Literacy Specialist - Juvenile Facilities Next Chapter Library (Fixed-Term)

Ventura County • Ventura, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Under general direction, the Literacy Specialist coordinates literacy services for incarcerated youth at the Juvenile Facilities Next Chapter Library, a partnership between Ventura County Library and the Ventura County Probation Agency. The position recruits, screens, trains, and supports volunteer tutors; assesses learner needs and progress; provides individualized literacy support and educational resources; and facilitates opportunities that encourage reading, learning, and personal growth. The Literacy Specialist fosters positive, supportive relationships with youth, volunteers, Library staff, and facility personnel while maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment. Duties include administering and interpreting literacy assessments; developing and providing appropriate instructional materials; communicating learner progress and instructional strategies to tutors; monitoring and documenting learner outcomes; maintaining program records and materials; submitting required reports; coordinating with facility staff regarding programming, schedules, and access; and proactively identifying program needs, challenges, and opportunities and recommending solutions to the Program Manager and Juvenile Facilities staff.

Requirements

• Two (2) years of experience teaching reading and English phonics.
• Two (2) years leading or supervising others.
• Demonstrated skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with staff at all levels, volunteers, and community groups.
• Ability to communicate effectively with teens and young adults.
• Effective written communication skills must be demonstrated in the completion of the employment application and supplemental questionnaire.
• Willing and able to work a flexible schedule including evenings and occasional weekends.
• Some proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Working knowledge of principles and practices of effective supervision.
• Working knowledge of methods and practices of teaching reading, including English phonics instruction, remediation of reading difficulties in the context of learning differences/disabilities.
• Ability to quickly establish rapport and conduct an effective and comfortable interview to assess literacy levels and needs.
• Ability to administer and interpret reading assessment tests.
• Ability to select appropriate instructional materials and strategies and explain their use to a volunteer.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of people using a high level of sensitivity for people with learning disabilities or cultural differences.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, volunteers, and community groups.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment to function independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to exercise discretion and mature judgement while following and enforcing rules.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously with a high level of competence; to organize and prioritize duties and manage time effectively.
• Ability to explain department policies and procedures and serve as departmental resource and liaison.
• Ability to draw logical conclusions and make appropriate recommendations or adjustments as needed.
• Ability to prepare various reports by tracking, collecting, compiling, and analyzing relevant, necessary information.
• Skill in utilizing modern office methods and applicable software applications, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and email programs such as Outlook and databases.
• Skill in written and oral communication.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor degree in education or literacy or reading improvement.
• Some experience interacting with people with learning disabilities and supervising teens and volunteers.
• Experience interacting with teens and young adults and a diverse group of people with or cultural differences.
• Experience supervising others.
• Bachelor’s degree in education or reading and literacy, or a related field.
• Experience working with people with learning disabilities.
• Experience using databases.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates literacy services for incarcerated youth at the Juvenile Facilities Next Chapter Library.
• Recruits, screens, trains, and supports volunteer tutors.
• Assesses learner needs and progress.
• Provides individualized literacy support and educational resources.
• Facilitates opportunities that encourage reading, learning, and personal growth.
• Fosters positive, supportive relationships with youth, volunteers, Library staff, and facility personnel.
• Maintains a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment.
• Administers and interprets literacy assessments.
• Develops and provides appropriate instructional materials.
• Communicates learner progress and instructional strategies to tutors.
• Monitors and documents learner outcomes.
• Maintains program records and materials.
• Submits required reports.
• Coordinates with facility staff regarding programming, schedules, and access.
• Proactively identifies program needs, challenges, and opportunities and recommends solutions.
• Supervises the activities of volunteer tutors and adult learners during in-person or virtual sessions online, at the library, or off-site locations such as schools and/or correctional facilities.
• Coordinates READ programming in one or all of the following areas: adult basic education, English as a second language, family literacy, and/or workforce and digital literacy, which includes event planning, curriculum development, content evaluation, and direct instruction.
• Helps READ participants achieve their goals by monitoring progress and achievement, administering reading assessments, screening prospective volunteer tutors and adult learners, and matching learning pairs.
• Analyzes program efficacy, demonstrating a high level of cultural sensitivity and awareness, presenting instructional strategies, and making referrals to relevant wraparound services within the community.
• Trains and manages volunteer tutors regarding program expectations, educational best practices, safety procedures, and facility codes of conduct.
• Maintains necessary records and materials, which includes tracking, analyzing, and reporting data.
• Serves as liaison with partner agencies to assess adult learner needs and interests.
• Communicates and plans READ activities with the Program Manager and maintains READ instructional and promotional materials with the Administrative Assistant.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Educational incentive of 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% based on completion of an Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's degree that is not required for the classification.
• Bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill.
• Eligible for overtime compensation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level