SHI - Integrated Literacy Specialist

Job Summary

Under the supervision of Sealaska Heritage Institute’s (SHI) Voices on the Land Program Manager, this position will provide literacy and arts integration educational support for programming in partner school districts. Independent judgment is required to plan, prioritize and organize a diversified workload, and to recommend changes in relation to programs practices or procedures. Strong communication and collaboration skills will be required to coordinate with Art and Literacy Integration Coaches in the Juneau and Ketchikan School Districts.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Co-design a literacy and arts integration program to support teachers grades 2 and 3 by implementing a cohort of literacy and arts integration coaches.
• Utilize the Alaska Literacy Blueprint and Alaska Reads Act to identify areas in which to institute arts integration strategies which address the needs of students.  
• Lead the creation of a coaching cohort, to include the initial coaches training, training in arts integration, and classroom implementation.  
• Coordinate coach’s cohort monthly meetings for reflection, problem solving, and strategizing; implementing a Community of Practice cohort.
• Provide itinerant co-teaching, coaching support to teachers in Yakutat, Craig, Klawock through both onsite visits and Zoom.
• Assist coaches in gathering of materials to address culturally appropriate teaching strategies.  
• Establish, develop, maintain, and update materials in support of arts and literacy integration.  
• Manage the distribution and tracking data of books and literacy kits.
• Participate in all required meetings and ensure that pertinent summaries of programming and outcomes related to essential functions are reported directly or by the Voices Program Manager and/or the Education Deputy Director to SHI’s administration and Board of Trustees.
• Diplomatically communicate with a diverse group of important external callers and visitors as well as internal contacts at all levels of the organization.
• Act as a liaison with other departments and outside agencies in support of the Voices program. This includes confidential and non-routine information and explanation of policies when necessary.
• Collaborate with the Voices Program Manager and the Project Evaluator to ensure that all activities and outcomes related to programming overseen is reflected in the Power Point presentations prepared and presented annually in each of the communities served.
• Plan and lead coach’s cohort monthly meeting; lead a CoP cohort
• Collaborate and plan with JSD Artful Teaching coordinator to provide art/literacy professional development.  
• Other duties as required.

Required Skills

• A strong understanding of Indigenous culture and perspective.
• Flexible working with an ever-changing work environment.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work well on own initiative and within a team.
• Knowledge of effective coaching models.
• A strong background in literacy and effective arts integration strategies.
• Familiarity with the Alaska Literacy Blueprint and Alaska Reads Act.
• Knowledge of program planning for arts and literacy integration classroom experience.
• Proficient in computer applications, including word processors, spreadsheets, database software, and online survey applications.
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and attentive to detail.
• Competent in project planning.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position will have no direct reports.

Work Environment 

This position’s duties are performed at the Walter Soboleff Building. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to verbally communicate. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, and climbing. The employee must frequently lift and/or move objects up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 50 pounds.

About this Role

This is a full-time benefited position. SHI employees are expected to work during SHI’s regular business hours of 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday. Additionally, employees may work up to or over 45 hours per week or additional time as needed to meet workload demands or special events such as Celebration. 
Travel to the small school partnership communities to provide itinerant coaching and staff development will be a part of this position.  Travel will require overnight stays of up to one week.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education or comparable field.
• Educational or professional experience as literacy specialist and or arts specialist.
• Work experience either in a classroom or educational environment.
• Strong knowledge of Indigenous culture and perspective

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.