Job Description

We seek a full-time Reading Specialist to join our team, to work within a dynamic and collaborative culture with Faculty and Staff. The Reading Specialist plays a critical role in enhancing reading instruction by supporting teachers, mentoring new educators, and providing targeted interventions for students with learning differences. This position involves classroom coaching, professional development, collaboration with specialists, and maintaining instructional consistency across reading groups. The Reading Specialist ensures that students receive research-based reading support tailored to their individual needs while helping teachers implement effective literacy strategies .

Essential Functions:

• Conduct weekly classroom visits to support instruction, organization, and classroom management.
• Assist with lesson planning and differentiation strategies.
• Guide teachers in implementing effective reading instruction and remediation.
• Offer individualized support to teachers in addressing student needs.
• Review lesson plans and instructional materials with assistants and new teachers.
• Provide additional feedback, recommendations, and coaching as needed.
• Attend weekly cluster meetings to discuss group placement, remediation strategies, and instructional planning.
• Collaborate with other Reading Specialists to ensure instructional consistency.
• Keep colleagues informed about events, trips, or scheduling changes that may impact reading instruction.
• Hold one-on-one meetings with teachers to:
  • Provide guidance on instruction and planning.
  • Suggest and differentiate instructional materials.
  • Support individual students within the class structure.
• Work closely with the cluster supervisor to align strategies and address student progress.
• Conduct two teacher formal observations and reviews per year (format to be determined by Directors).
• Attend student meetings as needed to discuss interventions and progress .
• Teach reading groups outside of the mentoring cluster.
• Arrange coverage for reading groups as needed.
• Provide long-term remediation for students requiring continuous support.
• Offer short-term remediation by assigning students to available instructional slots.
• Manage and adjust instructional group placements throughout the academic year based on student progress and in alignment with the school's curriculum.
• Coordinate with other Reading Specialists to reassign students in case of scheduling conflicts.
• Organize and maintain shared instructional folders on the server.
• Support and lead training sessions during cluster and assistant teacher meetings.
• Participate in planning meetings and contribute to instructional materials.
• Present at meetings and professional development sessions as needed.
• Assist in planning and delivering August training sessions (format to be determined).
• Oversee the maintenance and updating of student reading portfolios (red folders) to ensure instructional continuity.
• Attend full faculty and staff meetings.
• Willing to commit to anti-bias and anti-racism work and to promoting inclusion, belonging and equity through their work in the classroom and school community.
• Ensure a commitment to the school’s DEI mission and goals by participating in continuous professional development for learning differences, anti-racism and anti-bias of all kinds.
• Be an active member of the Gaynor community
• Other duties and responsibilities as deemed appropriate

Stephen Gaynor School offers a competitive compensation package (Please note the advertised salary is FTE and will be prorated based on 21 hours)and a comprehensive professional development program. Applicants are required to submit a resume, cover letter and contact details for at least two individuals who can supply reference letters upon appointment.

Please apply online at  Employment Opportunities .

THE GAYNOR DIFFERENCE: UNLOCKING EACH STUDENT’S POTENTIAL

A pioneer in special education founded in 1962, Stephen Gaynor School is an independent Pre-K, Lower, and Middle School for bright children with language-based learning differences.

At Stephen Gaynor School, students with learning differences develop essential academic and critical thinking skills through individualized and evidence-based approaches, empowering them to reach their full potential. Students learn to advocate for themselves and others while actively building an inclusive community, a sense of belonging, and a belief in their own possibilities.

Nearly 400 students ages three to 14 attend our school with a range of learning differences, from Attention Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to speech, language, and reading delays such as dyslexia. With more than 60 years of experience in special education and a dedication to continuous improvement, Gaynor has the expertise to help children break down barriers to learning, build self-esteem, and realize academic success.

Our expert staff provides an unparalleled level of personal attention in a nurturing environment, allowing students to be academically challenged yet supported every step of the way.

Children leave Stephen Gaynor School full of smiles and self-confidence, well-prepared for the next step on their educational journey.

Our Diversity Mission: Stephen Gaynor School is dedicated to promoting and advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion within our school community. We recognize, value, and celebrate many types of diversity, including neurodiversity, ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, ability, religion, sexual orientation, family composition, language, and gender identity/expression.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:  Stephen Gaynor School is an equal employment opportunity employer. Gaynor is committed to building a culturally diverse and anti-racist workforce. We provide opportunities for employment without discrimination or harassment on the basis of (including hairstyle), color, religion, creed, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity, gender expression, national origin, alienage, age, pregnancy, marital/partnership status, immigration or citizenship status, status as a veteran or active military service member status, disability, genetic predisposition, status as a victim of domestic violence, prior arrest or conviction record, caregiver status, credit history, salary history, unemployment status, sexual or reproductive health decisions, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable law (collectively, the “Protected Characteristics”).

Qualifications & Skills:

• Master’s degree in Special Education, Literacy, or a related field preferred.
• Experience working with students with learning differences in a reading instructional capacity.
• Strong understanding of structured literacy approaches and differentiated instruction.
• Excellent mentoring and coaching skills with the ability to support teachers at varying levels of expertise.
• Ability to balance direct student instruction, teacher support, and administrative responsibilities.
• Flexibility, problem-solving abilities, and adaptability to a dynamic school setting.
• Strong communication, organizational and collaboration skills
• Sets a respectful, collaborative, and positive tone and recognizes our responsibility to create a diverse and inclusive environment that supports and celebrates each individual in our school community.
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Proficiently uses Google Workspace (Drive, Docs & Sheets) and Microsoft Office

About Stephen Gaynor School

A pioneer in special education, Stephen Gaynor School is an independent, nonprofit Pre-K, Lower, and Middle School for bright students with learning differences. Founded in 1962, Stephen Gaynor School provides a highly individualized educational program in a rich, rigorous, and nurturing environment in which students gain the skills and confidence necessary to learn, grow, and reach their full potential. Nearly 400 students ages three to 14 attend our school with a range of learning differences, from Attention Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to speech, language, and reading delays such as dyslexia. With more than 50 years of experience in special education and a dedication to continuous improvement, Gaynor has the expertise to help children break down barriers to learning, build self-esteem, and realize academic success. Our expert staff provides an unparalleled level of personal attention in a nurturing environment allowing students to be academically challenged, yet supported every step of the way. Children leave Stephen Gaynor School full of smiles and self-confidence, well-prepared for the next step on their educational journey. Stephen Gaynor School recognizes our resp ... onsibility to create a diverse and inclusive environment that supports and celebrates each individual in our school community. Respect. Honesty. Courage. These three distinct words have significant meaning at Stephen Gaynor School. Celebrating diversity in learning styles has been a core value at Gaynor for more than 50 years. Stephen Gaynor School is dedicated to promoting and advocating for diversity and inclusion within our school community. We celebrate many types of diversity including ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, ability, religion, sexual orientation, family configuration, language, gender and adoption status.

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