Literacy Specialist
Southern Methodist University Inc

Job Info

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Description

Salary Range:

Mid 40's

About SMU

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Department:

The Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) at SMU understands the unique academic challenges faced by student-athletes. ADSA provides academic counseling to help student-athletes make informed decisions about their degree, major selection, plan their semester courses, and maintain their NCAA eligibility. The tutorial program offers supplemental support for SMU graduate and undergraduate courses, with peer tutors available to assist with content comprehension, study skills, and time management. Reading and Writing Interventionists work with student-athletes to improve their reading and writing skills and identify potential barriers to learning, empowering them to succeed both on and off the field.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position. This is a part-time (30 hrs a week), partial year (11 months) position.

Job summary The main purpose of the Literacy Specialist role in the Academic Development of Student- Athletes (ADSA) is to provide at-risk student athletes with the reading and writing instruction they will need to succeed at every level of the university curriculum. The primary function of the Literacy specialist is to assess student-athletes' reading and writing skills, identify the student's specific language deficiencies, use research-based interventions, monitor progress and inspire academic growth and confidence. Caseload and sessions can vary depending on qualifying students' needs. An average caseload will be 15-20 students with 20-25 session per week for 45 minutes. This contributes to the mission of the department by ensuring that student- athletes have the reading and writing skills they need to succeed in their classes and at the university.

Essential Functions:

• Administer formal assessments to evaluate all major literacy sub-skills in reading and writing: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency,comprehension, writing mechanics and process. Use assessment data to design targeted interventions & provide individualized, data-driven instruction. Teach essential writing & reading skills to at-risk student-athletes in weekly one-on-one sessions.
  
  
• Assess student-athletes' reading & writing ability. Diagnose specific weaknesses in written expression and monitor progress regularly throughout the school year. Diagnose specific weaknesses in word level decoding, comprehension, vocabulary and written expression and monitor progress regularly throughout the school year.
  
  
• Plan targeted reading and writing instruction to meet the unique needs of at-risk student-athletes. Provide individualized, data-based/ data-driven instruction informed by scientifically-based reading research to target students' unique needs during weekly sessions.
  
  
• Collaborate with intervention specialists and academic counselors as necessary to address the specific needs of each student-athlete. Make recommendations to close the gap on holistic support.
  
  
• Provide direct instruction in comprehension, written expression, metacognitive strategies, and critical thinking to promote self-regulated learning. Keep details records of all sessions with students, documenting performance and monitoring progress over time.
  
  
• Collect, record, & keep detailed student record student performance, data, and anecdotal notes on a regular basis (documenting performance and monitoring progress over time) through continuous progress monitoring and formal and informal assessments.
  
  
• Implement assistive and educational technology resources during student sessions. Assist with the gathering and implementation of best practices related to reading, writing, tutoring, and general academic support programming. Staying up to date on current trends and identifying new resources to assist unit and support students
  
  
• Assist in the conduction of tutor observations, feedback, and training of tutorial techniques to enhance student-athlete learning opportunities. Preparing training & teaching student learning style techniques to the tutors. Developing, preparing, presenting, training, and educating tutors & ADSA staff on educational pedigogy necessary support college level academics.
  
  
• Collaborate with and represent ADSA in meetings with the ALEC, Athletics, and other campus stakeholders. Participate in student-athlete development, diversity, NCAA compliance and academic misconduct trainings. Other duties as assigned.
  
• Intervention Research and Data Analysis On-Going Projects: Provide writing academic support sessions outside of the expected intervention program and regularly maintain Intervention Research and Data Analysis for the Intervention Program. Present to faculty, administrators, and athletics on findings, research, & best practices.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Master's or M.Ed. in reading, special education or literacy-related studies is required.

A minimum of two years of professional work experience in language and literacy development is required. Work experience in a response to intervention program is preferred.

Experience providing differentiated instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners is preferred. Experience teaching students with learning disabilities is desirable. Experience working with college student-athletes is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.

Candidate must have the ability to work with diverse learners, accomplish lesson objectives in a set amount of time, and use research-based assessments to isolate language deficiency. Must also have the ability to create individualized, custom instructional intervention plans without a pre-packaged program. The ability to customize intervention plans to meet individual student needs by using a variety of resources and the ability to administer, score and interpret informal and formal assessments to drive intervention are also required.

Candidate must possess a strong proficiency in Microsoft Office. Knowledge of cloud storage and cloud sharing software (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.) preferred. Knowledge of instructional technology to aid writing desired. Candidate must also have the ability and willingness to learn and implement new educational technology on an ongoing basis.

An understanding of the types of writing skills students will need in university coursework is preferred. Training in the following areas is desirable: Special Education, Response to Intervention, Multi-sensory language therapy. Certifications in the following areas is preferred: Specific Learning Disabilities, ESL, MRT, CALT.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time
  
• Reach above shoulders
  
• Handle objects (dexterity)
  

Deadline to Apply:

The position is open until filled.

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by June 12, 2023.

EEO Statement:

SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

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