About the job
Job Description: Ubuntu School Reading Specialist (K-7)
Location: Gqeberha, South Africa
Designation: Full-Time Staff Member (Contracted)
Salary Range: Market related and commensurate with qualifications and experience
Who We Are: Ubuntu Pathways
Ubuntu Pathways is an international nonprofit organization with headquarters in Gqeberha, South Africa and overseas offices in New York and London. Ubuntu Pathways is dedicated to working with the people of the Eastern Cape Province to develop quality education and healthy communities in the new South Africa. For more about Ubuntu Pathways, refer to www.ubuntupathways.org.
Ubuntu Pathways is an equal opportunity employer.
This Gqeberha, Zwide based NGO has the following vacancy for which an excellent basic salary and benefits are being offered.
Ubuntu School
The Ubuntu School offers students an exceptional education and a transformational pathway out of poverty. Our team instills confidence, creative expression, character growth, and social skills through a flexible, evolving, and child-driven learning model. Through a nurturing environment, high-quality instruction, and world-class wraparound support, we provide everything South Africa's most vulnerable children need to thrive.
Position Overview:
The Reading Specialist will work collaboratively with school administration to provide targeted instructional leadership at the classroom level. The reading specialist is responsible for providing direct instruction to students, individually or in small groups, to enable students to develop literacy skills. The position also plays the role of literacy leader and is responsible for implementing a comprehensive literacy program through coaching, supporting, and guiding teachers in best practices for literacy instruction.
Key Responsibilities Include:
- Provide direct instruction in reading and writing for identified groups and individual students, with an emphasis on emergent, beginning, and transitional readers.
- Assess students using Ubuntu's tools to determine reading levels and instructional support
- Conduct classroom observations and provides feedback to teachers and leadership.
- Identify literature for use in all content areas in support of the curriculum.
- Provide curriculum support and training for all teachers and continuous staff development that supports school division initiatives.
- Model and coach instructional methods in a variety of settings (whole group and small group) and provide ongoing support.
- Coach teachers on the use of assessment data to plan instruction; analyze school literacy data and plan for future literacy needs
- Provide ongoing training and follow-up in the use of assessment tools.
- Lead instructional planning for literacy.
- Maintain an organized system and accessible location for the storage and circulation of all reading and writing materials
- Assist with the planning of parenting meetings, workshops and conferences on literacy.
Required Qualifications:
● At least five years of successful teaching experience in elementary education including working with at-risk students
● Demonstrated expertise in content, curriculum development, student learning, test analysis, mentoring, and professional development
● Instructional expertise demonstrated through model teaching, team- teaching, video presentations, etc
● Excellent communication skills and an understanding of how to facilitate professional growth in adults
●Background and training in literacy/reading at multiple grade levels
● Strong commitment to the mission, vision, goals and objectives of Ubuntu Pathways and the Ubuntu School
● Demonstrated ability to work with young children and families from diverse racial/cultural populations
● Knowledge of and experience with student-centered curriculum, instruction, and assessment, as well as progressive education
● A deep understanding of theories of literacy, including the diagnostic teaching of reading and reading intervention
● Significant experience with one or more of the following: Fundations, Wilson Reading, Dibels, Teachers College
● Experience in analyzing data and using results to modify curricula
● Excellent judgment, growth mindset, communication, and creative problem-solving skills
● Energetic, flexible, collaborative and proactive working style
● Multi-faceted, multi-skilled, and resourceful outlook – demonstrated willingness to do whatever it takes to help our students reach a level of academic excellence
● Ability to model positive and healthy character traits and habits, such as being organized, consistent and understanding
● Unquestioned integrity and commitment to the Ubuntu School mission and willingness to serve the Ubuntu School community
● Understanding of challenges and opportunities in a start-up school environment
● Completion of a background check
Application Information & Method
● Send your CV and cover letter via Email to : apply@ubuntupathways.org
● Make sure that you save your CV under your name AND surname.
● Make sure that you type the name of the job/position that you are applying for the "subject" section of your email.
● Please include an active and current e-mail address which can be used for communication purposes and which you are happy to receive e-mail information on regarding your application.
● If you are not contacted within thirty (30) days after the closing date, you should consider your application to have been unsuccessful.
● Please indicate on your CV whether you have a criminal record, were found guilty of misconduct or have pending criminal or misconduct chargers.
● Applicants may be subjected to any of the following: a security and credit clearance check, a competency assessment, signing a performance contract on appointment and signing an employment contract on appointment.
**Please only apply if you have the experience required for the position. Only qualified applicants will be contacted.
