Greenwood School District 50 Position Description

Position: Elementary Literacy Coach (Pending Funding)
Department: School Based

Reports To: Principal /District Administration

Qualifications:

Hold a valid SC teaching certificate in the area of Early Childhood, Elementary, or Reading.

Preference of a Master’s Degree

Literacy Teacher, Literacy Coach Certification and/or documentation of progress towards the certification.

¹Pending legislation will define certification/endorsement requirements. (See Below)

• Minimum of five years of successful teaching experience in language arts
• Ability to work well with people; demonstrate and maintain positive interpersonal skills

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Other duties may be assigned)

Reading coaches shall serve as job-embedded, stable resources for professional development throughout schools in order to generate improvement in reading and literacy instruction and student achievement. Reading coaches shall support and provide initial and ongoing professional development to teachers based on an analysis of student assessment and the provision of differentiated instruction and intensive intervention.

The reading coach shall:

(a)    model effective instructional strategies for teachers by working weekly with students in whole, and small groups, or individually;

(b)    facilitate study groups;

(c)    train teachers in data analysis and using data to differentiated instruction;

(d)    coaching and mentoring colleagues;

(e)    work with teachers to ensure that research-based reading programs are implemented with fidelity; and

(f)    work with all teachers (including content area and elective areas) at the school they serve, and help prioritize time for those teachers, activities, and roles that will have the greatest impact on student achievement, namely coaching and mentoring in the classrooms;

(g)    help lead and support reading leadership teams.

(h) Provide leadership for literacy across the school community

· Meet regularly with the principal to report on progress and plan next steps

· Network with other academic coaches in developing and implementing the literacy program

(i) Provide support with district assessment measures within the school

· Review running record, MAP, PASS, Universal Screening, and progress monitoring data with the teachers to assist with planning for effective instruction based on assessment results

· Evaluate student achievement and assist with placing students in appropriate intervention and support services

· Assist in the administration, training, and interpretation of reading progress monitoring and diagnostic instruments such as the Quantitative Reading Inventory and Developmental Reading Assessment

¹No later than August 1, 2014, the department must publish guidelines that define the minimum qualifications for a reading coach. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2014-2015, reading/literacy coaches are required to earn the add-on certification within six years by completing the necessary courses or professional development as required by the department for the add-on.