Multilingual Specialist
Multilingual Department (1.0)
KEA Salary Schedule and Grade
$47,599-$93,010
10 Month (+20 days), Full-time
Position Summary
The Multilingual Specialist supports the district’s mission to ensure equitable access and achievement for multilingual learners (MLs) through compliance oversight, professional development, instructional coaching, and collaboration with school leaders and staff. This role bridges instructional, compliance, and family engagement work by providing expertise in language acquisition, program implementation, and data-driven decision-making across K–12 schools.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
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Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations (Title III, Section 41, OCR, ESSA) for identification, placement, service delivery, and exiting of MLs.
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Oversee implementation and documentation of WIDA Screener and ACCESS testing, including training, certification, scheduling, test security, and materials management.
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Maintain data accuracy in systems such as Ellevation, PowerSchool, Illuminate, and DRC.
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Coordinate annual student monitoring (FLEP) cycles and maintain student evidence portfolios.
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Support the accuracy of Home Language Survey (HLS) data and work with IT and enrollment staff to ensure compliance.
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Assist with program audits, MDE monitoring, and internal data reviews.
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Collaborate with building administrators, ML coaches, and general education teachers to strengthen Tier I instruction for MLs through SIOP, scaffolding strategies, and co-teaching models.
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Provide direct instructional coaching, modeling, and feedback aligned with district goals and WIDA standards.
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Support curriculum adoption and alignment for ELD and content courses (e.g., UFLI, Read180, National Geographic Lift, Math IM).
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Participate in and facilitate curriculum writing and pacing guide development.
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Support ML teachers and paraprofessionals in instructional practices, classroom management, and assessment.
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Plan, organize, and deliver professional learning for teachers, paraprofessionals, and support staff on topics such as:
- Second language acquisition and linguistic diversity
- Differentiation and sheltered instruction
- Culturally responsive practices
- Compliance procedures and testing protocols
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Facilitate building-based PD and districtwide sessions (e.g., new hire orientation, back-to-school sessions, transportation/food service awareness).
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Provide ongoing coaching and follow-up to ensure implementation of strategies.
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Collaborate with school counselors, deans, and support staff to address academic and socio-emotional needs of MLs.
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Attend Child Study and IEP meetings to provide recommendations for appropriate interventions, goals, and accommodations.
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Support transitions for MLs (elementary–middle–high school) through placement input and scheduling guidance.
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Lead family and community engagement efforts such as multilingual parent meetings, end-of-year celebrations, and newcomer orientations.
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Coordinate interpretation and translation needs with vendors and staff.
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Serve as liaison between the ML Department and school buildings to address concerns, provide updates, and support continuous improvement.
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Assist in budgeting and planning for Section 41 and Title III funds, ensuring allowable use and alignment with district goals.
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Lead or assist with data analysis to inform program decisions and staffing allocations.
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Support onboarding of new ML staff and paraprofessionals.
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Assist the Coordinator with grant reporting, compliance submissions, and program audits.
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Monitor WIDA certification completion, maintain testing documentation, and ensure annual reports are accurate.
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Provide training and troubleshooting for Ellevation, Lexia English, Read180, Nearpod, and other ML platforms.
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Support Grow-Your-Own and teacher pipeline initiatives for bilingual educators.
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Valid Michigan Teaching Certificate with ESL or Bilingual Education Endorsement (or eligible).
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Master’s degree in TESOL, Curriculum & Instruction, or related field preferred.
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Minimum of five years of experience working with multilingual learners or English Learner programs.
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Strong knowledge of WIDA standards, second language acquisition, and culturally responsive pedagogy.
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Experience with data systems and compliance documentation.
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Bilingual proficiency in English and another language preferred.
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Demonstrated leadership and collaboration skills across departments.
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Strong organizational and project management abilities.
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Effective communication with diverse stakeholders, including families, administrators, and community partners.
Based on a comparative review of similar Multilingual Specialist and English Learner Specialist roles across U.S. K–12 districts, the following additions and refinements are recommended to align this position with current national standards and best practices.
- Strengthen the Position Summary to emphasize a district-wide commitment to linguistic equity, closing opportunity gaps, and ensuring inclusive and culturally sustaining instruction.
- Add advocacy for English Learner rights, ensuring access to rigorous curriculum, and collaboration to remove systemic barriers impacting multilingual students.
- Expand duties to include collaboration with HR, university partners, and community organizations to strengthen the recruitment and support of bilingual educators.
- Partner with adult education and local agencies supporting newcomer and refugee families to enhance wraparound supports for students and families.
- Add responsibilities for tracking and analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs) for multilingual learners, such as language proficiency growth and reclassification rates.
- Include support for preparing district and state-level reports and presenting outcomes to administrators, school boards, and community partners.
- Emphasize leadership in researching, piloting, and evaluating digital platforms that support English Learner instruction (e.g., Lexia English, Read180, Nearpod, Off2Class, and Ellevation).
- Provide guidance to staff on integrating digital literacy tools to enhance multilingual learners’ engagement and language development.
- Formalize the role of the Multilingual Specialist in mentoring and onboarding new ML teachers and paraprofessionals.
- Facilitate professional learning communities (PLCs) and peer observation cycles focused on language-integrated instruction, co-teaching, and data-informed reflection.
- Include explicit mention of managing or co-authoring Title III, Section 41, and related grants to support ML programming.
- Support compliance reporting, expenditure monitoring, and sustainability planning for federal and state-funded initiatives.
- Stay informed on current research in second language acquisition, culturally sustaining pedagogy, and bilingual education models.
- Lead or participate in action research cycles evaluating instructional practices and program outcomes, and recommend programmatic adjustments.
- Clarify that the Multilingual Specialist may provide instructional support or coaching across grade levels and content areas, including middle and high school, as needed.
- Offer differentiated coaching and modeling aligned to school data, student needs, and language proficiency levels.
Interested applicants should apply online at www.kpsjobs.com
Position will be open until filled
Kalamazoo Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity employer
