with both teachers and students to support literacy development in students K-5. The Specialist works with students in general and special education, providing targeted instruction and intervention in literacy skills including decoding, reading fluency, and encoding. The Specialist supports teachers in a variety of ways, including individual and small-group coaching, co-teaching, modeling, and consultation. The Specialist supports the whole school in administering assessments, analyzing data, participating in Child Study Teams, developing and facilitating literacy professional learning, and collaborates with the district-wide Literacy Specialist team.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

• Provides direct reading intervention and instruction for students
• Provide instructional coaching to teachers by modeling effective literacy practices, co-planning lessons, observing instruction, and offering constructive feedback to support the implementation of high-quality, evidence-based reading instruction.
• Administers literacy assessments and engages in ongoing data analysis
• Helps teachers interpret literacy assessment data of students.
• Collaborates with literacy and math specialists to identify students in need of greater support, and develop intervention schedules
• Assists administrators and teachers in designing appropriate intervention programs for students struggling to read
• Designs and delivers school-based and districtwide professional development training and workshops for teachers and instructional assistants in literacy best practices.
• With the K-5 Literacy Coordinator, plans and conducts periodic program evaluations to assess the need for improvements in reading instruction and/or assessments.
• All other responsibilities as assigned

• Bachelor's Degree required; Master's degree preferred
• Massachusetts DESE Reading certification
• Ability to assess reading and general literacy needs of students.
• Effective oral and written communication.
• Familiarity with educational testing and informal assessment and structured multi-sensory sequential reading programs preferred.
• Orton Gillingham and/or Wilson Reading Level One or Two Certification preferred

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITY, AND SKILL

• Knowledge of the standards set forth in the MA curriculum frameworks

• Knowledge of the relevant content; stays current in literacy research and best practices

• Knowledge of relevant School Committee Policies, district and building goals, needs of the students in the class, and relevant state and federal laws.

• Ability to execute the performance standards set forth in the WPS teaching rubric.

• Strong oral and written communication skills.

• Strong organizational and planning skills.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues.

• Ability to forge effective working relationships with students and parents.

• Technological proficiency, both in the use of technology for communication and for instruction.

• Ability to work under time constraints and meet deadlines.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

• Demonstrates caring and concern for all students and colleagues

• Conveys a love of learning to students and adults.

• Makes positive contributions to the larger school community.

• Communicates clearly.

• Maintains professional demeanor, uses good judgment.

• Demonstrates a growth mindset for themselves, students, and colleagues, Requires sufficient vision to read printed documents and to view detail on a computer screen for extended periods.

• Requires frequent standing, walking, sitting, bending, and reaching, as well as carrying and occasionally lifting up to 30 lbs.

• Ability to speak in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in normal conversation, on the telephone, and in the classroom.

• Ability to hear sounds clearly up to twenty feet.

• Travel among buildings may be required.