We are Aspire Living & Learning, a non-profit human services agency making a meaningful difference in the lives of adults and children with autism and other disabilities.
Aspire Living & Learning is currently seeking an enthusiastic Reading Specialist to join our existing team of highly dedicated and successful professionals.
Employees at Aspire enjoy working with a collaborative and dedicated team that values a culture of belonging and care. We take pride in offering a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees, including:
- 8-weeks of PTO annually, including personal time, mental health days, and school vacations
- Comprehensive Health, Dental, & Vision Insurance - Choose from multiple medical plans, with vision coverage included at no extra cost.
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Saving Account (HSA) options - Use pre-tax dollars for medical and dependent care expenses.
- Lifestyle Spending Accounts with JOON - Monthly funds for wellness, fitness, commuting, childcare, pet care, and more.
- 403(b) Retirement Plan with Employer Match - A 100% match on contributions up to 2% of your salary!
- Professional Growth Opportunities - Access to training, leadership and management courses, mentorship, and career advancement.
- Employer-Paid Life & Disability Insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Telehealth Services and more!
This program is a state approved Kindergarten through 12th grade special education school for students referred for both academic and social/behavioral needs. With our philosophy based in the science of Applied Behavior Analysis, we use evidence-based instruction and data-based decision making to design, analyze, and modify all interventions in order to maximize student success. Direct Instruction and Precision Teaching serve as the primary instructional methods. In addition, school-wide behavior support systems are used while critical social and behavior skills are explicitly and directly taught. Students receive one on one and small group instruction in skills that are then practiced and reinforced throughout the school day. The philosophy of this program is very simple: Every student can learn given appropriate instruction in the right environment. Our program provides just that!
Key Responsibilities:
- Assess students' reading abilities using formal and informal assessments to determine individual needs.
- Develop and implement individualized reading intervention plans aligned with students’ IEP goals.
- Collaborate closely with special education teachers, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and other team members to support literacy development.
- Provide direct instruction in reading, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, using evidence-based programs (e.g., Orton-Gillingham, Wilson, etc.).
- Monitor and document student progress regularly and adjust instructional methods accordingly.
- Participate in IEP meetings, contribute to goal development, and provide data to support decision-making.
- Offer professional development and support to staff on best practices for literacy instruction for students with special needs.
- Maintain a positive, inclusive, and structured classroom environment that encourages student growth and confidence in reading.
- Perform any additional job responsibilities assigned by supervisors or team leaders to support the organization's smooth operation.
- Accept reassignment as required
Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in Reading, Literacy, Special Education, or related field.
- Certification as a Reading Specialist and/or Special Education Teacher (as required by state).
- Minimum of 2 years teaching experience in a special education or literacy-focused setting.
- Knowledge of multi-sensory reading programs and strategies tailored to students with learning disabilities.
- Strong collaboration, communication, and organizational skills.
- Commitment to inclusive education and differentiated instruction.
- Must have satisfactory background checks.
- Valid driver’s license and safe driving record.
Working Conditions:
As a Reading Specialist dedicated to supporting children in the school setting, you'll find yourself immersed in a dynamic and impactful environment. Here's what you can expect regarding working conditions:
- Primary work is done within the classroom however it is expected that staff will monitor/work with students during indoor/outdoor physical activities (playground/gym); support students during academic, related service (Speech, OT, PT), and behavioral programming; and assist in toileting if applicable.
- This role may encounter challenging behaviors and situations, requiring patience, empathy, and effective behavior management strategies and the ability to perform Physical Management Techniques (PMT) as needed.
- Ability to handle physical aspects of job, including bending, stooping, lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, and walking for periods of time.
- Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times.
- May be required to travel.
- Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable qualified people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of this position.
- Working conditions may vary depending on the specific classroom, and the assigned children’s needs.
Our school staff enjoy working with a fun team of dedicated professionals to support children with a variety of needs. We believe in a healthy work/life balance, and our reputation for providing high quality, ethical services is one of our biggest assets.
If you want to join us in making a difference and positively impact the lives of others while charting your own path of development, then we at the Aspire team would love to hear from you.
Aspire Living & Learning believes it must play an active role in creating a community of employees that is diverse, inclusive and equitable. Our work benefits greatly from the contributions of people of color, people from working class backgrounds, women, LGBTQ people, and individuals with disabilities. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.
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What We Do
Aspire Living & Learning is a private, non-profit human service and educational organization, serving individuals in five states. We provide treatment and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, allowing them to live more fully and more independently in their communities.
Our organization arose out of the belief that everyone within our communities can add value and enrich the lives of all who live there, and that through high-quality, research-tested methods, we can enhance the life experiences of all individuals – both people with intellectual challenges as well as their families, friends, and neighbors.
