Reading Intervention Specialist

About the role

The Reading Intervention Specialist provides specialized instruction to struggling readers in elementary schools. They assist teachers in interpreting DIBELS and other diagnostic assessments, schedule interventions, and provide professional development opportunities for teachers. The role also involves communicating with District Literacy Coaches and State/County Reading Specialists, liaising with after-school tutoring programs, and providing interventions for English Language Learners (ELL) students who are struggling readers.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialized instruction to struggling readers in elementary schools
• Absorb and apply research on effective practices for struggling readers
• Target student-specific interventions using assessment data
• Monitor learning and guide instruction based on assessment data
• Teach systematic, explicit phonics instruction
• Assess and develop fluency in reading
• Teach spelling in ways that enhance decoding, strengthen visual imagery, and emphasize spelling rules and patterns
• Increase vocabulary and oral language
• Implement pre-reading, during-reading, and post-reading strategies to build comprehension in various texts
• Teach comprehension through explicit instruction
• Communicate effectively in writing and speech
• Use educational technology effectively
• Have strong public relations skills to implement new programs

Requirements

• Valid appropriate Arizona Teacher Certificate: Reading Endorsement
• Master’s Degree in Education preferred
• Elementary education, Reading Education, Early Childhood Education preferred
• Five years successful experience as a classroom teacher or reading specialist
• Evidence of comprehensive knowledge of current reading trends and methodologies
• IVP fingerprint clearance card through AZ Department of Public Safety

Qualifications

• Administration and interpretation of DIBELS
• Knowledge of how to target student-specific interventions
• Ability to use assessment data to monitor learning and guide instruction
• Knowledge of systematic, explicit phonics instruction
• Knowledge of how to assess decoding ability
• Knowledge of how to respond to oral reading errors in ways appropriate to the error, the purpose of the particular lesson, and the needs of the learner
• Knowledge of how to assess and develop fluency in reading
• Knowledge of how to teach spelling in ways that enhance decoding, strengthen visual imagery, and give appropriate emphasis to spelling rules and patterns
• Knowledge of how to increase vocabulary and oral language
• Knowledge of pre-reading strategies, strategies during reading, and strategies after reading which builds comprehension in all kinds of texts
• Knowledge of explicit instruction in teaching comprehension
• Effective written and oral communication skills
• Use of educational technology
• Effective public relations skills necessary to implement new programs

Other Duties

• Attend staff meetings and district in-service programs
• Serve on committees as requested
• Be responsible for own involvement as contributing member involving group decision making and the development of a positive, cooperative building environment
• Identify and refer unusual student behavior to appropriate specialists; report to the nurse any injury or illness to a student or self
• Know and observe board policies and regulations
• Account for school and district property, as required
• Follow school regulations regarding emergency procedures
• Report to work daily at times assigned and remain on thru time prescribed in district policy