Reading Plus Literacy Instructor

About Urban Ventures

Urban Ventures is a faith-based, nonprofit organization with the mission to educate children, strengthen their families, and build a healthy community. We partner with families in some of the most underresourced neighborhoods of south Minneapolis with one overarching goal: to send every youth to college or some form of post-secondary education. Urban Ventures is committed to providing a workplace which promotes diversity and inclusion.

Job Summary:

Established in 2018, Reading Plus helps students in grades 1-6 grow as readers. Literacy Instructors provide steady, systematic, multi-sensory literacy instruction to students who need support that goes beyond their classroom instruction. This targeted instruction takes place in one-on-one, small group, summer and after-school settings.

The Literacy Instructor helps students receive literacy support and class work help to stay on track in school. Support is provided in English. The program also focuses on developing character and healthy peer relationships.

Literacy Instructor+ Responsibilities:

• Plan individualized lessons that target students' specific literacy needs (phonemic awareness, letter sounds, syllabication, etc.)
• Teach steady, systematic, multi-sensory lessons using the Orton Gillingham reading approach based on student needs
• Maintain accurate timekeeping - record work start and end times precisely as they occur
• Record weekly attendance and other flex tasks by end of day on Fridays
• Assess student progress at least 3 times a year and record data in a timely, organized fashion. Complete Literacy Intervention Progress Reports for each student to share with partner school, teachers and families (Fall, Winter and Spring)
• Build positive relationships with students, partner school staff and families, including but not limited to regular updates regarding student progress, attending conferences, attending school events, attending extracurricular activities, participating in classroom activities, etc.
• Meet frequently with Reading Plus Director to reflect, collaborate, troubleshoot, etc. (Prior to the school year and summer program, schedule will be determined according to program and partner needs/capacity)
• Meet quarterly with the Reading Plus team to reflect, collaborate and troubleshoot
• Attend on-site and off-site literacy trainings
• Help plan and execute Reading Plus events in collaboration with school partners and/or Urban Ventures programs (Me & My Baby classes for families, CELC teacher professional development, Reading Race, Teacher Appreciation, National Night Out, etc.)
• Other duties as assigned to support the mission and sustainability of Urban Ventures Adherence to agency policy, procedures and a professional code of ethics.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to work independently, complete assigned tasks, manage both teaching and prep work with reliability and flexibility
• Willingness to go above and beyond in forming relationships with students, families and partners
• Ability to speak, read, write and listen in English
• Desire and aptitude to be trained and certified in Orton Gillingham through The Reading Center (Training provided and funded with 2-year commitment)
• Driver's License
• Personal vehicle to travel to and from schools
• Clean driving record to use Urban Ventures vehicles for student transportation as needed

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

• Experience with child ages PreK-6th

Education and Experience:

• BA/BS in Education is preferred
• Experience effectively working in a multi-ethnic, multi-racial urban community

Physical and Environmental Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, and keyboard
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work
• Light to moderate lifting may be required
• Regular, predictable attendance is required

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Work Location:

Urvan Ventures Youth Hub based at 3016 Fourth Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55408

Partner Schools

Emerson, Friendship Academy, Green Central, Hope Academy and Risen Christ

Travel:

• Occasional travel to work functions Frequent travel to partner schools

The above information in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

This job description should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as may be required by their supervisor.