Reading Interventionist presso Camden City School District

The Superintendent invites qualified and interested candidates to apply for the position of Reading Interventionist.

In our District, we put students first. Our vision: all Camden students will attend a high quality school where they are valued, challenged, and prepared for college and careers that positively impact their community and the world. High quality schools have a great teacher in every classroom, are housed in safe, clean buildings equipped to meet the needs of 21st century learners, with the support of an efficient and effective Central Office. All this is possible only with the right team members in place, working together with partners and the community to provide all students the academic, social, and emotional supports needed to succeed in school and beyond. Read more here.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Reading Intervention teachers' primary job responsibility is to assess and provide intervention instruction for students in grades K-3 only. They are elementary teachers with the skill set necessary to support struggling readers to success. They will be the building expert in guided reading and intervention practices.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree; Master’s Degree in Education preferred
• New Jersey P-3 Certification, Elementary Teacher Certification, or Special Education Teacher Certification required
• New Jersey Reading Specialist, Teacher of Reading, Teacher of Supplemental Reading and Math Instruction, English as a Second Language or Bilingual Certification required
• At least five years’ successful classroom teaching experience with evidence of satisfactory evaluation scores
• At least two years’ experience creating effective guided reading lesson/unit plans inclusive of backwards mapping according to student data
• Evidence of increasing student reading achievement with a focus on closing the achievement gap for struggling readers, such as assessment performance over time
• Evidence of using data to develop intervention strategies that address individual student needs in small group settings, including use of flexible grouping strategies and schedules, as demonstrated through a performance assessment during selection process
• Training in knowledge of instructional shifts in literacy in the Common Core/NJ Learning Standards
• A valid driver’s license as well as current insurance and vehicle with valid registration
• Required criminal history background check, physical, and proof of U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

Major responsibilities of the role include, but are not limited to:

• Create, implement and evaluate individual student intervention plans using assessment data to inform decision making for general education students in grades K – 3
• Collaborate with teachers individually to identify the literacy needs of general education students, set learning goals and targets, and support teachers to develop best practices for continuous academic growth of students in literacy
• Support identification of students eligible for intervention services, providing intervention instruction, monitoring/assessing student progress, communicating with parents, and advocating for students who may require additional support
• Assess student proficiency, prescribe an appropriate individualized intervention plan, group students with similar needs for instruction, provide individual and group instruction, evaluate student performance relative to establish grade level standards, maintain student data, and report student progress to parents, teachers, and the school/district administration
• Meet regularly with the classroom teacher to plan literacy instruction that correlates with the individual students’ needs
• Serve as a member of the Intervention and Referral Services Team
• Develop a working understanding of current district intervention materials to ensure effective utilization of learning activities and materials
• Implement the district’s comprehensive reading intervention program and create supplementary materials and resources to support student learning goals
• Use current and relevant assessment tools to identify students in need of intervention services
• Plan and provide high quality literacy intervention services to identified students, including daily guided reading lessons
• Identify specific areas of ability, deficiency, interest and/or talent to guide the development of an appropriate intervention plan for each student
• Create and submit lesson plans under direction of supervisor
• Evaluate student performance relative to established grade level standards and individual progress
• Monitor the effectiveness and pacing of instruction relative to class and individual student proficiency and progress
• Maintain up-to-date student data and use data to make informed decisions about student interventions
• Cooperate with building and district administration to assess intervention program effectiveness, evaluate student proficiency, and establish appropriate individual student intervention plans
• Serve as the building STEP coordinators under the building leadership
• Manage and maintain school book room and literacy intervention materials and resources
• Leads and participates in on-going and job embedded PD, inclusive of but not limited to meetings, trainings, workshops and seminars with the purpose of building literacy content knowledge, pedagogy and coaching
• Maintains accurate daily logs of intervention activities in accordance with state and funding requirements
• Will be required to support projects and initiatives in other divisions and departments throughout CCSD on an as-needed basis
• Other duties as assigned by the Supervisor or Supervisor’s designee

CORE COMPETENCIES

An ideal candidate for this role will demonstrate the following and/or have experiences with:

• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of effective guided reading instructional practices inclusive of the developmental continuum of reading.
• Knowledgeable of technology integration as instructional support/ blended learning module experience
• Comprehensive knowledge of instructional strategies, classroom management, learning assessment/diagnosis, and research related to learning
• Complete understanding of philosophy and models for providing intervention instruction to at-risk students
• Exhibit a personality that demonstrates enthusiasm and interpersonal skills to relate well with students, staff, administration, parents, and the community.
• Well organized with the ability to manage duties including but not limited to: daily schedule, professional development, and school book room procedures
• Excellent teamwork skills
• True passion for literacy and overall student success
• Deep belief in ability of all students to learn and grow
• Transparent and solutions-oriented student advocacy skills
• Expert instructional data analysis skills
• Strong interpersonal skills, develops relationships that creates a network of support around students, including parents, teacher, administrators, and support staff
• A “roll up your sleeves” mentality and willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve positive outcomes for students
• Ability to prioritize spending time on direct school support when faced with competing priorities
• Creative and outside-the-box thinking
• Desire to grow professionally and seek out new opportunities to learn
• Integrity and clarity in all communications and interactions
• Outstanding interpersonal, collaboration, and teamwork skills
• Flexible, optimistic approach; committed to overcoming challenges; comfortable with change and ambiguity
• Willingness to go above and beyond to contribute to the success of a new future for education in Camden
• Fluency in all Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and web browsers and searches

CORE VALUES

We are seeking individuals who will exemplify the District’s core values:

Respect and Humility

We serve our community by recognizing the strengths, experiences, and perspectives of others. We humbly recognize our own limitations and incorporate lessons we gain from our reflective practice.

Evidence-based

We use evidence to inform decisions and to ensure that we are accountable to our students and families.

Communication & Collaboration

We communicate openly and work collaboratively, recognizing that getting to the best possible decisions requires input from others. Honest communications build trust and establish a community that assumes best intentions.

Solutions-oriented

With respect for the complexity of this work and the history that precedes us, we focus on persistence, resourcefulness, and inclusiveness to drive toward solutions.

REPORTS TO & EVALUATED BY

• School Principal or designee

SALARY, EMPLOYMENT PERIOD, AND UNION AFFILIATION 

Salary Range:

• According to Camden Education Association Salary Schedule

Employment Period

• Ten-month, tenureable position

Union Affiliation

• Camden Education Association

(Pending availability of funds and Superintendent’s approval)

CAMDEN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

Benefits

• Full medical, dental, prescription and vision coverage, including spouse, child and family coverage
• Mandatory enrollment in NJ Pension (TPAF)
• Optional pre-tax benefits available, including flexible spending accounts for childcare, healthcare and transportation