Job Description

Who we are:

Alpha Public Schools is a public charter school network of four schools educating approximately 1,900 scholars in east San Jose. Guided by the belief that our students belong in college, we ensure safe, inclusive, and student-centered learning environments to help our students thrive. What sets us apart is the very thing that makes us who we are– our community.Alpha was founded by a group of mothers on the eastside of San Jose who sought better educational opportunities for their students. We maintain a strong connection to our community and engage families in a collaborative approach to offer a holistic education to our students.

A successful Alpha Educator:

The successful Alpha teacher believes that ALL students are capable of success. They uphold high expectations for students and they utilize student data to drive their instruction, ensuring that our scholars are achieving growth. The successful Alpha teacher is excited to receive coaching and feedback, understanding that their growth as an educator is an ever-evolving process. We seek educators who are committed to amplifying and celebrating the diverse experiences and cultures of our scholars and their families; educators who are excited to be a member of a vibrant school community; and, educators who provide access to instruction for all students by responding to socio-emotional needs, supporting literacy development across all classes and content areas, using culturally responsive instructional strategies, and accommodating individual learning differences.

The Literacy Specialist will lead and support efforts to improve reading and literacy intervention and student achievement in support Alpha’s Milestone: Students read at or above grade level by the end of third grade. . This role involves data analysis and response, oversight of implementation and curricular resources, and providing direct feedback to support staff of their small group facilitation. . The ideal candidate will collaborate with instructional support staff, teachers,, school and network leaders, and families to foster a culture of rigorous, student-centered, and equitable reading, writing, and literacy skills.

Alpha Instructional Specialists are expected to:

• Demonstrate exemplary, research-based English and Reading intervention through modeling, coaching, collaborative lesson planning, and co-teaching.
• Support the development of Academic Interventionists in small group instruction, data analysis, and best practices for literacy interventions in partnership with school leaders
• Support in the implementation of selected Reading and ELA curricula, instructional strategies, and assessments with teachers, principals, coaches, and families.
• Analyze data from diagnostic assessments, exams, formative assessments, and summative evaluations to identify trends and gaps in student achievement.
• Plan small and large group interventions to address individual student needs using evidence-based strategies
• Coordinate with Assistant Principals, network staff, and ELD specialists to help teachers prioritize skills in Amplify CKLA Skills and Knowledge blocks, and EL Achieve for designated ELD, ensuring a coherent model through tier 1 and tier 2 student experiences
• Work directly with students as needed
• Partner with school leadership teams to assess Literacy performance on the CA Dashboard and implement data-driven strategies to drive significant growth within the school's renewal cycle.
• Collaborate with assistant principals, teachers, and families to intentionally reduce disparities in opportunities for historically marginalized populations, including ELL students, students of color, and students with disabilities.
• Support in planning and facilitating professional learning aligned to key Literacy priorities
• Maintain open lines of communication with staff, families, and the greater Alpha community
• Participate in regular and ongoing professional development, observations, and feedback sessions
• Specific responsibilities in Year 1 include:
• Oversee implementation of mCLASS in 1st grade
• Oversee data analysis and progress monitoring of DIBELS and mCLASS-based intervention groups
• Create the Scope and Sequence of lessons from mCLASS based on student data
• Directly observe and provide regular feedback to Academic Interventionists on their execution of mCLASS materials
• Support staff in communicating data to families; provide access to families in implementing “at home” mCLASS resources

What we offer:

At Alpha we care deeply about our scholars and staff. To support our team (and hopefully you!) we offer:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience (as well as compounding retention incentives for returning Alpha teachers)
• Literacy Instructional Specialist scale starts at $97,000 and increases based on years of teaching experience beyond year five and years of experience at Alpha Public Schools.
• Health benefits plans for medical, vision, and dental insurance coverage for staff and their families
• Retirement matching options
• Paid time off for holidays and breaks (6 weeks throughout the school year in addition to 6 weeks during the summer)
• Continuous Education fund to support continued external professional development
• Generous paternity/maternity leave benefits including 4 weeks of paid parental leave in addition to the state and federal leave allowances
• Employee Assistance Program that provides access to professional services for workplace, life, and wellbeing support and services
• Relocation assistance for teammates moving from 250+ miles away

You Possess…

• A Bachelor’s degree
• A valid Clear California teaching credential (or a Clear out of state credential equivalent)
• At least four (4) years of teaching experience, including at least two (2) years teaching foundational literacy, with a track record of success in leading students to exceed a year of literacy growth in a year’s time
• Subject matter expertise on Literacy, ELA, and Elementary Reading pedagogy, curriculum, and assessments Preferred experience using CKLA 3.0, DIBELS, and mCLASS instructional resources
• Experience (formally or informally) coaching instructional support staff and/or teachers on reading interventions
• A commitment to working with students in traditionally underserved communities. Approximately 80% of Alpha’s students are from under-resourced communities and will be the first in their families to go to college. The majority of our students are Latinx and/or Vietnamese.

Join our team…

To apply for this position, please submit a resume and cover letter online.

Alpha Public Schools is a network of four high-performing public charter schools founded by a group of East San José mothers dedicated to helping transform their community. We have a strong growth mindset – as individuals, as an organization, and on behalf of our students and families. We want to be better tomorrow than we are today.

As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability. We are strongly committed to hiring a diverse and multicultural staff and encourage applications from traditionally under-represented backgrounds.

Salary is competitive and compensation includes a comprehensive benefits package.

Questions? Contact us at jobs@alphapublicschools.org