Structured Literacy Implementation Coach

Full Job Description

Colorado Department of Education – What We Do
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) provides leadership, resources, support, and accountability to the state's 178 school districts, 1,888 schools, over 53,000 teachers, and over 3,200 administrators to help them build capacity to meet the needs of the state's approximately 905,000 public school students. In addition, CDE provides structural and administrative support to the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind and the Charter School Institute.

As the administrative arm of the State Board of Education, CDE is responsible for implementing state and federal education laws, disbursing state and federal funds, holding schools and districts accountable for performance, licensing all educators, and providing public transparency of performance and financial data.

CDE is a values-based agency that serves students, parents, and the general public by protecting public trust through ensuring adherence to laws, strong stewardship of public funds, and accountability for student performance.

CDE strives to incorporate five core values that we uphold in our work internally and externally. If you come to CDE, be prepared to incorporate Integrity, Equity, Accountability, Trust, and commitment to Service in what you do.

Why Work For CDE
The work we do is rewarding and impacts the students, families, educators, and communities across Colorado. Our leadership also promotes a culture that puts families and self-care as a priority. Along with meaningful work and an environment that puts employees first, the state also offers rich benefits that intend to make us an Employer of Choice!
The following is a summary of the benefits we offer:

• Flexible work schedules and flexible workplace options that may include flexible working hours, working from home, working in the office, and/or a hybrid working environment.
• Premier medical, dental, vision, and dependent life insurance options. All with a generous employer contribution keeping employee costs as low as possible.
• Employer paid short-term disability and life insurance
• Up to 160 hours of Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals
• Retirement through the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) www.copera.org
• Employer paid RTD Eco Pass (certain restrictions may apply)
• Paid professional development opportunities

A wide salary range is posted for this position and any job offer is based upon a salary analysis to comply with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The salary analysis considers relevant experience, education, certifications, and state seniority as compared to others doing substantially similar work. While most salary offers are made within the posted range, occasionally an offer is made below or above the posted range based upon this salary analysis.

Requirements

Work Environment:

This position is Full-time, federally funded (funding is expected to continue indefinitely unless otherwise indicated in this posting), and is Hybrid (Remote/Home Office with a requirement to report to Work location per business needs).

• Office hours are typically Mon-Fri, 8 am-5 pm.
• Extended hours during the evening or the weekend may be required by business needs.
• 80% of Travel is required (4 to 5 days per week) within the state of Colorado for site visits (coaching within districts).
• *Rare overnight travel may be required (one in-state conference a year)*
• Driving Required (Please see Conditions of Employment).
• A Remote (Home) office is required.
• Required to report to the work location per business needs.
• Essential Functions (ADAAA)
  • LIGHT/Office environment:
    • Required to sit, view a computer screen, and utilize a keyboard and mouse for extended periods of time.
    • May be required to lift and move up to 10 lbs of force frequently or 20 lbs occasionally.
    • Required lifting, bending, stooping, pushing, walking, etc.
    • Light work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree.
  • CO DL Required: Required to safely operate a motor vehicle (OR State of Colorado Fleet motor vehicle) to complete travel requirements.

Position Summary:

Are you someone who wants to see every child become a confident reader? Structured Literacy Implementation Coaches partner with teachers to bring effective, research-based reading practices into the classroom. By supporting educators, you help create the conditions where beginning readers can truly grow—and there’s nothing better than watching that transformation happen. Join us, and together we can turn strong instruction into meaningful student growth for the kids of Colorado.

The Literacy Coach position provides direct and customized training and coaching support to schools that are participating in the ESSU's Structured Literacy Project to ensure fidelity in the implementation of project. This position will address instructional routines through coaching, instructional data collection and management, and the provision of teacher professional learning opportunities. This position will serve the Denver Metro Area.

The final salary is anticipated to fall within the posted salary range of $82,000 to $87,000; however, it may be higher or lower, depending on the preferred candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and other qualifications, while considering internal equity.

Final salary offers are determined by a candidate's specific skills, experience, and internal pay equity. CDE will consider negotiations for exceptional applicants who meet or exceed the preferred and special qualifications outlined for this position.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as a literacy coach in schools identified as project participants in the assigned geographical region.
• Work directly with teachers in implementing Structured Literacy routines and strategies in K-3 classrooms and small intervention and
  special education groups as an instructional coach.
• Work directly with instructional leadership and instructional staff to assure alignment of literacy efforts among classroom teachers and
  interventionists providing targeted and intensive instruction.
• Provide instructional modeling and demonstration as needed to enhance project implementation.
• Collaborate with school leadership (principal and instructional leaders) in: the implementation of instructional routines and strategies in
  all K-3 classrooms and small groups; the facilitation of effective data use; and the effective scheduling of literacy instruction for students at
  risk for reading failure.
• Participate in the development of professional learning for all K-3 teachers in project schools related to improving literacy instruction and
  student outcomes, including data analysis, progress monitoring, and evidence-based reading strategies.
• Participate in ongoing review of project implementation including measures of increased teacher fidelity and efficacy and increased
  student achievement.
• Serve as a resource for instructional materials that align with a Structured Literacy instructional approach and student need(s).
• Work directly with principals to prioritize instructional coaching for new teachers and those teachers who are less familiar with the
  implementation of Structure Literacy.
• Collect data necessary for Project implementation.

Qualifications

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in reading, elementary education, special education or related field.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
QUALIFICATIONS AND CONDITIONS:

• Colorado teacher, related services, or principal licensure.
• Two years' experience as a literacy coach, reading specialist, reading interventionist, or instructional leader in a public, private or charter
  school.
• In-depth knowledge of and experience in the implementation of evidence-based reading instruction in the primary grades.
• Familiarity with current legislation related to early literacy in Colorado including HB 12-1238 (The READ Act).
• Ability to analyze and interpret instructional and assessment data.
• Familiarity with a variety of core reading programs, evidence-based instructional strategies, and reading/literacy assessments.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of teachers, offer meaningful instructional feedback, and mentor less-experienced teachers.
• Ability to manage details, multiple tasks, and the rapid implementation of identified strategies and routines for targeted student needs.
• Ability and willingness to travel
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail (proofing work, spelling, grammar, formatting, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to effectively balance quality of work and productivity expectations
• Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with internal and external customers (e.g. school districts, other CDE units)
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and organize work to accommodate and meet the changing needs of the department and meet deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and exhibit a proactive approach to work
• Demonstrated ability to identify problems and recommend solutions prior to the standard being jeopardized
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as, on a team

Preferred Qualifications (Preferred/Not Required):

• Master's degree from an accredited university in reading, elementary education, special education or related field.
• Classroom teaching experience in the primary grades (K-3).
• Prior training in Structured Literacy (e.g., Orton-Gillingham, Wilson)
• Successful completion of LETRS training and LETRS TOT (Training of Trainers)
• Experience providing training and professional learning. Knowledge of adult learning theory and strategies.
• Experience using DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) assessment and data.

Conditions of Employment (Required):

• Ability and willingness to travel
• Must be willing and able to submit to the pre-screening process and pass a background check.
• 80% of Travel is required (4 to 5 days per week) within the state of Colorado for site visits (coaching within districts).
• Work extended schedule per business needs
• Report to work location per business needs
• Sign the acknowledgment form that this position is funded through federal funds and is subject to availability.

Driving Required: To ensure the safety and efficiency of CDE operations, certain positions are designated as "Driving Required." These positions are required to safely operate a motor vehicle or a State of Colorado Fleet motor vehicle to complete the travel requirements.

These positions are subject to a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check and a valid driver’s license requirement if it meets the following criteria:Travel Threshold: The position requires business-related travel totaling 20% or more of standard working hours; AND

• Operational Necessity: The travel requirements cannot be reasonably or efficiently met by alternative transportation (e.g., public transit, ride-sharing, or rail) due to:
  • Significant travel distances or out-of-state requirements.
  • A high frequency of stops at multiple locations throughout the workday.
  • The need to transport equipment or travel to areas where public transportation is unavailable or impractical.

Additional Information

Complete Applications must include:

• Transcript: Required if using education to meet MQs - Attached to the online application and meeting requirements as described under "College Transcripts".
• Completed Online Application: Required - Submitted through our ATS.
• Cover Letter: Required - Attached to application
• Resume: Required - Attached to application
  

FOR CURRENT OR FORMER EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OF COLORADO:

College Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify, a legible copy of your official or unofficial college transcript(s) or a foreign credential evaluation report must be submitted with your application. Transcripts must show the name of the school and that a degree was conferred. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or foreign credential evaluation report may result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.

Email Address:
All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be conducted via email. Include a working email address on your application; one that is checked often as time-sensitive correspondence such as exam information or notification will take place via email. Please set up your e-mail to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "info@governmentjobs.com" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam-filtered email.

Per the requirements of the Step Pay Program implemented on July 1, 2024, any State employee must be paid a rate that is equal to or greater than the appropriate step pay rate within their classification’s pay range based on completed years in their current class series as of June 30. All current and former State employees must ensure that your entire work history within the State Classified System, including at Institutions of Higher Education, is indicated in your application so that your time-in-series can be calculated accurately.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and Equal Employment Opportunity
The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, a medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

The Colorado Department of Education is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to hr@cde.state.co.us.