Description

Assist Castro County Special Education Co-op with the continuation of its comprehensive dyslexia program with intervention in the elementary and high school. Provide special education students with appropriate learning activities and experiences designed to help them fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, physical, and social growth. Develop or modify curricula and prepare lessons and other instructional materials to student ability levels. Work in self-contained, team, departmental, or itinerant capacity as assigned.  Work with school faculty and staff, as well as students, parents, and community to plan, implement, and evaluate curriculum. Assist staff with instructional needs through training, modeling and supporting instruction in the classroom using best practices and research based strategies.

A Dyslexia Specialist  is an individual who has deep knowledge of and skill in research/evidence-based practices for teaching reading. The interventionist provides targeted reading instruction to students who have been diagnosed with dyslexia or who have demonstrated characteristics of dyslexia, as well as struggling readers in need of Tier 3 remediation.

Education/Certification:

*Bachelor's degree from accredited university

*Valid Texas teaching certificate

* Special Ed Certified

Special Knowledge/Skills:

Master's degree preferred

Reading by Design Certification

Science of Reading Certification (or willingness to get certified)

Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills

Ability to instruct students and manage their behavior

Experience:

Three years teaching experience, specifically experience with Elementary age students.

Open until filled.

Special Knowledge/Skills:

Knowledge of special needs of students in assigned area

Knowledge of Special Education /  Dyslexia procedures

Current workshop attendance in program providing direct, systematic, intensive, multisensory reading intervention

Strong organizational, communication, public relations and interpersonal skills

Ability to evaluate program effectiveness and/or program compliance.

Experience:

Three (3) years teaching experience

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

1. Provide instruction for students identified with dyslexia or related disorders.
2. Implement an instructional, therapeutic, or skill development program for assigned students and show written evidence of preparation as required.
3. Plan and use appropriate instructional and learning strategies, activities, materials, and equipment that reflect understanding of the learning styles and needs of students assigned.
4. Work cooperatively with classroom teachers, special education and Diagnostician to modify regular curricula as needed.
5. Coordinate and participate in ARD Committee meetings on a regular basis.
6. Evaluate students who are referred for dyslexia, dysgraphia or related disorders.
7. Employ a variety of instructional techniques and media to meet the needs and capabilities of each assigned student.
8. Use technology in teaching/learning process.
9. Teach for cognitive, affective and/or psychomotor learning and transfer.
10. Provide teacher training for RTI and help monitor student's progress.
11. Conduct ongoing assessments of student achievement through formal and informal testing.
12. Plan long range and short range objectives for courses and students.
13. Be a positive role model for students; support the mission of the school district.
14. Create a classroom environment conducive to learning and appropriate for the physical, social and emotional development of students.
15. Establish standards for individual pupils in terms of ability levels.
16. Evaluate and provide feedback on pupil performance continuously by utilizing a variety of sources.
17. Assist in selection of books, equipment and other instructional materials
18. Establish and maintain open communication by conducting conferences with parents, students, principals and teachers.
19. Maintain a professional relationship with colleagues, students, parents and community members.
20. Organize and facilitate district dyslexia parent group.
21. Participate in staff development activities to improve job-related skills.
22. Keep informed of and comply with federal, state, district and school regulations and policies for dyslexia students.
23. Compile, maintain and file all physical and computerized reports, records and other required documents.
24. Attend and participate in faculty meetings and serve on staff committees as required.

Essential Job Functions

• Implement the district’s identified reading intervention program with fidelity
• Coordinate, in conjunction with the director of student services, the building’s dyslexia intervention program adopted by the district
• Administer and interpret assessment data to identify students in need of supplemental or intensive intervention and monitor student progress
• Serve as a guest expert to school intervention teams (SIT) to lead in the identification of students in need of targeted reading interventions and with characteristics of dyslexia
• Collaborate with teachers to analyze data for the purpose of identifying struggling students’ needs, setting learning goals and targets, and problem solving to support continued academic growth in reading
• Coordinate the schedule of services for students in need of targeted reading and dyslexia program interventions
• Use appropriate supplemental intervention materials to provide targeted reading support
• Consistently monitor, assess and encourage individual student progress and program effectiveness
• Maintain accurate and complete records of student progress as required by law and district policies
• Maintain ongoing communication with classroom teachers, instructional teams, and administrators regarding student progress and learning needs
• Participate in professional development training of reading and dyslexia programs as initiated by the district
• Provide support to teachers in the effective implementation of reading professional development, inclusive of reading instructional practices and collecting/analyzing appropriate student data
• Push in to instructional team meetings, as appropriate, to support teachers’ implementation of Tier 2 reading interventions
• Foster and maintain effective communication with parents/guardians regarding intervention and student progress
• Share research/evidence-based instructional reading practices among teachers and reading interventionists, within and across grade levels and buildings
• Assist the director of student services and building principals to ensure seamless vertical and horizontal alignment of reading interventions within and across grade levels and buildings
• Support and promote the district’s mission, vision and values
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned
• Provide support to special education students as assigned