Newark Nj - Prek-2 Literacy Educational Consultant Per Diem

Newark, NJ Pre K-2 Literacy Educational Consultant, PER DIEM

Teaching Matters is a national nonprofit organization, headquartered in New York City, with the mission to close the opportunity gap of a radically unequal education system for underserved and historically marginalized children. From states and districts to schools and classrooms, we partner to help teachers and school leaders develop the skills they need to teach well, lead their peers and drive school-wide improvement.

The primary role of the Newark K-2 Literacy Educational Consultant is to implement variations of our Early Reading Matters program in the Newark, NJ school system. Teaching Matters has been awarded a multi-year contract to support the early literacy initiatives of the district, partnering with a wide range of district staff to work in schools. The consultant will act as a main representative for Teaching Matters, simultaneously building, maintaining, and creating partnerships throughout the district, training district support staff and personnel, coaching principals and teachers in select schools in key early literacy pedagogies, and codifying practices for scale.

Early Reading Matters is a professional learning model proven to increase early literacy gains utilizing concepts and theories related to the five pillars of early literacy and reading instruction (Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary and Comprehension). With the support of a Teaching Matters consultant, teachers and school leaders will be able to:

Early Reading Matters supports the effective development of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)—teacher teams designed to accelerate student outcomes through collective work, feedback and the sharing of best practices. Work will primarily be school-based and require intensive interaction with school leaders, teacher leaders and teachers. Collaboration with colleagues on the Teaching Matters team implementing this initiative will also be a critical part of this job.

This position serves schools in Newark, NJ and requires intensive travel in the city. There are times during whole staff meetings that travel will be required to New York City, though this would be infrequent.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop and empower teacher teams in collaborating for outcomes by reflecting on practice, analyzing data, and looking at student work toward the goal of improving student outcomes.
• Possess the soft skills necessary for addressing mindsets relating to student achievement and opportunity.
• Collaborate with school leaders on maximizing the success of their teachers in addressing literacy challenges and needed teacher mindset shifts.
• Identify equitable and scaffolded pedagogical practices that allow for a variety of student voices in classroom practices and curricular materials.
• Take key learnings from these activities and codify practices for scale.
• Support teachers and school leaders in implementing the literacy block effectively through the adoption of high leverage, equitable and inclusive pedagogical practices as well as appropriate common core-aligned texts, curricula, and materials that are diverse and represent multiple perspectives, and assessment strategies.
• Prepare early literacy team leaders to ultimately lead continuous improvement efforts by using data that leads to deep analysis and identification of inequitable practices in schools.
• Model and/or observe literacy lessons providing teachers with constructive and actionable feedback.
• Facilitate idea sharing and collaboration in a group setting.
• Execute a clear roadmap for leading teacher teams to reflectively improve pedagogical practices and improve student outcomes.
• Support district personnel in best practices of coaching, creating and delivering high impact professional development sessions that are engaging and aligned to district initiatives.
• Support teacher leaders and teachers at professional learning/training sessions and team meetings in deepening their content and pedagogical knowledge related to early literacy instruction that is culturally responsive.

Key Qualifications:

• Highly knowledgeable in research-based practices and strategies in early literacy; Masters degree in literacy education preferred. Bachelor's degree required.
• Strong spirit of collaboration in working with colleagues and a program department to continually refine and improve Early Reading Matters.
• Superior interpersonal skills to motivate and lead others at all levels within a school.
• Experience in urban schools.
• Strong critical thinking skills.
• Demonstrated capacity in being a catalyst for change, well organized, and collaborative problem-solver.
• Highly knowledgeable in research-based practices for instruction of students with disabilities. Experience serving populations with medically complex or multiple disabilities preferred. Special Education Certification required.
• Perks of the Job:
• Monthly Professional Growth Days - an opportunity to collaborate with your intelligent, like-minded colleagues
• Demonstrated knowledge of classroom management strategies that are equitable and inclusive.
• Dynamic presenter, comfortable engaging large groups of educators in professional workshops and work-sessions.
• Biannual social gatherings with the team
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• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Experience delivering professional learning institutes to groups of teachers and/or coaches.
• Experience facilitating teacher teams to achieve student outcomes.
• Per Diem positions currently available. $600-$625 per day. ***Teaching Matters is unable to hire any employees of the New Jersey Department of Education within one year of the end of their employment. COVID-19 Considerations: Prior to hire, candidates will need to show documentation of COVID vaccination. ****Offer is contingent on completing and procuring satisfactory results of all the required pre-employment requisites, which includes being fingerprinted and validated through the NYC Department of Education P.E.T.S. system as well as proof of Covid-19 vaccination. Teaching Matters is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
• Flexible scheduling - work as much, or as a little as your schedule allows - you set your schedule
• Technology skills with current computer software, including word processing and online collaboration tools.
• Experience coaching in an early literacy setting (grades PreK-2) AND minimum of 4 years of teaching (grades PreK-2) or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrates deep commitment to Teaching Matters’ mission, vision, and core values.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in achieving ambitious, measurable student results in literacy.