Instructional Specialist - English Language Arts (ELA) - Secondary

Job Title

Instructional Specialist, English Language Arts (ELA) Secondary

Grade Level/Terms Of Employment

Grade 123.2, Unified Pay Schedule

FLSA Status

Exempt

Work Location:

RPS Division Central Office

Immediate Supervisor

Coordinator, English Language Arts K-12

General Description

The Instructional Specialist, English Language Arts Secondary provides leadership to Richmond Public Schools (RPS) efforts to advance literacy development for all students at the high school level. The Instructional Specialist assists in developing, reviewing, and revising curriculum and assessments aligned to the Virginia Standards of Learning. The position supports teachers and administrators through professional development, coaching, and providing appropriately aligned resources to foster student academic success.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Monitors the instructional program provided by English Language Arts classroom teachers and provide ongoing support to help teachers improve performance and achieve objectives;
• Supports teachers in ensuring the alignment of their lesson plans and instruction to the appropriate Virginia Standards of Learning and the Curriculum Framework;
• Provide division-level leadership in regards to curriculum, pacing, and resources to support classroom instruction with a deep understanding of the progression of the knowledge, skills, and processes of education as defined in the Virginia Standards of Learning
• Stays abreast of the latest English Language Arts program trends and methodology;
• Coordinates division-wide professional development, classroom embedded professional development, and topic-specific training sessions for content area teachers;
• Supervises the development, implementation, and coordination of curriculum and programs in 6th through 8th grade;
• Assists in establishing departmental curriculum objectives and implements a plan for the accomplishment of the objectives;
• Works with new teachers to ensure they have materials and competencies necessary for success;
• Assumes responsibility for ensuring that the appropriate resources and books are ordered appropriately
• Assists in the collection, review, and submission of all required information for state and federal reporting;
• Observes classroom English/Language Arts instruction regularly and provides follow-up consultation and written non-evaluative feedback to teachers and administrators;
• Maintains a working relationship with community stakeholders;
• Stays informed regarding educational innovations and trends and implements new strategies appropriate for the division’s student population based on data;
• Coordinates the gathering, selecting, and analysis of data with respect to the program area;
• Collaborates within department and with division- level team members to support school, department, and district initiatives and projects
• Assists in the preparation of the annual program evaluation and budget as required;
• Maintains clear and accurate budget expenditures in compliance with current division financial accounting procedures and procurement guidelines;
• Ensures that budget is expended appropriately and funds are used for their intended purposes;
• Takes initiative and proactively identifies opportunities to strengthen one’s team and organization;
• Works well in a fast-paced environment; demonstrates flexibility and adaptability with a sense of urgency and zeal for ensuring every youth in RPS experience success in college, career, and civic readiness.
• Models professionalism, engages in reflection, self-led continuous improvement, seeks out feedback and provides constructive feedback to colleagues.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

• Postgraduate Professional License with an endorsement in English and/or Reading at the appropriate grade level spans, and recent successful experience as a supervisor or teacher in English Language Arts;
• Minimum five years of successful teaching experience with at least three years of teaching English Language Arts;
• Experience working in diverse settings;
• Demonstrated knowledge of Virginia's Standards for the Professional Practice of Teachers. Excellent communication, public relations, and organizational skills are required;
• Proven ability to analyze data at the student, class, school, and division levels and be able to help teachers use this data to tailor their instruction and ultimately increase academic performance;
• Must be able to develop, monitor, and manage programs to achieve established goals and objectives;
• Proven ability to work in a cooperative manner with a variety of groups, including parents, teachers, administrators, and community stakeholders;
• Must have comprehensive knowledge of child growth and development, large and small group instructional strategies, and the theory and pedagogy related to middle school literacy instruction;
• Must have extensive experience with innovative teaching techniques, instructional materials, and current trends in the area of English/ Reading;
• Demonstrated ability to train teachers in the dimensions of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics/word study, vocabulary development, fluency, and comprehension;
• Must have the ability to coach teachers in meeting the diverse needs of students, including the ability to diagnose and respond to learning gaps through differentiated instruction.
• Must have an understanding of how to teach writing and implement a comprehensive writing program at the division level.
  
  

HOW TO APPLY: All applicants (including RPS employees) must submit an on-line application. Please access website at: www.rvaschools.net

Please upload the following information with your application: a current resume, transcript and license if applicable. Three references names and contact information will be required if you progress to the interview step of the selection process. Richmond Public Schools will conduct a background investigation, fingerprinting and tuberculosis screening as a condition of employment. EOE.