Bilingual Reading Specialist, Salem Public Schools, Salem, MA [SY 2025-2026]

Salem Public Schools • Salem, MA

4d

About The Position

About Salem Public Schools , where belonging leads to opportunity. Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district enrolling nearly 4,000 students in 11 schools. Our vision is to ensure that all students will be locally engaged, globally connected, and fully prepared to thrive in a diverse and changing world. We hold dear our core values of belonging, equity , and opportunity in everything we do. We seek individuals who are passionate about urban education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement for all students, regardless of ability, economic status, gender/gender identity, language, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other backgrounds. We invite you to learn more about our strategic plan and core priorities on our website at https://salemk12.org/ . What You’ll Do: The reading specialist position is an excellent opportunity for an experienced literacy specialist or classroom teacher with special expertise in literacy and a passionate interest in how children develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. The primary goal of the reading specialist is to build student capacity to manage the demands of grade-level reading tasks in both languages, Spanish & English for students who are federally designated English Learners. Purpose of Position: To provide direct service to students who demonstrate the need for additional reading instruction and support in English and Spanish for students who are federally designated English Learners. Role: With focused work underway to support and improve core instruction, the district is intensifying its focus on refining and strengthening Tier 2 interventions in literacy. The Reading Specialist will administer diagnostic assessments, select interventions, deliver instruction, and monitor student progress. The role requires close coordination with classroom teachers and the Literacy Coach and other literacy specialists.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree (Required); Master’s Degree (Preferred)
• Required Massachusetts teaching certification/licensure (reading specialist licensure is a plus)
• Bilingual Spanish/English (required)
• Three or more years of successful teaching literacy at the elementary level
• Experience working in a diverse, urban environment preferred
• Knowledge of and experience using SEI strategies and other approaches to differentiated instruction
• Extensive knowledge of the MA ELA curriculum frameworks/standards and commitment to learning National SLA curriculum frameworks/standards
• Strong content and pedagogical knowledge in ELA
• Deep understanding of foundational skills based instruction
• Experience with standards-based practices and effective use of student data
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively with teachers
• Expertise in a variety of Tier I and Tier II interventions
• Experienced in matching student needs to appropriate core and Tier II interventions
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively with colleagues
• Proficiency with technology (blended learning, teacher/family communication suites (Remind preferred), Google G-Suite Apps, etc.) desirable.
• Holds an unwavering belief that every student in Salem can grow and succeed
• Skilled in providing equitable access to the curriculum, particularly in underserved populations
• Able to work collaboratively and flexibly as part of a building team
• Has a strong work ethic, is self-directed, and has the ability to work independently
• Self-reflects and accepts feedback with a growth mindset

Nice To Haves

• Second language (Spanish and/or Portuguese) proficiency a plus
• Multilingual candidates and candidates of color are strongly encouraged to apply

Responsibilities

• Administers and scores diagnostic reading assessments
• Shares data with classroom teachers/literacy coach
• In collaboration with the classroom teacher, develops plans for small group instruction (core or Tier II), including needs-based grouping, providing resources, and delivering targeted instruction
• With the principal and the literacy coach, develops a schedule that best meets the needs of the school
• Monitors student progress on a predetermined, regular basis
• Supports students in classes across the curriculum, including English, social studies/history, science, and other classes where inadequate reading skills interfere with student learning
• Participates in monthly job-alike meetings with other district reading specialists
• Engages in advanced training opportunities designed to strengthen content knowledge, pedagogy, and coaching skills as well as knowledge of Dual Language
• Supports the school data team in monitoring progress toward meeting grade-level and school-wide ELA goals

Benefits

• The City of Salem offers Group Insurance Commission (GIC) benefits to all full-time employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees