Reading Specialist/ Student Accommodation Plan Coordinator (EX) (2024-2025) - Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Essex MD

The Archdiocese of Baltimore is seeking a candidate who understands the importance of building the trust and security needed for each of our learners to grow and develop into his or her best possible self. The Student Support Specialist will support the school mission by planning, guiding, and evaluating the academic learning process while building programs that enhance the social and emotional learning of the students. They will report to the Principal and will be a regular member of the administrative leadership team. This individual will have the opportunity to build faith-filled, stimulating, safe, and developmentally appropriate programs, through which students will have the opportunity to grow in the cognitive, social, and emotional skills needed to access learning and interact with others.  The Student Support Specialist must be creative, professional, dependable, warm, kind, and a team player.

Essential Functions:

Reading Specialist Duties:

• Provide targeted reading intervention and support to students with reading difficulties or disabilities, including dyslexia, fluency issues, and comprehension challenges.
• Conduct assessments to identify students' reading strengths and weaknesses and develop individualized reading plans and goals.
• Implement evidence-based reading instruction strategies and interventions to improve students' literacy skills, including phonemic awareness, decoding, vocabulary development, and reading comprehension.
• Collaborate with classroom teachers, special education staff, and other stakeholders to differentiate instruction and support students' reading development across content areas.
• Monitor and track students' progress in reading interventions, adjust instruction as needed, and communicate regularly with parents and guardians about students' growth and goals.

Special Education Liaison Duties:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for teachers, parents, and administrators regarding students' Individualized
• Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans.
• Review and interpret IEPs and 504 plans to ensure that accommodations, modifications, and support services are implemented effectively in the classroom.
• Collaborate with teachers and support staff to provide accommodations and modifications that meet the individual needs of students with disabilities, including access to appropriate instructional materials and assistive technology.
• Attend IEP meetings, 504 plan meetings, and other special education-related meetings to contribute expertise, advocate for students' needs, and ensure compliance with legal requirements.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of students' SAPs, progress reports, and other relevant documentation

 

Position Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in education, special education, reading/literacy, or a related field
• Valid teaching license or certification in special education and/or reading specialist endorsement.
  Experience working with students with diverse learning needs, including reading disabilities, language-based learning disorders, and other learning disabilities.
• Knowledge of evidence-based reading instruction practices, literacy assessments, and intervention strategies.
• Understanding of special education laws and regulations.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, parents, and outside agencies.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in education.
• Attend all faculty meetings, professional development, grade level, and curriculum meetings.
• Attend end of the year award ceremonies, open houses, and other “after hour” activities as requested.
• Serve on various committees.
• Comply with applicable AOB, state, local and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
• Perform various non-teaching related duties such as recess, lunch, arrival, dismissal, etc.