Early Childhood Literacy Specialist

JOB SPECIFICATION

POSITION: Early Childhood Literacy Specialist

LOCATION: Great Hearts Texas, Home Office in San Antonio, TX

DEPARTMENT: Texas Academics - Home Office

REPORTS TO: Executive Director (managing the Academic Team)

FLSA: Salaried, exempt

Company Description

Great Hearts Texas is a non-profit charter management organization (CMO) that operates classical, preparatory, K-12 public charter schools in San Antonio and North Texas. Our academies cultivate the minds and hearts of students through the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty. We currently serve over 12,000 students at our 20 schools in Texas. We expect that number to grow to thousands more in future years. Great Hearts Texas is dedicated to providing access to our liberal arts model to more children, and as our network expands, we aim to restore excellence to American public education. We proudly prepare students for success at the best colleges and universities in the nation but see our larger purpose as producing great-hearted graduates that are prepared to be intellectual, moral and engaged citizens. Additional information can be found at www.greatheartsamerica.org/careers.

Position Summary

The Early Childhood Literacy (ECL) Specialist is responsible for oversight, planning, and coordination of the district's childhood literacy program in compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations. As a member of the Academic Services Team, the ECL Specialist will add value to all areas of the GHTX organization, bringing technical competence in early literacy program planning, instructional design, and training; designing and managing required literacy programs, including Reading Academies; and shepherding campus-level K-3 instructional literacy programs. The ECL Specialist will have a passion to ensure that all eligible students have full access to best-in-class literacy instruction in support of a Great Hearts education.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Early Childhood Literacy Specialist has the following primary responsibilities:

1.Deepen the culture of literacy in Great Hearts Texas elementary schools, to include:

• Integrate best practices from the Science of Teaching Reading (STR) into the district's current Spalding curriculum and pedagogy for grades K-3. Coach and train local campuses in best STR practices.

• Design and conduct district-wide professional development trainings in early childhood literacy.

• Identify and train on best practices in reading instruction in the classical classroom for grades K-3.

• Curate a library of video training materials, either developed internally or sourced from partners, to demonstrate STR strategies and techniques.

• Curate a list of excellent grade-level reading resources for grades K-3 in alignment to the vision and mission of Great Hearts.

• Design and implement the district's in-house Reading Academies program.

2.Ensure the GHTX district's early childhood literacy program complies with federal, state, and local requirements, to include:

• Collect accurate early childhood literacy data for the district, in collaboration with the Director of Assessment and Data Literacy.

• Draft and integrate HB3 early childhood literacy goals into the GHTX District Improvement Plan, including a comprehensive needs assessment, and Campus Improvement Plans, and monitor progress towards those goals.

• Procure a list of early childhood literacy program options for Title-I campuses that align to the vision and mission of Great Hearts.

• Design and implement the district's in-house Reading Academies program and ensure all required staff in GHTX complete the program in timely fashion.

• Support and educate campus teams on programmatic guidelines and options and proper documentation of early childhood literacy program requirements.

• Ensure the capture and equitable allocation of the state's Early Education Allotment monies.

• Working alongside the strategic relationships team, maximize grant revenues for early childhood literacy programs.

• Attend relevant STR trainings to maintain current knowledge of changes in the law and best practices.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Childhood Literacy, Early Education, Education, Education Administration, or related field

• Complete the Region-20 Cohort Leader Screener by May 29

• Completion of Reading Academies or formal coursework in the Science of Teaching Reading

• Multiple years of experience in grades K-3 in at least two of the following areas:

• lead teacher

• reading interventionist

• administrator

• Knowledge of K-5 Spalding program and Science of Teaching Reading

• Preferred: Texas Teaching Certificate EC-6

• Preferred: Interest and curiosity in the content, pedagogy, and purpose of classical education.

• Ability to travel between schools and GHTX regions up to 30% of time

Type of clearance:

Must complete Texas Department of Public Safety fingerprint clearance and background check.

Physical functions: Requires but is not limited to standing, sitting, repetitious hand and body movements, bending, squatting, and reaching. May be required to move or position equipment up to 50 pounds approximately. This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; it does not exclude or restrict the additional tasks that may be assigned. Great Hearts Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer.