Teacher, TOSA Literacy Specialist - Hmong International Academy

From the morning bus ride until the last activity of the night, more than 35,000 students grow and learn with Minneapolis Public Schools every day. We are MPS. We turn everyday achievement into student achievement. Minneapolis Public Schools embraces diversity in our students, in our staff and in the programs we offer to accelerate learning.

The Literacy Specialist will work with teachers and building administration to develop explicit and differentiated literacy instruction (especially reading and writing) into all content areas to achieve exceptional and equitable student outcomes. Literacy Specialists will accomplish this by working directly with teachers to implement best practices through a mix of co-teaching, modeling, planning, debriefing/reflecting and leading PD. The Specialist will have an exceptionally strong understanding of literacy development across all proficiency levels. The Literacy Specialist will play a critical role in fostering a literacy rich environment, developing the literacy expertise and leadership of all members of the ILT, and will help to continuously manage and facilitate change through effective adult relationships.

- Active participation on the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) - Support all teachers with co-planning, co-teaching and modeling the integration of literacy standards within all content areas - Develop and build capacity of others as instructional leaders - Utilize the principles of backward design theory to support the MPS Focused Instruction framework - Read, create, interpret and communicate data to a variety of stakeholders. - Ensure implementation of core curricula and Reader's and Writer's workshop - Support the district initiatives for improved literacy instruction across all content areas - Regularly engage in student-centered coaching conversations with building staff and administration aligned to teachers' Professional Development Plans and the Standards of Effective Instruction - Work closely with building administration through learning walks and other sources of data to identify areas of strength and need related to the MN ELA and Content Literacy Standards, and plan professional learning to support identified areas - Regularly analyze student formative assessment data and support teachers' implementation of instructional strategies and interventions based on needs indicated by data - Identify and develop resources for implementation of the K-12 MN ELA Standards, and work with district ELA/Literacy department to strengthen these resources within the Focused Instruction curriculum guides - Facilitate regularly scheduled and summer professional learning around literacy, integration and the MN ELA Standards - Fulfill all requirements of the MPS teacher contract, including participation in the PDPLC and teacher evaluation processes - Regularly attend professional development related to literacy content, pedagogy, and equity facilitated by the district literacy/ELA department

- A passion for student achievement, the conviction that all students will learn, and a drive to close achievement gaps between student groups - Extensive knowledge and understanding of the K-12 MN ELA Common Core State Standards, including the Content Literacy Standards - Current MN Elementary teaching license or MN K-12 Reading license - Strong knowledge of cultural competence and equity work - Demonstrated success improving reading and writing outcomes for struggling elementary students - Successful elementary experience in co-teaching, co-planning and/or literacy coaching in the Reader's and Writer's workshop and content areas - Demonstrated experience facilitating adult learning, including large group PD sessions - Strong understanding of Reader's and Writer's Workshop