ARI Local Reading Specialist Overview:
Empower Community School influences change in our community by forging collaboration between a diverse group of
scholars, educators, families, and partners to educate the next generation of community leaders and advocates. Our
personalized approach to learning supports the academic, social, and emotional development of each scholar and
prepares them to excel in every endeavor with the courage and ability to advocate for themselves and the community.
Empower unapologetically believes:
community.
community connections.
We are seeking motivated, entrepreneurial individuals to join our founding team. Empower Community School Team
members must be dedicated to the mission of the school, including our goal to support the academic, social, and
emotional development of students. Ideal candidates will be self-motivated, innovative educators with a passion for
student, adult, and community development.
Reports To: Principal
Supervises: N/A
EVALUATION AND SUPPORT: Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) local reading specialists will be evaluated according
to quantitative and qualitative data measures. Summative and formative student assessment data, surveys, and
site visit reports will be used in determining local reading specialists' effectiveness and that of overall program and
process effectiveness. Support for local reading specialists will be provided by ARI regional literacy specialists
according to specifications outlined in the Alabama Literacy Act 2019-523.
ROLE OF THE LOCAL READING SPECIALIST: Per the Alabama Literacy Act, "An Alabama Reading Initiative local
reading specialist shall be assigned to provide intensive, targeted professional development for elementary
school teachers at one school. ARI Local reading specialists may not perform administrative functions such as
serving as an evaluator, substitute teacher, assessment coordinator, or school administrator, full-time
interventionist, or instructional coach above third grade. The state superintendent of education will certify that
each local reading specialist has the qualifications to serve in this capacity based on verification by the local
superintendent.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: In order to ensure that all students are reading on or above grade level by the end
of third grade, the job of the ARI-funded local reading specialist(s) outlined in the Alabama Literacy Act will include
the following as evidenced by student reading achievement and growth:
a. Collaborating with the principal to create a strategic plan for coaching to support and measure the impact of
reading instruction according to the science of reading, school baseline data, and data from approved early reading
assessment systems.
b. Facilitating schoolwide professional development and monitoring and measuring the impact of transfer to
practice.
c. Modeling effective science of reading instruction for teachers that is explicit, systematic, inclusive of detailed explanations and more extensive opportunities for guided practice, error correction, and feedback.
d. Coaching and mentoring teachers daily via planned coaching cycles based on data and gradually releasing
responsibility to teachers.
e. Facilitating data analysis discussions and supporting teachers by using data to differentiate instruction according
to the needs of students by adhering to the framework of tiered instruction.
f. Fostering multiple areas of teacher professional learning, including exceptional student education and content
area knowledge, and making adjustments based on data.
g. Prioritizing time for those teachers, activities, and roles that will give the greatest impact on student reading
achievement, such as coaching and mentoring in classrooms, as evidenced by coaching logs, student impact data,
and site visit data.
h. Monitoring the reading progress of all students a minimum of three times per year and making
recommendations for the adjustment of instruction according to student-specific needs identified from multiple
data points and aligned with the science of reading as specified in the strategic plan for coaching.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: An ARI local reading specialist shall have all of the following minimum qualifications:
a. The required Alabama Professional Educator Certificate.
b. A bachelor's degree and advanced coursework or professional development in the science of reading, such as
multisensory language instruction, or comparable alternative training approved by the Alabama State Board of
Education.
c. A minimum of two years of experience as a successful elementary or literacy teacher.
d. A knowledge of scientifically based reading research, special expertise in quality reading instruction and
intervention, dyslexia- specific interventions, and data analysis.
e. A strong knowledge base in the science of learning to read and the science of early childhood education.
f. Excellent communication skills with outstanding presentation, interpersonal, and time management skills.
Additional Information:
As part of the application process at Empower Community School we ask all candidates to take several brief assessments
after the submission of a resume or completion of an online application. For the first assessment, you will click on
this LINK. Please enter your contact information. Upon completion of the first assessment, you will receive a link for the
second assessment at the provided email address. The link will come from noreply@predictiveindex.com.
In the first assessment,
Once you complete the first assessment, you will immediately receive a link to the 2nd assessment. Unlike the prior
assessment, this is a timed test. Please consider the following
Empower Schools of Alabama considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, national origin, age,
religion, sex, marital status, veteran or military status, the presence of a medical condition, disability, or any other legally
protected status. Non-Discrimination Statement
In its efforts to promote nondiscrimination and as required by law, Empower Schools of Alabama does not discriminate
on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sex, disability, age, or any other basis prohibited by law, in
providing education services, activities, and programs.
| Location | Bessemer, AR |