Heart of MO-RPDC CLSD Early Literacy Specialist

Heart of Missouri Regional Professional Development Center

College of Education and Human Development

CLSD (Comprehensive Literacy State Development) Early Literacy Specialist

PURPOSE

The purpose of the CLSD Early Literacy Specialist is to provide educators, families, and communities at CLSD selected schools and programs with support to assist in the development and implementation of effective instructional methods, assessments and/or activities related to improving and advancing early language and literacy skills in birth to 5-year olds.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

The expected outcomes for this effort are to improve the early language and literacy development of children birth to 5 years old by improving the implementation of evidence-based early language and literacy practices and supporting the literacy learning connections through reciprocal relationships between school and home.

PLANNING/COMMUNICATION/COLLABORATION ACTIVITIES

• Collaborate with other initiatives and interagency work of the RPDCs and DESE to provide support of CLSD selected schools and programs.
• Attend and participate in monthly, multi-day meetings, and check-ins with other Early Literacy Specialists, CLSD Literacy Specialists, and Consultants at the direction of the DESE CLSD team.
• Attend and participate in any conferences as requested by the DESE CLSD team.
• CLSD Early Literacy Specialists are expected to travel with the RPDC Missouri region as needed, and travel for attendance at DESE required meetings/conferences. Some specialists will be required to travel outside of their assigned RPDC region.

100% Benefit Eligible

40 Hours Per Week-12 months per year

Monday-Friday

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 4 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary

Applicants will be selected for consideration based on the following preferred qualifications:

SPECIALIZED CERTIFICATION

• Early Childhood teaching certificate (Birth/Pre-Kindergarten-Third Grade)
• Early Childhood Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (ED LETRS) Training (If candidate as not taken EC LETRS, this must be completed after hire date through DESE's Read, Lead, Exceed Initiative)

SPECIALIZED SKILLS

• Ability to express complex ideas to a variety of audiences clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
• Ability to manage diverse activities and meet established deadlines.
• Ability to establish and maintain rapport and effective working elationships with department staff, local LEA personnel, families and community programs
• Ability to analyze complex preschool and pre-kindergarten educational problems and develop feasible solutions.

SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE

• Understanding of significant research in the field of early childhood and early literacy education (emergent literacy), including the relationship between family and community literacies and the ability to apply the findings to the improvement of classroom instruction.
• Growth mindset and interest in finding supports to motivate greater learning and early literacy partnerships with students, teachers and families.
• Knowledge of the science of reading and experience in evidence-based instruction with birth-5 year olds (phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, oral language development, gross and fine motor skill development).
• Understanding and appreciation of various needs through urban, rural and suburban settings of children and families.
• Three (3) years of classroom experience in early childhood classroom or setting (Pre-Kindergarten and/or Kindergarten experience)

Salary Range: $52,915.20 - $57,000 annually, as per grant funding

Grade: GGS-010

University Title: Associate Director Program/Project Operations

Internal applicants can determine their University title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

Cover Letter

Current Resume

References

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.