Summer Academy Reading Specialist

Overview

Horizons Greater Washington (HGW) seeks dedicated candidates with classroom experience and the dynamic talent to implement innovative and effective strategies for the role of Reading Specialist in our five-week Summer Academy enrichment program.

Work Locations

In the application, candidates will be asked to share their preference for the following locations:

Maret School

3000 Cathedral Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20008

St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School

4700 Whitehaven Parkway NW

Washington, DC 20007

Schedule

The typical daily schedule will be Monday through Friday 8 am to 3:15 pm. For staff members who are riding the bus for bus duty, your schedule will adjust accordingly, based on bus schedules.

2025 Program Dates

Staff Orientation: 06/23/2025-06/26/2025

Summer Program: 06/27/2025-08/01/2025

• There will be no program on Friday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day

About Horizons Greater Washington

Horizons Greater Washington (HGW), an affiliate of Horizons National, advances its mission of educational equity by building long-term partnerships with students, families, communities, and schools to create experiences outside of school that inspire the joy of learning. HGW supports over 400 students in grades 1-9 with year-round programming, developing the whole child through experiences that build problem-solving skills, foster awareness of community responsibility, and instill respect for self and others. By spanning from first to ninth grade, the program nurtures long-term connections between diverse learners and dedicated staff who support them throughout the year. HGW program design and staff practices follow a Positive Youth Development approach, emphasizing engagement, interaction, support, and a safe environment as key components that meet the needs of youth. The five-week Summer Academy is Horizons’ core program, blending high-quality academics – with an emphasis on literacy, math, and STEAM – with social-emotional learning, swimming, hands-on projects, high-quality art lessons, and confidence-building challenges to boost engagement and improve outcomes.

Position Description

HGW seeks dedicated candidates with classroom experience and the dynamic talent to implement innovative and effective strategies for the role of Reading Specialist. In addition to providing direct reading instruction to small groups of students in grades 1-9, Reading Specialists will develop different ways to improve learning opportunities for students and teaching staff across grades and subjects within the program. Reading Specialists collaborate with teaching staff in a mentor role, conducting research, development, and testing of new curricula and teaching methods. Reading Specialists are supported by a Site Director and the HGW administrative team and must work as team players with teachers across disciplines and program support staff to help fulfill the Horizons mission. Successful applicants will be flexible and creative in response to students’ interests and needs, passionate about Horizons’ mission and building transformative relationships with young people, and self-driven, demonstrating a commitment to quality and growth.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

Student Support & Assessment:

• Provide individual or small group resource remediation and/or enrichment for students in reading, writing, and math (K-8).
• Coordinate and administer pre- and post-program assessment of student progress using the STAR Reading Suite.

Program & Team Coordination:

• Meet with fellow HGW Reading Specialists prior to the start of the program to coordinate efforts, resources, and mutual support.
• Meet with the Site Director as needed throughout program duration to accomplish goals and/or problem solve as issues occur.
• Attend a four-day orientation session prior to the start of the program (as noted in the dates below) and one Saturday prior to the program (date TBA).
• Attend Family Night, Faculty Meetings, and other activities, including those that may fall outside the program hours.

Teacher & Staff Support:

• Conduct classroom observations to identify faculty needs for additional support around curriculum planning, delivery, and assessment.
• Assist teachers in understanding the unique needs of the students using available student data, including data related to school-year performance.
• Provide information and guidance regarding a range of effective and innovative reading, writing, and math practices through various activities such as individual discussions (informal and formal), coaching sessions, demonstration lessons with pre- and post-discussion/analysis, and study groups.
• Direct volunteers, Program Support Staff, and Assistant Teachers to support students.
• Support Lead Teachers on matters of curriculum development and implementation, class content, and curriculum change implementation.

Qualifications and Competencies

In addition to having a steadfast commitment to Horizon’s mission, the ideal candidate will possess classroom experience in project-based instruction, behavior management, and differentiation. Candidates must also be flexible, organized, and self-driven.

Minimum Qualifications

• BA/BS degree from an accredited college or university required
• Experience teaching reading and writing to range of grades (e.g., K-3, 4-6, 9-12)
• Reading Specialist license/credential (or in the process of receiving such certification), preferred
• Prove ability to plan and deliver engaging, challenging lessons for school-aged children
• Excellent communicative, organizational, and time management skills
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of a multidisciplinary team
• Experience teaching elementary and/or middle school-aged students in a classroom setting is strongly preferred

Compensation

This is a salaried position, ranging from $5,357 to $6,482 for six weeks, with a 40-hour work week at hourly pay rates ranging from $22.32 to $27.01. The specific pay for each teacher is determined by our teacher pay model that accounts for education and academic year teaching experience to ensure equity across all teachers.

There is an opportunity for the staff to earn a bus bonus of $30 per ride.

How to Apply

Please fill out our online application which will include uploading a current copy of your resume. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, with interviews beginning in mid-January. Final candidates will be subject to a reference check.

Background Check Requirements

All offers of employment to employees 18 or over are contingent on the successful completion of the background checks described below:

• • Fingerprinting (FBI) (MD & DC)
  • MD Criminal Database Background Check (MD)
  • Maryland Child Protective Services Clearance (MD)
  • DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) Child Protection Registry (CPR) (DC)
  • Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Criminal Background Check (DC)
  • National Sex Offender Registry (DC)

All offers of employment at Horizons Greater Washington are contingent upon clear results of the above suitability checks. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates immediately after acceptance of employment offer and on all employees who are promoted, as deemed necessary.

COVID-19

Horizons Greater Washington is committed to providing and maintaining a workplace that is free of known hazards. As such, we strongly encourage our employees to receive the latest COVID vaccination to minimize the risk of infectious disease in our workplace.

Environmental and Physical Conditions

The environmental factors and/or physical requirements of this position include the following: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of up to 20 pounds. Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard. The employee frequently is required to be in one position for long periods of screen use, reach with hands and arms, and talk and hear both in person and over devices. The employee interacts in close spaces and frequently with children and other staff. May be in situations which require conflict resolution. The employee must have visual, auditory, and physical ability to respond quickly to critical incidents involving students and act in an emergency situation. Work is performed in a school environment with artificial light and air, with occasional trips off-site to parks, museums, etc.

Horizons Greater Washington is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, matriculation, source of income, place of business or residence, pregnancy, homeless status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.