General Functions:
The Reading Advocate collaborates with classroom teachers, intervention teams, and families to design and deliver individualized and small-group literacy interventions that improve students' reading fluency, comprehension, and overall literacy skills. This position works with a multidisciplinary team to foster partnership between family and school while providing regular student contact, educational resources, academic assistance, enrichment activities, and referrals for educational services. Working in partnership with our people, the Reading Advocate helps develop opportunities that fulfill our endless potential by promoting educational success and literacy achievement for Alaska Native and American Indian youth.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Reading Advocate I
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Build rapport with students, school staff, and families to encourage reading participation and family literacy activities.
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Provide classroom and small-group support focused on reading practice, read-alouds, and literacy enrichment activities.
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Educate students and families about reading expectations, available literacy resources, and the importance of home reading practice.
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Offer resources and assist with family literacy events, workshops, and take-home reading activities.
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Support preparation and delivery of culturally grounded, literacy-focused extended day programming.
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Support Alaska Native students and families in transitions between schools by providing warm handoffs, advocacy, and communication linkages.
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Reinforce partnerships with families by respecting family values, building relationships, and keeping families informed about reading progress and program activities.
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Track student reading activity, participation, and progress, identifying barriers and following up with students and families.
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Participate in on-going professional development during summer breaks.
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Assist Youth Education programs by acting as a support staff for school break camps.
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Provide reading and literacy support to Youth Education programs as directed.
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Participate in collaborative meetings with other Reading Advocates to share strategies, resources, and best practices.
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Maintain operations by following CITC and Anchorage School District policies and procedures.
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Maintain confidentiality according to FERPA and all program requirements.
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Perform all related duties as needed and assigned.
Reading Advocate II
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Perform all duties and responsibilities of Reading Advocate I with an advanced level of proficiency.
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Develop, compile, and update literacy resource guides, reading toolkits, and take-home materials.
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Lead and support culturally based extended-day literacy activities and after school reading enrichment.
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Support training and mentorship of peers in culturally responsive literacy practices.
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Assist in the development of outreach materials such as literacy newsletters, reading calendars, flyers, and family engagement content.
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Coordinate and distribute monthly reading activity calendars for students and families.
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Collect and enter data on reading sessions, student progress, and program participation.
Job Specifications:
- Demonstrated high-level literacy and reading comprehension abilities with ability to model effective reading strategies.
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Excellent oral and written communication skills with ability to convey complex literacy concepts to diverse audiences.
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Demonstrated ability to utilize a variety of communication styles to maintain effective contact with families and students.
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Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
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Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with families and students while advocating for their needs.
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Demonstrated ability to work independently while maintaining efficiency, accuracy, and attention to detail.
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Exceptional time management, organizational, and problem-solving skills with ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities.
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Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment and make sound decisions that reflect CITC's mission and values.
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Demonstrated ability to compile and summarize data in spreadsheet, database, and word processing formats.
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Demonstrated familiarity with educational and social services resources available to students and families.
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Demonstrated knowledge of community services, CITC services, and Anchorage School District services with ability to serve as a referral agent.
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Knowledge of Alaska Native and American Indian educational issues and unique and specialized needs.
Minimum Core Competencies:
CITC Values, Respectful Leadership, Professionalism, Emotional Intelligence, Problem Solving/Critical Thinking, Communication Skills.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Continued employment is contingent upon completion of satisfactory state and federal fingerprint criminal background check.
Reading Advocate I
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Associate degree in Reading, Literacy, Education, Early Childhood, Social Services, Behavioral Health, or related field. Relevant work experience may substitute for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.
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One (1) year of experience working with Alaska Native families with knowledge of their values and belief systems OR willingness to participate in training related to cultural values and community engagement.
Reading Advocate II
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Associate degree in Reading, Literacy, Education, Early Childhood, Social Services, Behavioral Health, or related field. Relevant work experience may substitute for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.
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Two (2) years of experience working with Alaska Native families with knowledge of their values and belief systems OR willingness to participate in training related to cultural values and community engagement.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Three (3) years of experience working with Alaska Native families with knowledge of their values and belief systems OR willingness to participate in training related to cultural values and community engagement.
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Experience in literacy intervention, tutoring, or reading specialist roles.
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Training or certification in evidence-based literacy intervention programs.
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Experience working with children in any instructional, mentoring, or enrichment setting with an interest in supporting reading growth.
Physical Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- May require prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and consistently working on a computer with repetitive motion.
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The need to occasionally move around the office to access filing cabinets, storage cabinets, and office equipment may be necessary.
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Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally by utilizing proper lifting techniques and working in a safe manner.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by incumbents within this job. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and working conditions required of employees assigned to this job. Management has sole discretion to add or modify duties of the job and to designate other functions as essential at any time. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract.
