ARI (Alabama Reading Initiative) Specialist - Central Park Elementary

Montgomery-Public-Schools; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

The ARI Specialist at Montgomery Public Schools will collaborate with the Principal to support elementary reading initiatives at Central Park Elementary. This 9-month, exempt, on-site role focuses on coaching, professional development, and data-driven instruction to improve student reading outcomes.

Salary follows the Alabama Certified Salary Schedule ($50,062 - $95,754). Required: Alabama Professional Educator Certificate, a bachelor’s degree with science of reading coursework, and at least two

Qualifications

• Alabama Professional Educator Certificate required.
• Bachelor’s degree with science of reading coursework or equivalent training.
• Minimum of two years of elementary or literacy teaching experience.
• Knowledge of scientifically based reading research and data analysis.
• Strong knowledge in science of reading and early childhood education.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the principal to create a strategic plan for coaching to support and measure impact of reading instruction.
• Facilitate school-wide professional development and monitor transfer to practice.
• Model explicit, systematic science of reading instruction for teachers with detailed explanations and guided practice.
• Coach and mentor teachers daily through planned cycles and gradual release of responsibility.
• Lead data analysis discussions and use data to differentiate instruction by student needs.

Skills

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Science of reading coursework

Alabama Professional Educator Certificate

Job description

ARI (ALABAMA READING INITIATIVE) SPECIALIST

REPORTS TO: Principal

WORK DAYS: 9 Months (187 Days)

SALARY: Certified Salary Schedule ($50,062 - $95,754)

LOCATION: Central Park Elementary

FLSA Status: EXEMPT X

JOB DESCRIPTION: EVALUATION AND SUPPORT

Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) local reading specialists will be evaluated according to quantitative and qualitative data measures. Summative and formative student assessment data, surveys, and site visit reports will be used in determining local reading specialists’ effectiveness and that of overall program and process effectiveness. Support for local reading specialists will be provided by ARI regional literacy specialists according to specifications outlined in the Alabama Literacy Act 2019-523.

ROLE OF THE LOCAL READING SPECIALIST: Per the Alabama Literacy Act, “An Alabama Reading Initiative local reading specialist shall be assigned to provide intensive, targeted professional development for elementary school teachers at one school.” ARI Local reading specialists may not perform administrative functions such as serving as an evaluator, substitute teacher, assessment coordinator, or school administrators, full-time interventionist, or instructional coach above third grade. The state superintendent of education will certify that each local reading specialist has the qualifications to serve in this capacity based on verification by the local superintendent.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaborating with the principal to create a strategic plan for coaching to support and measure the impact of reading instruction according to the science of reading, school baseline data, and data from approved early reading assessment systems.


• Facilitating school wide professional development and monitoring and measuring the impact of transfer to practice.


• Modeling effective science of reading instruction for teachers that is explicit, systematic, inclusive of detailed explanations and more extensive opportunities for guided practice, error correction, and feedback.


• Coaching and mentoring teachers daily via planned coaching cycles based on data and gradually releasing responsibility to teachers.


• Facilitating data analysis discussions and supporting teachers by using data to differentiate instruction according to the needs of students by adhering to the framework of tiered instruction.


• Fostering multiple areas of teacher professional learning, including exceptional student education and content area knowledge, and making adjustments based on data.


• Prioritizing time for those teachers, activities, and roles that will give the greatest impact on student reading achievement, such as coaching and mentoring in classrooms, as evidenced by coaching logs, student impact data and site visit data.


• Monitoring the reading progress of all students a minimum of three times per year and making recommendations for the adjustment of instruction according to student specific needs identified from multiple data points and aligned with the science of reading as specified in the strategic plan for coaching.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• The required Alabama Professional Educator Certificate.


• A bachelor’s degree and advanced coursework or professional development in the science of reading, such as multisensory language instruction, or comparable alternative training approved by the Alabama State Board of Education.


• A minimum of two years of experience as a successful elementary or literacy teacher.


• A knowledge of scientifically based reading research, special expertise in quality reading instruction and intervention, dyslexia specific interventions, and data analysis.


• A strong knowledge base in the science of learning to read and the science of early childhood education.


• Excellent communication skills with outstanding presentation, interpersonal, and time management skills.

*SUCH ALTERNATIVES TO THE ABOVE QUALIFICATIONS AS THE BOARD MAY REQUIRE.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Completed Application (HireTrue)


• Resume (uploaded to application)


• Three (3) returned References (HireTrue)

*PLEASE ENSURE ALL INFORMATION IS CURRENT WITHIN A 6 MONTH PERIOD*

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Physical strength, mobility, dexterity, stamina, and acuity are required to perform job responsibilities.

REVISED

October 2026

PLEASE NOTE

All candidates must submit to a background check (https://fieldprintalabama.com/individuals). Employment is contingent upon candidate meeting suitability criteria as established by Alabama State Department of Education. The Birmingham Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religious preference, marital status, disability, national origin, or any other reason prohibited by state or federal law. Employees of the District are required to comply with the provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments. Birmingham Board of Education is required by state law to verify the employment eligibility of newly hired employees by using the federal E-Verify program. New employees are required to provide a Social Security number, an unexpired identity document that contains a photograph, and other acceptable documents that establish employment eligibility. In addition to determining whether a new hire is authorized to work in the United States, E-Verify will confirm that the employee's name and Social Security number match.