South Central

SUMMARY:   (Brief description summarizing the overall purpose and objectives of the position.)
Regional Literacy Leads are hired jointly by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and Minnesota Service Cooperatives (MSC).  Regional Literacy Leads will be employed by a Minnesota Service Cooperative and be funded through state READ Act dollars; work will be directed by MDE State Literacy Director and supervised by the regional coop. They will be responsible for The READ Act and the MDE BOLD State Literacy Plan implementation at the regional level.

Core responsibilities include:

• Collaboration with MDE and the Regional Literacy Network team.
• State approved training facilitation and documentation.
• Local Literacy Plan technical assistance.
• Support Universal and Dyslexia screening administration and data interpretation.
• Site-based Literacy Coaching support.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:   (Typical tasks but not all inclusive – major duties of the position.)
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Statewide Regional Literacy Network (RLN) Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with MDE and the Regional Literacy Network team to ensure consistent access, coherence, and alignment for districts and charter schools on all literacy initiatives across the state, including the MN READ Act legislation.
  • Engage in collaboration that develops, promotes, and sustains collegial relationships between MDE staff, the Regional Literacy Network team, and regional cooperative staff.
  • Engage with districts and charter schools to provide consistent access, coherence and alignment of messaging and support services across the state.
  • Engage with COMPASS and MnMTSS leads to ensure coherence across a system.
• Support facilitation and monitor the administration of the training of teachers and school leaders in each of their regions.
  • Collaborate with MDE staff in the development and delivery of in-person, synchronous and asynchronous professional learning content for delivery across all regions. Provide in-session and follow-up support.
  • Serve as a training facilitator for the synchronous sessions of the approved trainings in their regions.
  • Remain well-informed of current and developing research regarding Structured Literacy, evidence-based practices, intervention, dyslexia, and screening through communication with colleagues and experts, participating in professional development and reviewing the research literature.
• Provide Local Literacy Plan technical assistance.
  • Provide assistance to districts and charter schools with the development, submission and implementation of the required annual Local Literacy Plan.
• Support universal and dyslexia screening administration and data interpretation.
  • Provide support with interpretation of district and charter school screening data.
  •   Develop familiarity with regional needs related to Structured Literacy to improve outcomes for all students with particular attention to those who have been persistently underserved and marginalized.
• Support site-based Literacy Coaching
  • Build the capacity of Literacy coaches to provide on-site coaching for district and school leaders and literacy teams in the region.
  • Support regional school districts and charter schools in implementation of evidence-based Structured Literacy practices.

Minnesota Service Cooperative Responsibilities:

• Provide support and coaching to internal staff to build capacity for implementing the READ Act legislation which includes evidence-based practices aligned to Structured Literacy.
• Collaborate with MDE State Literacy unit and the Regional Literacy Network colleagues to ensure support provided across all content areas is aligned to evidence-based Structured Literacy practices.
• Collaborate with MDE and the Regional Literacy Network to build the capacity of regional literacy coaches.
• Lead READ Act Literacy Coaches at the Cooperative

District and School Responsibilities:

• Support district staff in the development, implementation, evaluation, and submission of their annual Local Literacy Plan to MDE.
• Support district efforts to administer required universal and dyslexia screening tools and data submission to MDE.
  • Ensure district staff are trained on and administer an approved universal screener.
  • Provide data literacy supports to ensure data analysis informs instruction and interventions.
  • Support inclusion of summary data in Local Literacy Plan submissions due annually on June 15th.
  • Support district implementation of dyslexia screening and identification of students with characteristics of dyslexia.
• Support districts in the implementation of evidence-based curriculum and materials while supporting alignment to the revised English Language Art standards.
• Support implementation of evidence-based Structured Literacy practices in PK-12 settings.
• Support districts in data collection and analysis to ensure data is being used effectively to inform instruction to support student growth and achievement across all Tiers.
• Support districts in providing parent/family notification for students not reading at or above grade level including the student’s reading proficiency level, reading-related services, and strategies for families to use at home to support the student.
• Familiarize administration with the research on Structured Literacy, evidence-based practices, intervention, dyslexia, and screening.
• Work collectively with peers and MN Department of Education in reflecting on personal learning and how that learning supports student achievement and growth of students.
• Other duties as assigned.