Intensive Reading Teacher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Teacher: Dyslexia (Grades: EC-12) - Pool
Reports to: Principal 
Salary: Teacher Salary Schedule (See Attachment)
Duty Days: 187
FLSA Status: Exempt
POSITION PURPOSE

Provides multi-sensory, systematic, and structured lessons designed to provide intensive reading and spelling instruction for students identified with dyslexia as mandated by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Dyslexia Handbook.  Delivers all core content instruction while embedding research-based strategies learned in the structured literacy intervention.  May also serve students exhibiting risk factors of dyslexia, including difficulties with phonemic awareness, decoding, word recognition, fluency, and spelling.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Provides intensive accelerated instruction in small group settings.
• Creates an interactive classroom where students actively participate during each lesson presented.
• Accepts itinerant assignments and arrives to class on time.
• Plans, organizes, manages, and implements lesson activities.
• Prepares materials needed for instruction in advance.
• Follows Dyslexia Program lesson cycle guidelines; adheres to recommended pacing schedules.
• Models procedures that consistently encourage students to maintain focus during instruction.
• Demonstrates effective classroom management skills in a small group setting.
• Completes and submits pacing calendars and lesson plans for each small group of students.
• Follows recommended pacing schedule and maintains lesson completion records for each student to ensure students are progressing through dyslexia curriculum at expected pace.
• Maintains and organizes individual student files, both paper and electronic.
• Monitors and documents student progress, and reports progress to the Dyslexia Office and general education teacher(s).
• Maintains ongoing communications with classroom teachers and Dyslexia Office to ensure a successful transition for students.
• Maintains ongoing communications with parents to discuss student progress and reinforce reading strategies at home.
• Serves as a resource to classroom teachers and parents, providing professional learning sessions and suggested instructional strategies.

Personal Work Relationships

• All Fort Worth ISD employees must maintain a commitment to the District's mission, vision, and strategic goals.
• Exhibits high professionalism, standards of conduct and work ethic.
• Demonstrates high quality customer service; builds rapport/relationship with the consumer.
• Demonstrates cultural competence in interactions with others; is respectful of co-workers; communicates and acts as a team player; promotes teamwork.  Responds and acts appropriately in confrontational situations.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Performs all job related duties as assigned and in accordance to the Board rules, policies and regulations.  All employees are expected to comply with lawful directives in rare situations driven by need where a team effort is required. 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary.
• Knowledge of dyslexia and learning disorders.
• Knowledge of dyslexia data and ability to interpret data for instructional purposes.
• Knowledge of the District's policies and procedures and Section 504 process and procedures.
• Skill in administering and interpreting reading assessments.
• Skill in demonstrating multicultural experiences and experience with second language learners.
• Skill in effective written and verbal communication and proficiency in oral and written English.
• Skill in professional learning or service on a campus team.
• Skill working with students with dyslexia and providing appropriate interventions and/or accommodations.
• Ability to work with parents, teachers, and school administrators to provide knowledge and understanding of needs of students who learn differently.
• Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form.
• Ability to establish a supportive and compassionate relationship with students with special needs.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, staff, and others contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to exercise discretion regarding matters of a sensitive or confidential nature.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of individuals.
• Ability to use software to create spreadsheets, databases, and do word processing.
• Ability to organize and coordinate work.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both oral and written forms.
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to performance and professional growth.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work.

Travel Requirements

• Travels to school district buildings and professional meetings as required. 

Physical & Mental Demands, Work Hazards

• Tools/Equipment Used:  Standard office equipment, including computer and peripherals; standard instructional equipment such as Promethean Board.
• Posture:  Prolonged sitting and standing; occasional stooping, squatting, kneeling, bending, pushing/pulling, and twisting.
• Motion:  Frequent repetitive hand motions, including keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching; regular walking.
• Lifting:  Regular light lifting and carrying (less than 25 pounds); may lift and move text books and classroom equipment.
• Environment:  Works in a school facility and classroom; may work outside (exposure to sun, heat, cold, and inclement weather); frequent exposure to noise; may require occasional irregular and/or prolonged hours, including attendance at events and/or meetings with parents and staff after designated work hours.
• Attendance:  Regular and punctual attendance at the worksite is required for this position.
• Mental Demands:  Maintains emotional control under stress; works with frequent interruptions.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Education:  Bachelor's degree from accredited college or university required; Master's degree in a relevant field preferred.
• Certification/License:  Valid Texas Teaching certification required.
  • ESL or Bilingual certification preferred;
  • Certified Academic Language Practitioner (CALP)/Licensed Dyslexia Practitioner (LDP) preferred;
  • Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT)/Licensed Dyslexia Therapist (LDT) highly preferred;
• Experience:  Below are examples of the combinations of certification and experience accepted:
  • 3 years' classroom teaching in Language Arts & Reading without CALP/CALT certification; OR
  • No experience with CALP/LDP certification preferred; OR
  • No experience with CALT/LDT certification highly preferred.
• Language:  Bilingual (English/Spanish) working proficiency preferred in some settings.

This document is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.