Reading Specialist

Position:  Reading Specialist
Supervisor:  Principal
Start Date:  July 2025
Application Deadline:  Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. However, the position may be closed before that date if a qualified candidate is hired.

The Opportunity: Global Citizens Public Charter School is seeking a passionate Reading Specialist who is a professional educator that understands the diverse and changing needs of our student population. Reporting to the Principal and working closely with the instructional team, the role of the Reading Specialist is to provide high quality instruction, support and leadership in order to produce high quality outcomes in the area of Reading and Literacy for the students at Global Citizens Public Charter School. The Reading Specialist assists with establishing school wide and individual reading goals. Additionally, the Reading Specialist will provide interventions to students and work with teachers to implement additional supports in the classroom. The Reading Specialist will lead the charge with creating a culture of reading that ensures strong reading instruction, excitement about books, and a genuine, institutional love for reading.

Global Citizens is the first dual language immersion elementary school in Washington, DC, to offer language immersion in both Mandarin Chinese and Spanish pathways - exposing students to the top three languages spoken in the world.  Paired with a focus on social justice and whole child wellness, Global Citizens equips children to become empathetic, globally competent, and socially-minded leaders who are prepared for a future we cannot yet imagine.  Global Citizens opened in Ward 7 to provide children and their families living east of the Anacostia River with equitable access to dual language immersion programs.  This position offers an incredible opportunity to work alongside a team, within an entrepreneurial and collaborative environment focused on improving educational opportunities for all students, especially those who are most marginalized and undervalued.

Mission:  The mission of Global Citizens is to inspire and prepare the next generation of global citizens.  We will do this by supporting students, ages 3-11, to reach their full academic and leadership potential in a nurturing learning environment.  We will immerse them in the Mandarin and Spanish languages, promote the value of diversity, and equip them with the knowledge, skills, and mindsets they need to contribute to a better world. 

Vision:  We envision academic excellence, language acquisition, and authentic inclusion of a diverse student population.  We will build a strong community of learners who are confident in their ability to communicate in the Chinese, Spanish, and English languages.  Our children will use language to liberate and advocate for themselves and those most marginalized.  All of our children will develop a sense of self and a sense of belonging, build empathy and emotional resilience, learn to understand and appreciate diverse perspectives and challenge themselves to take action to improve the world.

Philosophy:  We believe that all cultures have richness and value, deserve respect and consideration, and do not belong to a hierarchy.  At Global Citizens PCS, we will continually examine our teaching and curricula to ensure we incorporate multiple perspectives from diverse cultural backgrounds and life experiences, including the experiences of our students, families, communities, and staff.  We will create an environment in which all students will yearn for intercultural connections and see their benefits.

Reading Specialist Job Description 

Program Development and Planning:
Design and implement a comprehensive literacy intervention program that supports students at all reading levels.
Develop school-wide literacy initiatives and frameworks to strengthen reading instruction across grade levels.
Research and recommend instructional materials, tools, and assessments that align with best practices in reading instruction.
Work with school leadership to set literacy goals and monitor progress toward achieving them.
Establish protocols for identifying struggling readers and ensuring timely interventions.
Stay current on literacy research, instructional best practices, and district/state literacy policies to inform program improvements.

Student Assessment and Support:
Serve as a resource person and instructor to accommodate students’ reading remediation needs.
Identifying students at risk for reading problems. 
Use assessments to track, monitor, and modify instruction in support of student learning goals.
Provide pull-out and push-in intervention services for struggling readers.
Analyze data from standardized tests, informal assessments, and classroom observations to diagnose reading difficulties. 
Conducting comprehensive reading assessments to identify student strengths and weaknesses. 

Staff & Classroom Support:
Work closely with classroom teachers to provide strategies and resources that enhance literacy instruction.
Provide professional development and coaching to teachers on best practices in reading instruction.
Assist in developing school-wide literacy initiatives to foster a culture of reading.
Family & Community Collaboration:
Communicate regularly with families regarding student progress, strategies for supporting reading at home, and available resources.
Organize literacy events, workshops, or family engagement activities to promote reading outside of school.

Administrative Duties:
Maintain detailed records of student performance and communicate results with teachers, families, and school leaders.
Maintain accurate records of student interventions, assessments, and progress reports.
Prepare reports and presentations for school leadership, stakeholders, and board members on literacy initiatives and outcomes.
Coordinate scheduling for reading intervention sessions, ensuring minimal disruption to students’ core instruction.
Support compliance with school, district, and state policies related to literacy education and intervention programs.
Assist with grant writing, resource allocation, and budgeting for literacy programs and materials.
Manage literacy resource inventory, ensuring teachers and students have access to necessary instructional materials.

Reading Specialist Qualifications:
Master’s degree in Reading Instruction
Valid District of Columbia Reading Specialist License preferred
Minimum of two years of experience as a Reading Specialist with a strong record of student achievement preferred
Knowledge of current Scientifically Based Reading Research (SBRR).
Knowledge of and experience with administering and analyzing formal and informal reading assessments.
Demonstrated success in raising the literacy achievement levels of traditionally at-risk students through the use of a range of research-based instructional practices, approaches, methods, curriculum materials, and interventions.
Possess a high degree of professionalism and discretion; demonstrated willingness to be held accountable for student’s results.
An energetic, flexible, creative, innovative individual who is a highly motivated self-starter

Compensation

Salary for this position is competitive and ranges from $75K to $90K.  Additionally, Global Citizens PCS offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Equal Opportunity Statement
Global Citizens PCS is an equal-opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. We strongly encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply.  It is our policy to ensure that all individuals with whom we are in contact with are not discriminated against based on race, color, ethnicity, disability, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, military status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, parenthood, or any other personal or professional status.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for this position, please click this link: https://globalcitizensschool.bamboohr.com/careers/86. We’ll review applications as we receive them until the position is filled.  If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

Global Citizens PCS is committed to building a team that reflects the varied backgrounds and experiences of the students we seek to serve.  It is important to us that you use your application materials to clearly delineate ways in which your background and experience align with Global Citizens PCS’s key pillars.