Education Director--Reading Specialist

Overview

Horton’s Kids, a well-respected D.C. educational nonprofit, is seeking a creative Education Director to run our results-oriented tutoring program for charming children from failing schools. In addition to receiving tutoring from a volunteer three times a week, children in our program receive other services designed to fill in the gaps such as meals, clothes, eye glasses, dental care, and weekly mentoring field trips.

The Education Director is a senior-level position with a great deal of autonomy. Because the children’s families are so grateful for the help, staff people have excellent relationships with the children’s parents and are able to have a great impact on the children’s lives.

Working Here, What Impact Will You Have?

Your success in this job will create significant impact in these three primary areas:

Impact on the children:

•The children’s reading test scores will go up.
•The children will be more excited about learning and ask questions that show intellectual curiosity.
•The children will have stronger academic foundations.
•The children will be more confident and willing to try new things.
•The children will be happier, more hopeful, and will fight less.
•The children will be excited about tutoring and adult attention. Tutoring attendance will rise from 90% to 99%.

Impact on the tutors:

•The tutors will be more satisfied.
•Tutors will be able to do all their own lessons plans, be able to evaluate their performance against the plan, and be better equipped to help their children succeed.
Impact on the overall program:

•Your success will help Horton’s Kids serve more children – ideally an extra busload – expanding our program from 100 to 150 children.
•You can help us share our tutoring model with other communities.
•You can help us improve academic outcomes, such as reducing reading deficits from 2 grades behind to .75 or fewer.
•You can help us provide a robust academic support plan to middle and high school students.
•Ideally, you can help us increase tutoring to 4 times a week, with an academic mentor for each child.

Key Responsibilities

•Create and supervise the implementation of individualized learning plans for over 150 Title I (Ward 8) children.
•Lead large and small tutor training sessions on grade-level reading and math techniques and behavior management strategies.
•Monitor and interpret grades, test scores, and school attendance.
•Correspond regularly with tutors, parents, teachers, and special education coordinators to ensure that students are making progress toward their learning goals and adjust services when needed.
•Accompany parents to IEP meetings, parent-teacher conferences, and disciplinary hearings and provide advice and support.


Additional Responsibilities

•Arrange evaluation and additional specialized tutoring for children with learning disabilities.
•Help parents interpret psycho-educational reports, standardized test results, and teacher recommendations. Educate parents about their rights regarding their child’s education.
•Create academic outcomes for tutoring program, devise a plan to meet outcomes, and measure progress toward meeting outcomes.
•Prepare tutoring activities for children and teach staff and volunteer tutors how to lead activities.
•Act as Horton’s Kids’ liaison with at least eight D.C. public schools.
•Supervise Education Coordinator as well as over 400 volunteer tutors.


Target Hire Date:

Start on or before 10/9/2006

SALARY:

$45,000 and up commensurate with experience


How to apply:
Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to:

Karin Walser, Horton’s Kids, 110 Maryland Ave. NE, Suite 207, Washington, DC 20002

or

[Click here for email].

Applicants will be required to complete a job application and undergo a standard police background check. Must be at least 18-years old to apply. Horton’s Kids, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.
REQUIREMENTS
Essential Experience and Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following experiences and competencies:

•Thorough knowledge of reading instruction/tutoring techniques (and best practices) particularly for elementary-aged children
•Background in education, classroom experience, and/or experience in an after-school setting required
•Ability to conduct individual student assessments and evaluate program’s effectiveness
•Strong writing skills required
•Ability to communicate effectively with high-risk population
•Ability to devise innovative teaching techniques for hard-to-reach children
•Master’s in Education required – Reading Specialist preferred

Additional Helpful Experience

•Ability to direct large group of volunteer tutors and at least one full-time paid staff member
•Understanding of D.C.P.S. curriculum standards for grades K-12
•Experience leading group training sessions
•Strong leadership and organizational skills