School Based State Literacy Coaches (Education Program Specialist I)

State of Maryland; Baltimore, Northern (MD, KY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 86,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits subsidy

Dental coverage option

Paid leave accrual

Job summary

The Maryland State Department of Education is seeking School-Based Literacy Coaches to strengthen K-3 reading using evidence-based HQIM and the Science of Reading. Coaches will support coherent literacy instruction across grades and advance state literacy priorities.

Positions involve leading coaching cycles, delivering professional learning, and guiding teachers in implementing HQIM and data-driven interventions across Maryland schools. Occasional travel is required to support districts.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or 36 credit hours post-baccalaureate.
• Four years of administrative or teaching experience in literacy/reading in PK-12.
• Education/experience substitutions allowed (two years for education; Doctorate may substitute one year).

Responsibilities

• Lead teachers through individual literacy coaching cycles.
• Provide non-evaluative, job-embedded coaching to strengthen reading instruction.
• Support teachers in systematic, explicit foundational skills instruction (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension).
• Model structured literacy practices through co-teaching, lesson modeling, and observations with targeted feedback.
• Guide and support HQIM implementation and interpretation of early literacy screeners and diagnostics.
• Deliver professional learning aligned to the Science of Reading and HQIM implementation.
• Provide training on using literacy data to inform instructional decisions within MTSS.
• Build teacher capacity to deliver coherent literacy instruction across grades aligned to policy.

Skills

Active teacher certification

Coaching professional staff

Science of Reading HQIM

PreK-3 policy experience

Curriculum/ELA literacy

Data-driven instruction

Education

Master’s degree or 36 post-baccalaureate credit hours

Job description

Introduction

The Maryland State Department of Education is dedicated to supporting a world-class educational system that prepares all students for college and career success in the 21st century. With excellent stewardship from our divisions, we oversee State and federal programs that support the needs of a diverse population – students, teachers, principals, and other educators throughout Maryland.

GRADE

State of Maryland Salary Grade 21, $53 per hour

LOCATION OF POSITION

Please indicate on your application each county in which you are willing to work. *Selected Staff will be eligible for travel reimbursement in accordance with State of Maryland policies.*

Main Purpose of Job

These School-Based Literacy Coach positions will serve a critical role in improving K-3 reading achievement by providing non-evaluative, job-embedded instructional coaching grounded in the Science of Reading using high-quality instructional materials (HQIM). The Literacy Coaches will be responsible for supporting the implementation of evidence-based practices and the internalization of HQIM.

The Literacy Coaches support the implementation of Maryland's Comprehensive PreK-3 Policy by promoting coherent literacy instruction across grade levels, strengthening Tier I reading instruction, and helping teachers internalize units and lessons aligned to evidence-based literacy practices. Finally, these positions will advance the Maryland State Department of Education Strategic Plan, Objective 3, by leading improvements in early literacy proficiency through recurring coaching cycles, targeted feedback, data-driven instructional decision-making, and professional learning aligned to state literacy priorities.

POSITION DUTIES

• Lead teachers through individual literacy coaching cycles.
• Provides non-evaluative, job-embedded coaching to strengthen reading instruction aligned to the Science of Reading and Maryland's Comprehensive PreK-3 Policy (i.e., writing SRIPs, delivering screeners, etc.).
• Supports teachers in delivering systematic, explicit foundational skills instruction including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
• Models structured literacy practices through co-teaching, lesson modeling, and elbow coaching and conducts observations focused on reading instruction and provide targeted, literacy specific feedback.
• Guides and supports teachers in implementing high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) for reading and in administering and interpreting early literacy screeners and diagnostics to select appropriate interventions.
• Delivers professional learning aligned to the Science of Reading, structured literacy, and HQIM implementation.
• Provides training for teachers on using literacy assessment data to make instructional decisions within an MTSS literacy framework and facilitates professional learning on evidence-based interventions, structured literacy instruction, academic routines and procedures, text complexity, and metacognition.
• Builds teacher capacity to deliver coherent literacy instruction across grade-levels aligned to Maryland's Comprehensive PreK-3 policy, the Ready to Read Act, and COMAR 13A.03.08 Students At-Risk for Reading Difficulty.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: A Master’s degree or the equivalent of 36 credit hours of post-baccalaureate course work from an accredited college or university.
• Experience: Four years of administrative or teaching experience in, or affiliated with Literacy, Reading and/or related programs in prekindergarten through 12 settings.
• Notes: Candidates may substitute two additional years of experience directly related to the position option for the required education.
• Candidates may substitute the possession of a Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to the position option for one year of the required experience.
• The required field of education and experience are unique for each option and are established by MSDE in accordance with Education Article, Section 2-104 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
• The specific education and experience qualifications for each position are on record in the Human Resource Management Branch of the Division of Business Services.
• Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Education Program classifications or Education Program specialty codes in the Education field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Active teacher certification in any state with experience as a classroom teacher.
• Experience supervising and/or coaching professional education staff.
• Experience with the Science of Reading, Structured Literacy, associated HQIM and PreK-3 learning theory and various approaches to instructional coaching.
• Experience working with K-3 reading achievement and Maryland's Comprehensive PreK-3 Policy
• Experience implementing curriculum and evidence-based instructional practices in English Language Arts and literacy.
• Experience with high impact coaching methods and developing and facilitating professional learning focused on research-based practices and evidence-based interventions including professional learning cycles and the MSDE coaching model.
• Experience delivering data-driven literacy instruction that meets the needs of diverse learners.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must consent to State and FBI (CJIS) background check as a routine procedure for all employees.

This position requires travel throughout the State of Maryland and throughout designated Counties to support teachers within individual school(s) and oversee the effective implementation of Literacy initiatives

SELECTION PROCESS

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified. The resulting list of qualified candidates will be in effect for at least one year.

BENEFITS

Contractual employees who work for an agency covered under the State Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program, have a current employment contract and work 30 or more hours a week (or on average 130 hours per month) may be eligible for subsidized health benefits coverage for themselves and their dependents. As a contractual employee, you will be responsible for paying 25% of the premiums for your medical and prescription coverage, including any eligible dependents you have enrolled. The State of Maryland will subsidize the remaining 75% of the cost for these benefits. You can also elect to enroll in dental coverage, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and life insurance, but will be responsible to pay the full premium for these benefits.

Leave may be granted to a contractual employee at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, not to exceed 40 hours per calendar year.

REQUIREMENTS

All application materials must be received in our office by the Closing Date. Appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request.

Appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request.