Reading Specialist (1)

Petersburg; Petersburg (VA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

Petersburg City Public Schools is seeking a K-5 Reading Specialist to lead reading instruction across elementary settings. The role emphasizes collaboration with teachers, administrators, and central office staff to plan high-quality ELA instruction and targeted interventions.

The Reading Specialist will analyze student data, develop evidence-based plans, and provide PD at the school site to improve literacy outcomes in alignment with Virginia standards.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in English or Reading required.
• At least 3 years of full-time classroom teaching experience in a public school.
• Virginia Postgraduate Professional License or eligibility is mandatory, with endorsement as reading specialist preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead K-5 reading instruction and school-level reading initiatives.
• Collaborate with teachers, administrators, and central office staff to plan and implement ELA instruction and interventions.
• Provide professional development at the school site and analyze student data to guide instruction.
• Unpack Virginia Standards of Learning for ELA and align curriculum resources to support student growth.
• Model effective instructional strategies and differentiate instruction to meet diverse learners.

Skills

ELA instruction

Professional development

Data analysis

Collaboration

Communication

Education

Master's degree in English or Reading

Tools

Technology for instruction

Job description

Frontline Applicant Tracking - Petersburg City Public Schools

• Position Type: Reading Specialist/ Reading Specialist
• Date Posted: 5/4/2026
• Location: Elementary Schools (Various Locations)

Job Title: K-5 Reading Specialist

Salary Range: $62,983-$96,348

Supervisor: Principal

Job Classification: Exempt

Contract Length: 11-months (220 days)

Job Summary The Petersburg City Public Schools (PCPS) Reading Specialist provides school level leadershipin reading by working collaboratively with classroom teachers, administrators , and central office instructional and support staff to plan and implement quality ELA instruction as well as tiered interventions for students in need of differentiated support. The Reading Specialist also provides professional development (PD) at the school site, eva lu ates students and student data to determine ELA strengths and weaknesses, and assists with planning and implementation of additional support services in ELA based on the data-driven needs at the school. The Instructional Specialist plans his/her own work under the guidance of the principal and Director of K-12 Curriculum & Instruction with a focus on the provision of exemplary ELA instruction (research-based and fully aligned with the Virginia Standards of Learning for ELA) to all identified students .

Collaborates with individual teachers or teams of teachers through co-planning , demonstration teaching, co-teaching and coaching to improve student outcomes in ELA.

Supports teachers ' understanding and delivery of the Virginia Standards of Learning (and Curriculum Framework) in reading through collaborative long-range and short-range planning (including unpacking the standards , writing aligned learner objectives, and effectively using district aligned curricu lum resources).

Assist Teachersin creating aligned formative assessments; co lle cting, analyzing and interpreting formative and summative assessment data; and designing or select ing targeted , developmentally appropriate aligned interventions to meet the needs of students in each performance tier.

Facilitates teachers ' use of successfu l , research-based instructional strategies, including differentiated instruction for diverse l earners that enab le s students to progress from concrete to representational to abstract thinking.

Acts as a liaison among classroom teachers, intervention/resource teachers , and any other supplementa l service providers working with ELA instruction.

Analyzes and uses data to identify professional development needs of individual teachers or groups of teachers in ELA; plans and delivers ( or collaborates on delivery of) staff development activities for teachers that are responsive to the data and supportive of the goals of the PCPS Strategic Plan , the PCPS Corrective Action Plan, and individual school improvement plan.

Assists administration in identifying school strengths and weaknesses in ELA and supports responses that maximize stude nt engagement and student ach i evement outcomes in the school.

Incorporat es and models appropriate selection and use of technology to support ELA instruction.

Provides professional development to teachers in a variety of group formats using collaborative investigations, discussion groups , book/lesson study, mode lin g or other methods that engage adult l earners while demonstrating effective research-based instructional strategies in K-5 ELA.

Conducts non-evaluative observations of ELA teaching and learning in order to provide evidence-based feedback to teachers and improve instruction and maximize the impact on student outcomes.

Collaborates with staff on instructional programs and initiatives to provide extended day / extended year l earning opportunities in ELA (field trips, after-school activities , family events, and summer programs).

Participates in professional development for personal growth and to increase knowledge of trends and best practices in classroom instruction ; applies and sha r es new learning with colleag u es as appropriate .

Performs other r elated duties as assigned.

Job Specifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities Required)

Knowledge of Title I regulations , the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) standards , Virginia Standards of Learning (including Curriculum Framework and Standards of Learning assessments) , the PCPS Strategic Plan and the School Improvement Plan.

Advanced knowledge of content, concepts, principles, and methodologies of English/Reading education in a public-setting

Knowledge of current curriculum development theory and practice , program implementation in English/Reading , le arning theory and current trends and research in education.

Proven abi lity to effectively plan and deliver instruction using research-based practice s in English/Reading teaching; to assess student learning in reading through observation and data analysis; to respond to data by selecting appropriate strategies to meet individual and / or group need; and to monitor students over time to ensure maintenance and use of reading processes and skills.

Demonstrated ability to access and use a variety of media and technology to support effective reading instruction and job performance.

Demonstrated leadership qualities and personal characteristics necessary for working effectively with students, teachers, and administrators in a variety of settings re quirin g organization , co ll aboration, and professional communication in oral, written, and presentation formats.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Master's degree in English or Reading

Experience: Comp l eted at least three (3) years of successful fu ll-time classroom teaching in a public schoo l , preferably at more than one grade level in which the teaching of reading was an important responsibility.Professional development leadership experience and participation in professional de ve lopment opportunities related to reading education are desirable.

Certification and Licensure: Virginia Postgraduate Professional License or eligibility for Virginia lic ensure is mandatory. Virginia endorsement as a reading specialist (or eligibility for Virginia endorsement as a reading specialist).

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Duties are performed in an office environment with no unusual physical demands. The physical requirements described herein are representative of those which must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified, to perform the essential functions.

Need Help?

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