Convent of the Sacred Heart is New York City's oldest independent school for girls. As an independent, Catholic school, educating students in Pre-K through 12, we are part of an international network of 160 schools. We are committed to a set of principles shared by all Sacred Heart Schools. Known as the "Goals and Criteria," these principles articulate the core components of a Sacred Heart education and charge our community with a unified educational mission.
At the heart of our philosophy is the belief that each child possesses unique gifts. Our job is to unearth those gifts, nurture them, and empower each child of the Sacred Heart to share those gifts with the global community. Convent of the Sacred Heart is committed to building a community that is anti-racist, anti-bias, fair, inclusive, and welcoming to everyone and seeks candidates who connect to our Mission and Goals.
Lower School Literacy Specialist Beginning August 24, 2023
Position: Lower School Literacy Specialist Reports to: Lower School Division Head FLSA: Exempt, full-time Salary Range: $62,000 - $85,000 annually, commensurate with education and experience
Convent of the Sacred Heart seeks a Kindergarten - Grade 4 Literacy Specialist to begin in August 2023.
Requirements:
Master’s Degree in Literacy and/or Elementary Education
Experience teaching reading and writing for five or more years to elementary school students with various learning profiles
Solid understanding of child development, including cognitive, social, and emotional development
Passion for working with elementary school students
Knowledge of, appreciation for, and demonstrated commitment to anti-racist, anti-bias education, multicultural teaching, and culturally responsive pedagogy
Experience teaching guided reading, phonics, and word study
Extensive knowledge of reading programs such as Wilson Fundations, Fountas & Pinnell, Orton-Gillingham, PAF, Whole Phonics, and Recipe for Reading
Experience in teaching with technology, especially Literably, Google, Zoom, and Smartboard
Ability to conduct grade-level team meetings to discuss research, programs, supports for students, and best practices, as well as to share information at LS Faculty & Staff meetings as needed
Extremely detail-oriented
Effective oral and written communication skills
Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills
Ability and willingness to adapt to changing circumstances/be flexible
Responsibilities:
Maintain congruence between the school and the mission as articulated in the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart schools
Establish a warm, positive, and productive learning environment in which each student feels a sense of belonging
Commit to addressing social justice, diversity, equity, and anti-racist, anti-bias education in the curriculum through lessons, actions, and discussions
Provide educational literacy support for students in Grades K-4 in small reading groups and through one-to-one instruction
Develop engaging reading and writing lessons that provide direct remediation
Select and utilize texts, posters, resources, and language that represent a wide range of identities in daily lessons
Support homeroom teachers in monitoring student progress, establishing individualized education plans for students, and conducting assessments to determine the effectiveness of interventions
Determine when students need individual support and, at those times, schedule time to see students before, during, or after school
Plan and lead monthly meetings with grade-level teams to provide training, support, and relevant research
Collaborate with grade-level teams to implement changes to our reading and writing programs
Meet weekly with the Support Services Team to provide ongoing support and strategies for students with learning differences based on in-house data as well as data from evaluations
Communicate regularly with parents/guardians, homeroom teachers, and outside support providers (tutors, therapists, etc.) through phone calls, emails, and meetings to provide ongoing support and propose strategies based on the individual needs of each student
Conduct parent-teacher conferences and write progress reports twice each year
Maintain accurate, detailed records of student progress, parent communication, and lessons
Use technology as needed for both lessons and communication, especially Google Drive (Docs, Sheets, Slideshows, etc.)
Follow the professional code and policies of the school, including maintaining confidentiality and being attentive to detail
Perform assigned, ongoing scheduled responsibilities with care (roof duty, lunch duty, etc.)
Attend and participate actively in division and whole school faculty meetings and events
It is the policy of Sacred Heart to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants. This means that all employees and applicants will be treated on an equal basis without regard to race, religion, color, gender, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, military status, Vietnam or other veteran status, sexual orientation, domestic partnership status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, unemployment status or any other status protected by law. In addition to the protected classifications included in our EEO policy, the School also prohibits any form of discrimination or harassment based on being a certified medical marijuana patient, arrest or conviction, or domestic violence victim status in accordance with state law. This policy applies to all terms, conditions and privileges of employment, including but not limited to: hiring, training, faculty development, promotion, compensation, benefits, educational assistance, employee facilities, termination, and retirement. Any employee who engages in conduct that violates this policy is subject to discipline, up to and including termination.
The Convent of the Sacred Heart is New York City’s oldest independent school for girls, established in 1881 by the Society of the Sacred Heart. Part of a worldwide network of over 150 schools committed to the mission of Sacred Heart education, the school is housed in two landmark buildings on 91st Street and Fifth Avenue. Since its inception, Convent of the Sacred Heart has been governed by a strong commitment to the education of the whole child, addressing her intellectual, spiritual, social, and emotional development.
Convent of the Sacred Heart is an equal opportunity employer. As an equal opportunity employer, Sacred Heart seeks to hire outstanding and diverse faculty who work together harmoniously toward the common mission of the school.