Job Details

Position Type:
High School Teaching/English

Date Posted:
12/30/2025

Location:
Purdy High School

Job Title: Reading Success Specialist/ELA (Grades 9-12)

Location: Purdy R-IIHigh School
Reports To: Building Principal
FLSA Status: Exempt (Certified)
Position Summary

The Purdy R-II School District is seeking a highly qualified and student-centered ELA/Reading Success Specialist for grades 9-12. This position focuses on improving reading fluency, comprehension, and overall literacy skills for secondary students who require targeted support while also supporting ELA credit acquisition. The interventionist will collaborate closely with English Language Arts teachers, ELL staff, special education staff, and administrators to support struggling readers and help students access grade-level content across disciplines.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide targeted reading intervention to high school students identified through screening, diagnostic assessments, or IEP/MTSS processes.
• Design and implement research-based instructional strategies to improve reading fluency, vocabulary development, and comprehension.
• Deliver instruction in small-group and/or individual settings, aligned with students' specific literacy needs.
• Use diagnostic, formative, and summative data to monitor student progress and adjust instruction accordingly.
• Collaborate with ELA teachers to support literacy development within core coursework.
• Collaborate with Reading Success coordinators and administrators in the development of Reading Success Plans.
• Support implementation of MTSS/RTI practices at the secondary level.
• Maintain accurate documentation of interventions, progress monitoring, and student outcomes.
• Participate in data meetings, PLCs, and IEP meetings as appropriate.
• Communicate regularly with teachers, counselors, administrators, and families regarding student progress.
• Stay current with best practices in adolescent literacy and reading intervention.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the administration.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Missouri teaching certificate with ELA, Reading, or related endorsement (9-12 preferred).
• Strong knowledge of adolescent literacy development, reading fluency, vocabulary and comprehension strategies.
• Experience using data-driven instructional practices.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff across content areas.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Reading Specialist certification or coursework in reading intervention.
• Experience working with secondary struggling readers, including students with learning disabilities.
• Familiarity with structured literacy approaches and evidence-based intervention programs.
• Experience with MTSS/RTI frameworks at the high school level.

Physical and Work Requirements

• Ability to work with students in classroom and intervention settings.
• Ability to sit, stand, and move throughout the building as required.
• Ability to use instructional technology and student data systems.

Terms of Employment

• Length of contract and salary determined by the Purdy R-II School District Board of Education and district salary schedule.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Purdy R-II School District is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age.