The Ankeny Community School District (CSD) is renowned for its excellence across academics, athletics, the arts, and various activities. Situated in central Iowa, just 6 miles from Des Moines, Ankeny CSD caters to over 12,800 students from preschool through 12th grade, making it the 7th largest district in the state. With a strong reputation for its commitment to student success and a competitive salary and benefits package, Ankeny CSD is a standout choice for both educators and families seeking a high-quality educational environment.

 

JDE: 3.27

 

Literacy Specialist

 

Purpose Statement

The primary role of a literacy specialist is to improve student performance in literacy by leading school improvement processes that build consistency and alignment using teaching strategies that are  intentionally designed to strengthen teacher effectiveness and improve student outcomes.

 

Job Title:  Literacy Specialist     

Salary Grade: Grade 15

Benefit Summary: A

Employment Agreement: Flexibility with 12 month or 226 Day Employment Agreement

Reports To: Director of Curriculum and Innovation

Wage/Hour Status:  Exempt

 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Experience
• Minimum of three years of successful experience in literacy and/or English as a Second Language instruction or related fields
• Demonstrated knowledge or strategies, materials, and curriculum design for both literacy instruction and for English learners.
• Demonstrated excellence in communication, both oral and written
• Positive work history, with a high attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Demonstrated success in maintaining effective relationships with employees, colleagues, and business/community partners
• Experience facilitating professional development or providing instructional coaching 
• Strategic and Critical thinker
• Proficient technology skills

 

 

• Education

• Bachelor’s degree in related field
• Evaluator Approval certification

 

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience
• Experience in school administration or similar leadership role
• Experience using data to drive critical conversations and continuous improvements among peer and non-peer groups
• Ability to coordinate and collaborate with diverse groups of professionals across multiple departments and organizations to achieve unified consistent practices
• Ability to effectively achieve multiple goals and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Demonstrates skills in the facilitation and implementation of standards-based classroom planning, assessment, and instruction and the use of student work and performance data to make informed instructional decisions
• Models the ability to modify/enhance curriculum to meet diverse needs of all students
• Exhibits skill in designing and delivering professional development at both the district and building level
• Displays strong skills in oral and written communication and the ability to utilize technology for communication
• Exhibits initiative for working with minimal direct supervision, and demonstrates willingness to assume district leadership positions
• Coordinates, plans, develops, implements, and evaluates assigned curricular areas
• Maintains endorsement(s) in one or more core curricular area(s) assigned
• Successful experience in a multicultural urban or suburban school district

 

• Education
• Master’s degree in related fields
• Evaluator Approval certification

 

Essential Functions

• Lead all aspects of the school improvement process, related to assigned areas.
• Communicate a vision of what the district can and should achieve and motivate the instructional staff to achieve school improvement goals.
• Supervise and evaluate district literacy instructional coach(es).
• Ensure compliance to all federal, state, and local rules and regulations regarding literacy instruction and English learners.
• Assist in the systematic evaluation of the effectiveness of instructional and professional development programs and provide plans for improvement.
• In collaboration with Academic Services Team Directors, facilitate the district developed process/protocols to lead the development, revision, and alignment of curriculum standards, benchmarks, assessments, and instructional practices focused on improved student achievement for core, strategic, and intensive programming in literacy and ESOL.
• Research, identify, develop, and offer professional development opportunities as they relate to district adopted curriculum, the Iowa Professional Development Model, and research proven effective strategies.
• Organize and provide grade level/department training, in-services, seminars, workshops, and presentations for new staff, Board of Education, PK-12 staff, administration, and community.
• Assist all staff in the understanding and implementation of the Iowa Professional Development Model and its supporting research.
• Assist building leadership as well as building leadership teams to ensure appropriate teaching and learning strategies are employed within each classroom.
• Teach administrators, building leadership teams and staff to analyze data, identify trends and incorporate strategies to improve student achievement.
• Assist administrators, building leadership teams and staff in identifying and prioritizing needs and developing action plans.
• Maintain knowledge of current research on high quality, effective, research-based strategies targeting improved student achievement.
• Assist with the development and administration of district level assessments.
• Assist in the preparation of assigned local, state and federal reports regarding literacy initiative and EL services.
• Provide reports and information for principals’ meetings and Board meetings as requested.

Other Functions 

• Collaborate with internal and external personnel (e.g. other administrators, district staff, public agencies, community members, etc.) for implementing and/or maintaining services and programs.
• Facilitate meetings, workshops, professional development and training, etc. (e.g. regulatory requirements, community or outside agencies, interdepartmental needs, etc.) for identifying issues, developing recommendations, supporting other staff, and serving as a District representative.
• Participate in staff development training programs, faculty meetings, and special events as assigned.
• Facilitates and oversees committee meetings, as assigned.
• Demonstrate initiative and the ability to work without close supervision.
• Demonstrates integrity and maintains confidentiality.
• Works well with others, maintaining positive and effective communication with district personnel and works well with others on jobs that require more than one person.
• Is respectful and appropriately interacts with staff, students, and visitors.
• Upholds and adheres to safety rules and policies of the Ankeny Community School District safety program.
• Supports the goals and objectives of the school district and follows all district policies.
• Demonstrates the ability to attend work on a regular and routine basis to avoid disruption to District operations.
• Perform all duties in a safe manner to avoid injury to oneself and/or others.
• Responds to emergency situations for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns and/or directing appropriate personnel for resolution.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned, for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

 

• Specific knowledge based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include:
• Appropriate codes, policies, regulations, and/or laws
• Age appropriate activities
• Instruction and assessment practices
• Behavioral management strategies
• Child development, brain development, and best practices in education
• Curriculum development
• Safety practices and procedures
• Conflict resolution
• Crisis de-escalation techniques

 

• Specific skill based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: 
• Interacting effectively with students, teachers/staff, the community and parents
• Adhering to safety practices
• Operating standard office equipment including using pertinent software applications
• Preparing and maintaining accurate records
• Using district approved crisis intervention techniques

 

• Specific ability based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: 
• Establishing and maintaining constructive relationships
• Ability to schedule activities, meetings, and/or events
• Gather collate, and/or classify data
• Flexibility is required to independently work with others in a wide variety of circumstances
• Ability to work with a significant diversity of individuals and/or groups
• Ability to problem solve
• Exhibiting tact and patience
• Adaptability to changing work priorities
• Maintaining confidentiality

 

Working Environment 

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

The usual and customary methods of performing the position functions require the following physical demands:  significant lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, climbing, reaching, driving, standing and walking. Working conditions may include extreme temperatures and humidity.  Hazards may include exposure to communicable diseases. This position requires one to maintain emotional control under stress. Successful candidates are subject to post-offer pre-employment physical. 

 

Responsibility

Responsibilities include: working independently under broad organizational guidelines to achieve unit objectives; directing other persons within a department, large work unit, and/or across several small work units; directing the use of budgeted funds within a work unit; utilization of some resources from other work units is often required to perform the job’s functions.  There is a continual opportunity to significantly impact the organization’s services.

 

Supervision

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. May be assigned the management, coordination, and evaluation of classified employees assigned to the school. 

 

Terms of Employment

Work year established by the Superintendent; Salary according to schedule adopted annually.

 

Clearances

Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance

 

Evaluation

Job performance will be evaluated annually, as per district policies and procedures. 

The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.

 

Approved by:  Justin Mohr                                          Date: January 3rd, 2025

 

Ankeny Community School District is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.  It is the policy of the District to provide equal employment opportunities and not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, age or marital status in its employment and personnel practices.  The job categories where the representative groups are underrepresented.