Primary Purpose:

The Director of PK-12 Literacy/English Language Arts will be responsible for the development and implementation of a coherent language and literacy instructional program from pre-kindergarten through high school that is aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), the Texas English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS), and post-secondary college and career readiness standards. The Director will lead the development, implementation, review, and revision of the district’s PK-12 literacy curriculum, instructional strategies, and assessments. Additionally, the Director will provide leadership, technical assistance, and support for all Del Valle ISD schools. The Director will also collaborate with Bilingual and ESL Director, Special Education Director, curriculum coordinators, and Human Resources Coordinator to develop and deliver effective literacy-focused professional learning opportunities that assist teachers and administrators district-wide in developing the skills, tools, and techniques to ensure that all students in DVISD will read and be able to express themselves orally and in writing at or above grade level.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education/Certification:             

Master’s degree from accredited university with a major in assigned subject or closely related field

Texas Principal or Mid-Management Certification

Valid Texas Teacher certification in closely related field

Certified Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS) Appraiser (or obtain within 90 days of employment)

Knowledge/Skills:

Ability to design, implement and evaluate curriculum

Ability to develop, deliver and evaluate training for adult learning

Ability to evaluate instructional programs and teaching effectiveness

Knowledge of curriculum design and implementation

Knowledge of effective instructional strategies for LEP students and knowledge of Sheltered Instruction related to ELAR

Knowledge of concepts regarding the nature of language acquisition

Strong management, communication, and interpersonal skills

Knowledge and skills in leading literacy across the curriculum initiatives

Experience:

A minimum of three (3) years’ experience as a PK-12 Literacy/English Language Arts teacher

A minimum of three (3) years’ experience administrative and leadership experience

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

(The following statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned and should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions that may be assigned or skills that may be required.)

Professionalism

The Educators' Code of Ethics is set forth in Texas Administrative Code to provide rules for standard practices and ethical conduct toward students, professional colleagues, school officials, parents, and members of the community.  

• Rule §247.1 Purpose and Scope; Definitions
• Rule §247.2 Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators  

Instructional Management

The director promotes improvement of instruction through activities such as the following:  

• Collaboratively lead work groups of diverse stake holders including administrators and teachers in instructional improvement and program continuity.
• Train and support teachers with assessment and monitoring performance of ELAR students throughout the continuum.
• Secure materials and other resources to English Language Arts and literacy teachers (PK-12) as well as other content area teachers.
• Provide instructional management assistance in content and methodology to English teachers, all other literacy teachers in grades PK-12, and district-level coordinators and directors.
• Serve as the lead resource for curriculum planning and provide demonstration lessons as needed.
• Coordinate the review, development, and revision of all subject area programs and related curriculum documents and materials, including curriculum guides, course outlines, and teaching plans.
• Work with directors, coordinators, campus administrators, grade level leaders, department chairs, and teachers to effectively use technology, reading strategies, writing-to-learn strategies, and personalized strategies for special needs and English language learners in English Language Arts and literacy.
• Work cooperatively with directors and campus principals in developing and supervising the instructional programs in assigned subject area.
• Work with teachers to plan, improve, and oversee assessment programs for the assigned subject area.
• Support teachers, administrators, and staff in understanding the relationship between assessment and instruction.
• Coordinate the ordering and use of materials for assigned subject.
• Obtain and use evaluative findings (including student achievement data) to examine curriculum and instruction program effectiveness for the designed subject area.
• Maintain a staff library of publications, supplementary materials, and supplies relevant to the designated subject area.  

Organization Improvement

The director promotes leadership in efforts to improve the school or organization through activities such as the following:  

• Assess needs of the Literacy/English Language Arts program and work effectively to address those needs.
• Lead literacy across the curriculum in all grade levels and subjects.
• Collaborate with core content coordinators and directors on curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
• Ensure teaching of all grade-level TEKS in the designated subject area.
• Ensure assessment of all grade-level TEKS in the designated subject area.
• Ensure alignment of assessments and instruction across all grade levels in the designated subject area.
• Submit all required data from designed subject areas to the state.
• Keep informed of and comply with state, district, and school regulations and policies.

Communication and Community Relations

The director promotes a positive tone for school or community relations through activities such as the following:  

• Prepare reports and presentations on student performance data, program expectations, etc. for diverse stakeholders.
• Assemble feedback committees to guide continuous improvement of PK-12 Literacy/English Language Arts program.
• Develop systems for communicating program goals and objectives.
• erve as liaison between school and community in the areas of PK-12 Literacy/English Language Arts.
• Coordinate training information sessions for parents of student in the PK-12 Literacy/English Language Arts program to help support their children in literacy skills and academic progress. 
• Coordinate with RTI, Special Education, and English Language Learner personnel to support research-based practices in the designated subject area across all classrooms. 
• Participate in national and state level organizations to stay abreast of latest research and best practices. 
• Read synthesize, and disseminate research and information related to best practices from books, journals, listservs, Websites, and other media formats.

Organization Management

The director manages administrative, fiscal, and facilities functions responsibly through activities such as the following:  

• Develop systems to support the implementation of PK-12 Literacy/English Language Arts programs as well as literacy across the curricular initiatives.
• Develop implementation rubrics to assist with program improvement, including literacy across the curriculum.
• Oversee benchmark and district assessments in the designated subject area.
• Analyze and report all data from benchmark and district assessments in the designated subject area.
• Use all data analyses to plan ongoing and training for teachers, administrators, and staff in the designated subject area.
• Train teachers, administrators, and staff in data analysis of all assessments in the designated subject area.
• Provide support in connecting all data analyses to instructional practices in the designated subject.
• Manage grants and other projects with organizations outside the district, including universities and nonprofits.
• Manage materials from vendors and on server to support teacher implementation of best practices.
• Compile, maintain, and file all physical and computerized reports, records, and other documents.  

Professional Growth and Development

The director provides leadership in professional growth and development through activities such as the following:  

• Develop and deliver research-based professional development aligned to District goals and initiatives.
• Design systems for ongoing coaching and support for teachers.
• Develop and deliver professional development to optimize administrative support for PK-12 Literacy/English Language Arts Program and literacy across the curriculum initiatives.
• Pursue professional development activities; participates and / or present at professional conferences in the areas of PK-12 Literacy/English Language Arts education and literacy across the curriculum as approved by supervisor.
• Stay current in areas of instructional innovations, educational research and disseminate information to PK-12 Literacy/English Language Arts staff members.
• Plan and provide staff development for teachers, administrators, and staff in the designed subject area.
• Organize and manage professional development by outside entities, including university projects, regional service providers, and vendors.
• Disseminate information regarding current research and significant developments on the state and national service providers, and vendors.
• Disseminate specific lesson ideas with related materials to be implemented across classrooms.
• Observe classroom instruction and provide feedback and assistance to classroom teachers to facilitate improvement and innovation.
• Demonstrate effective instructional practices with students in classroom.
• Meet with teachers and administrators regularly to examine data, discuss instruction, and provide feedback related to in-class observations.
• Meet with identified teachers in the designated subject area to provide intensive training and support.  

Qualities of an Effective Director

The director exhibits the following qualities:  

• Comply with district and campus policies and procedures, as well as state and federal laws and regulations.
• Comply with the standards of conduct set out in Board Policy DH (Legal) and (Local) and with any other policies, regulations, and guidelines that impose duties, requirements, or standards.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Demonstrate a high level of personal integrity, a collaborative leadership style, and high ethical standards.
• Keep informed of and comply with state, district, and campus policies affecting schools.
• Compile, maintain and file all reports, records, and other required documents.
• Daily attendance and punctuality at work are essential functions of the job.  

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Supervise Curriculum and Instruction staff as assigned.    

Equipment:

Personal computer, printer, scanner, copier, fax machine, shredder, calculator, and telephone.

Working Conditions:

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors  

• Maintain emotional control under stress.
• Work with frequent interruptions.
• Work irregular hour and extended work hours to include holidays and weekends.
• Frequent walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing.
• Occasional light lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); may lift and move text books and classroom equipment. 
• Frequent district wide travel and occasional travel outside district and statewide.
• Use computer for prolonged period resulting in repetitive hand motion.
• Frequent exposure to: temperature extremes (hot and cold), humidity extremes, noise, low or intense illumination vibration.
• Occasional exposure to: biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, etc.), work outside, work around moving objects or vehicles, work on uneven surfaces.

The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.