Organization Overview
Excel Academy was founded in 2003 with the mission to provide a high-quality education to students in East Boston and Chelsea Massachusetts, communities that are predominantly low-income and Latinx and historically have faced significant social and educational barriers. Our success in Massachusetts is proof that the opportunity gap can be closed. At Excel Academy Charter Schools, we believe that when a student has the support and tools to pursue a productive post-secondary pathway aligned to their personal identity and values, it can fundamentally change their life trajectory.
Over the years, we have grown from one middle school to a network of four schools with 1,400 students in grades 5 to 12. In the fall of 2022 we will welcome a founding class of 5th graders to help us launch Excel Academy Rhode Island. By 2032, Excel Rhode Island will run 4 schools serving over 2,100 students from Providence, Central Falls, and North Providence.
We present our students with educational experiences that allow them to grow and discover their best selves so that when they leave our halls, they can successfully navigate all of the post-secondary options available to them. You can read more about the impact of the Excel Academy model.
At Excel Academy we learn from our students, families, and staff and make improvements. We have increasingly adapted to provide a holistic education that values our community as collaborators in the learning process, social-emotional support, equity for diverse learners, and fosters identity development. We prioritize an approach that is both rigorous and inclusive. Our team of passionate, intelligent, driven, and loving staff are at the core of the work we do.
About the Role
The Reading Specialist is responsible for ensuring that students are provided adequate support to find success in the school setting. The Reading Specialist at Excel Academy would provide services to students across our 4 schools and work closely with teachers, administrators, and other key stakeholders to ensure the best outcomes for students.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide direct reading intervention and instruction for students who are below grade level benchmarks;
- Collaborate with teachers, students and their families, the school nurse, learning specialists, social workers, and other members of a student’s support team;
- Develop and propose a plan for students with specific tasks that will help them meet their goals;
- Support small literacy group models within classrooms;
- Provide literacy assessments and ongoing data analysis;
- Help teachers interpret literacy assessment data of students;
Conduct initial and triennial reading evaluations for students who are referred to a reading evaluation; and - Assess student’ progress against goals and prepare reports quarterly.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Understand how your identity markers (including race, class, and gender) impact your leadership;
- Demonstrate understanding and respect for the cultures and languages of our communities;
- Solicit and welcome collaboration and feedback from colleagues, students, families and the surrounding community;
- Understand the impact of historical and structural racism and use this lens in your decision-making; and
- Take action to demonstrate personal reflections and growth/be responsive to feedback and lessons learned.
Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in reading instruction preferred;
- A commitment to and belief in all students and the mission of Excel Academy Charter Schools, including Excel’s values and educational model;
- A commitment to addressing racial and economic inequity in education;
The ability to focus and thrive in a fast paced, entrepreneurial environment; - The ability to work effectively in a team environment and the willingness and desire to support others in doing their best work; and
- An openness to change, a willingness to problem-solve, and an interest in receiving feedback for continuous improvement.
Preference will be given to applicants who also:
Have experience in a public or charter school setting;
Speak Spanish, Portuguese or Arabic fluently;
Can speak to the importance of rigorous classroom instruction and culture;
Can speak to the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Excel Academy Charter Schools is committed to its work as an anti-racist organization. One critical element of that commitment is building and empowering a diverse staff that reflects the community that we serve. We strongly encourage applications from candidates whose experiences share important points of intersection with those of our students. Staff who demonstrate fluency in Spanish, Portuguese or Arabic (languages spoken widely by our diverse community of families) will receive additional compensation, as will staff who are alumni of our schools.
Excel Academy Charter Schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, ancestry, athletic performance, special need, proficiency in the English language or a foreign language or prior academic achievement.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received and candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
