Adolescent Literacy Specialist

What You'll Do:

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) is a public agency serving the State of Ohio by overseeing the state's K-12 education system. This position will provide program support for initiatives relating to language and literacy development for students in grades 6-12.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• On behalf of the Section for Literacy Achievement and Reading Success, plans, develops, evaluates, and supports language and literacy-specific agency-wide systems that support literacy initiatives for grades 6-12 across regions and districts, including:
• Collaborates across agency to develop and deploy aligned systems and protocol for program development specific to language and literacy development, program support and delivery of professional development.
• Supports the coordination of the work around the Comprehensive Literacy State Development grant, as part of the State's Comprehensive State Literacy Plan.
• Provides support for the development and sustainability of literacy implementation sites across the state that serve students in grades 6 through 12.
• Provides targeted training and technical assistance to identified schools and districts in adolescent literacy implementation.
• Coordinates activities and support provided by regional adolescent literacy specialists.
• Communicates with regional entities and directors, related to adolescent literacy.
• Work collaboratively with the State Literacy Network to develop resources and tools related to legislative requirements.
• Researches, compiles data, analyzes, reviews, interprets and completes reports regarding initiatives.
• Develops resources and supports for Local Literacy Plan and Reading Achievement Plan development and implementation to state support systems.
• Supports the development of literacy professional learning for educators of students in grades 6-12.
• Creates products, tools and methods for appropriate language and literacy program implementation according to research supported by strong to moderate evidence.
• Provides technical assistance regarding policies in language and literacy multi-tiered system of supports to support professional development.
• Ensures professional development initiatives are focused on improving student achievement & daily practice of educators.
• Documents and written protocols and maintain detailed records for completing all language and literacy initiatives.
• Implements data systems to manage work & document stakeholder input.
• Designs opportunities for stakeholder input & feedback to evaluate initiatives.
• Reviews changing state and federal laws, best practices, and educational data and research and recommends policy changes as needed to direct supervisor.
• Proactively communicates progress of initiatives to leadership and stakeholders.
• Travels statewide for presentations, conferences, trainings, & meetings.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check as well as other investigative reviews. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position, unless restricted under state or federal law or federal restrictions. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

• Only For Unclassified Positions: The final applicant for this position will be required to submit urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to an appointment. The State will decline to extend a final offer of employment to any applicant with a verified positive test result. Also, an applicant with a positive test result will not be considered for any position with the State of Ohio for a period of one year.

• The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer that values diversity and seeks talented individuals from diverse backgrounds. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class. Questions or concerns about this should be directed to the Office of Human Resources (...).

• 72 months in language and literacy experience in any combination of the following:

• Working in a secondary educational setting (i.e., grades 6-12), with an emphasis on language and literacy,(i.e. reading, literacy education, or curriculum and instruction with reading/literacy endorsements on state license) working in one of the following capacities (i.e., reading interventionist, intervention specialist, classroom reading teacher, literacy coach, administrator with experience in implementation of district/school-wide curriculum/assessment in literacy, literacy professional development provider).

• Performing one of the following (i.e., literacy curriculum review/evaluation, literacy policy development, literacy program implementation/evaluation) in a non-profit, government and/or educational setting.

• Current valid driver's license or ability to secure transportation when travel is required.

Job Skills: Educational support