Position Title: Early Literacy Coach K-5
Bargaining Unit: Grand Rapids Education Association (GREA)

Salary: Determined by the collective bargaining agreement and a comprehensive benefits package

Earnings Days: Determined by the negotiated calendar

GRPS MISSION: Our mission is to ensure that all students are educated, self-directed and productive members of society.

SUMMARY OF POSITION:  

The candidate is a member of the Curriculum Team and reports to the English Language Arts (ELA) Curriculum Supervisor. The Literacy Coach will assist and support principals and classroom teachers in assessment, instructional grouping, choosing appropriate texts and materials, teaching reading and writing strategies, and conducting professional development. This position will require a 40-hour workweek in a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the school, staff and parents. This position is funded through the KISD Early Literacy Grant.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS - Essential functions under the Americans with Disabilities Act may include any of the following duties, knowledge and skills. This list is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by employees in this position. Regular on time and in person attendance is an essential function of this job. Other essential functions may include, but are not limited to the following:

JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Use of data from diagnostic tools to determine the necessary additional supports and interventions needed by individual pupils in grades K to 3 in order to be reading at grade level
• Assist teachers in the implementation of an instructional delivery model based on frequent use of formative, screening, and diagnostic tools, known as a multi-tiered system of support, to determine individual progress for pupils in grades K to 3 so that pupils are reading at grade level by the end of grade 3.
• Ensure that researched-based best practices are implemented by providing individualized, classroom-based support to teachers.
• Assess and diagnose reading problems in students and recommend effective intervention strategies.
• Complete required reports.
• Provide ongoing professional development for teachers in the following:
  • The Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy K-3
  • Administering and analyzing instructional assessments
  • Research supported differentiated instruction
  • Intensive intervention
  • Progress monitoring
  • Identifying and addressing reading deficiencies
• Attend all activities including but not limited to those required by the grant including: K-3 Essential Instructional Practices Institute, Literacy Coaching Network Professional Learning Opportunities, Coaching Intensives, Quarterly Meetings, and Monthly Meetings to support their learning around the Essentials.
• Use the coaching modules and the K-3 Essential Instructional Practices modules to support their learning around the Essentials.
• Participate in professional learning aligned with assessment literacy.
• Use the approved MDE Coaching Model as required by the Third Grade Reading Law.
• Other relevant duties as assigned.

This description describes the type and level of work performed by a person assigned to this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities required in the position.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Current Michigan teaching certification
• Minimum of four years of effective teaching
• Knowledge of current state literacy standards for pupils in grades K-3

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Master’s degree in Education
• Five years of experience training, mentoring and coaching teachers

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings
• Demonstrated experience with coordination of large-scale projects/events, report writing, and record keeping systems
• Ability to be a team leader, plan and manage multiple projects and budgets. 
• Highly developed written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work with diverse groups, facilitate group discussions and teach adult learners. 

ADA REQUIREMENTS:       

The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk, hear (in a quiet or noisy environment). The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust/focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The noise level in the work environment is usually loud to moderate. 

MENTAL FUNCTIONS:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to compare, analyze, communicate both orally and in writing, copy, coordinate, instruct, compute, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, compile and negotiate.

METHOD OF APPLICATION:

Grand Rapids Public Schools manages employment applications online.  Applications must be completed online at www.applitrack.com/grps/onlineapp.  No hardcopy applications/resumes will be accepted for this position.  Computer terminals are available in the GRPS Franklin Campus lobby from 8:00am – 4:00pm, Monday-Friday, for applicant use (Monday – Thursday during the summer).

Non-Discrimination

The Grand Rapids Public Schools will not discriminate against any person based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, height, weight, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, disability, veteran or military status.

Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations: Assistance with the application process may be requested through the Human Resources Department at 616 819-2022 or humanresources@grps.org