READING SPECIALIST

READING SPECIALIST – Chicago Lights Tutoring and Summer Day

Job Description

October ‘24

Classification: Non-Exempt

Status: Part-time

Reports to: Executive Director, Chicago Lights

Program Description

Chicago Lights Tutoring supports the academic and personal growth of 200 students a year. We help make bright futures a reality for students by matching them one-to-one with caring adult mentors. These relationships, combined with innovative educational and enrichment resources, mindfulness practices, and career development, help prepare our students for higher education and future jobs.

The Chicago Lights Summer Day Program provides dynamic summer learning and enrichment to 100 students through creative academic, arts, and enrichment programming to combat summer learning loss. For six weeks each summer, Summer Day is a safe place for students to learn and grow by sharpening their academic skills in language arts and math and engaging in music, dance, acting, art, and meditation.

Summary Description

The Reading Specialist for the Chicago Lights Tutoring and Summer Day Programs is responsible for creating and implementing literacy development, improvement, and engagement to all students with a focus on those students needing the most intensive literacy support. The Reading Specialist facilitates instructional planning and activities with 1st-6th grade students and tutors pairs and parents in accordance with program and school literacy assessments; provides grade-level literacy materials, curriculum, and activities aligned with Illinois State Standards; administers literacy assessments to students and tracks results; develops, tracks, and reports on goals and outcomes; and engages with and provides training to parents and tutors on the educational support and enrichment of students.

Schedule

This is a seasonal part-time position. During the months of October – May, 16-18 hours per week are completed Tuesday-Wednesday 4:00-8:00 pm (in-person) with an additional 4-6 hours of planning as needed that can be completed virtually. During the months of mid-June through the beginning of August, 16 hours per week are completed Monday-Thursday from 8 am-12 pm in person.

Primary Responsibilities

• Create and implement literacy instructional planning, including providing written lesson plans/interventions and conducting intensive literacy support/classes in accordance with assessment results.
• Establish positive learning expectation standards for students, evaluate students' progress, and maintain current and accurate records of students' achievements and grades.
• Offer literacy instruction methods to tutors and parents, including applying contemporary principles of learning theory and teaching methodology, drawing from the range of instructional materials available at the program.
• Participate in the development and implementation of new literacy instructional techniques at the Tutoring and Summer Day Programs, including developing the Illinois Learning Standards curriculum.
• Set goals, create effective lesson plans/curriculum, and effectively evaluate the progress of the students.
• Establish and maintain Chicago Lights Tutoring and Summer Day Programs rules to encourage student growth in self-discipline and positive self-concept.
• Exhibit an understanding and respect for students and initiate appropriate conferences with tutors and parents/guardians. Communicate with the tutor and parent/guardian on the student's literacy progress and conduct.
• Modify instruction to meet students’ needs, and work with tutor pairs, parents/guardians, and staff members in providing appropriate literacy material and activities to students.
• Manage and preserve instructional resources, materials, and manipulatives during the program. Effectively work within a budget to equip the program with the necessary literacy resources.
• Communicate program activities and success through communication pieces (newsletter and social media) via the Communication Manager.
• Measure and evaluate Tutoring and Summer Day’s literacy success and work with the development team to communicate that success to funders and donors through the preparation and review of grant proposals and reports.
• Track student progress and interactions within the programs’ database.
• Provide trauma-informed care to all, ensuring that program environments and interactions are safe, and inviting, and demonstrate best practices.
• Attend staff meetings as required.
• It is impossible to convey every single task into one job description. As the role evolves over time, this job description will be adjusted accordingly.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Reading and state of Illinois teacher certification in elementary education and/or related fields required.
• Experience in teaching Reading and knowledge of current reading teaching strategies, methodologies, and Illinois Learning Standards.
• Computer skills including Microsoft Office suite of products.
• Experience teaching students with learning disabilities is preferred, but not required.

• Experience in working with high-performing, collaborative, and constructive peers.
• Deep understanding of and commitment to providing trauma-informed care.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong work ethic, judgment, and a commitment to Chicago Lights’ mission.
• Commitment to racial equity and social justice: Recognize the role of race, income, age, immigration status, and other identities in shaping disparities, and work toward amplifying community voices to advocate for equity. Recognize how your own identities show up in the work, and welcome, reflect on, and act on feedback with an eye toward continuous learning about race, ability, and other lines of difference.

• Comfort working in a multicultural, faith-based environment

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with different abilities to perform essential functions.

• Must be able to participate in online virtual communications including email, video conferencing, and other online tools used to facilitate virtual office culture and work sharing.
• Smoke and drug (illegal or recreational) free environment.
• Fourth Church/Chicago Light aims for accessibility in any off-site location in its control, but some of them may not be fully accessible.
• This role requires sitting and standing
• Lifting requirements of 20 pounds

EEO Statement

Fourth Presbyterian Church/Chicago Lights is committed to equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons, without regard to race, color, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status or familial status, veteran status, military status, source of income, political affiliation, or any other factor protected by law. Fourth Church/Chicago Lights seeks to build and retain a diverse staff and is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone is treated as a respected and valued member of the team. Fourth Church/Chicago Lights is committed to elevating the voices of women, young people, people of color, Native people, immigrants and refugees, low-income people, LGBQ+, and transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary people, people with disabilities, and young parents. We encourage people from these communities to apply.