Literacy Coach

University of Maryland • College Park, MD

76d • $85,000 - $100,000

About The Position

Project ECHO (Evidence-Based Coaching for Higher Outcomes): Improving Literacy Outcomes through Research-Practice Partnerships is a five-year initiative funded by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education’s Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) program, administered by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. This project represents a research-practice partnership between Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and the University of Maryland (UMD) to build sustainable, system-wide middle school literacy infrastructure. Project ECHO focuses on implementing two key interventions: PACT Plus, an evidence-based set of comprehension building practices, and AIM Coaching, an adaptive intervention model that emphasizes ongoing professional learning, collaboration, and differentiated support for teachers as they implement PACT Plus across the content-area and supplemental intervention setting. Coaches hired through UMD will serve a critical role in bridging research and practice. They will support school-based implementation, strengthen teacher capacity, and facilitate feedback loops between schools and the research team to ensure instructional integrity and sustained impact.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in education, literacy, special education, or a related field
• At least 3 years of experience teaching in grades 6–12 (ELA, social studies, science, or special education)
• Familiarity with explicit instruction and/or academic interventions
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with school personnel and university researchers
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple responsibilities
• Ability to travel regularly to local middle schools (schools located in Montgomery County, MD)

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in education, special education, or related field
• Experience with instructional coaching or teacher leadership
• Experience working with students with disabilities or multilingual learners
• Experience with evidence-based adolescent literacy instruction and/or intervention

Responsibilities

• Participate in PACT Plus and AIM Coaching professional development trainings
• Develop rapport and trust with school staff
• Conduct structured classroom observations using project protocols
• Assist with collection of student outcome data
• Develop materials in collaboration with other research team and MCPS team members
• Participate in research team meetings and contribute feedback from the field
• Provide job-embedded coaching and support to teachers in implementing the PACT Plus practices
• Engage in regular coaching cycles using the AIM Coaching Model
• Engage in data collection activities
• Collaborate with school-based leaders and project staff to monitor progress and address barriers
• Document coaching activities and implementation fidelity
• Contribute to continuous improvement efforts and practice-informed research

Benefits

• Salary range of $85,000 - $100,000
• 12-month full-time position
• Regular in-person work at assigned schools in Montgomery County, MD

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree