Reading Specialist

Methuen Public Schools • Methuen, MA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Reading Specialist provides literacy instruction and support to students with varying levels of proficiency. The role includes individualized, small-group, push-in, and pull-out instruction; collaboration with classroom teachers and school leadership; and participation in screening and progress monitoring. The specialist uses culturally relevant practices, integrates technology as an instructional tool, and supports classroom lesson design and intervention. The position is available January 5, 2027, with a salary range of $60,253–$113,226, pro-rated. It is covered under the Methuen Education Association (Unit A) Contract, and the district may transfer personnel among buildings as needed, subject to the contract.

Requirements

• Familiarity with the Science of Reading.
• Ability to set ambitious learning goals, create cognitively demanding tasks, and support the belief that all students can master challenging material through effective effort.
• Ability to regularly assess student understanding and adjust instruction to reach learning goals.
• Mastery of and enthusiasm for literacy and its pedagogy.
• Understanding of how subject matter applies in real-world settings and connects to other content areas and relevant standards.
• Ability to convey content creatively and engagingly in alignment with standards.
• Ability to scaffold and differentiate instruction so all students can engage in complex thinking and rigorous academic work.
• Ability to use instructional practices that challenge, motivate, and engage students and facilitate equitable, active participation.
• Ability to build a productive learning environment in which every student participates and is valued.
• Ability to create and maintain an environment that respects students’ diverse backgrounds, identities, strengths, and challenges.
• Ability to regularly reflect on practice, respond to feedback, and demonstrate self-awareness and commitment to continued learning and development.
• Current, valid bachelor’s degree.
• Massachusetts Educator License.
• Ability to meet the Standards of Effective Teaching established by Methuen Public Schools.
• Current authorization to work in the United States by the first day of employment.
• Ability to model excellent spoken and written English for students learning English in school.
• Experience teaching in an urban setting.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Reading Specialist certification preferred.
• Fluency in Spanish, Haitian Creole, Vietnamese, or Portuguese is particularly valued.

Responsibilities

• Teach critical literacy skills and strategies to promote student achievement.
• Provide individualized and small-group literacy instruction to identified students.
• Collaborate and communicate with students’ teachers to align instruction and support classroom needs, including vocabulary, reading, and writing.
• Collaborate and communicate with the school’s Humanities Supervisor and administration to ensure students receive language support and other academic assistance.
• Deliver push-in and pull-out lessons to students with varying levels of proficiency.
• Assist with oversight and delivery of specific screening and progress-monitoring administration.
• Deliver appropriate lessons for varying levels of literacy.
• Demonstrate cultural proficiency and use effective, culturally relevant instructional practices.
• Integrate technology into classroom instruction.
• Assist classroom teachers with lesson design and intervention when appropriate.
• Engage with families and build collaborative, respectful relationships in service of student learning.
• Reflect on practice, seek and respond to feedback, and contribute to a collaborative adult learning community.
• Attend district- and state-sponsored professional development opportunities to remain current with instructional changes and teaching strategies.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level