Literacy Specialist Job Description

A literacy specialist, also known as a reading specialist, is an educator who focuses on helping students of all ages to read and write and who develops programs designed to improve students' skills in all aspects of the language arts. A literacy specialist works hand in hand with other educators to identify students with problems and to give them the extra attention and coaching needed to get the students on an equal footing with their peers.

Literacy specialists help children learn to read and write.

Types

There are jobs for literacy specialists in a variety of settings, although most work with students in the public school system. Early literacy specialists work with elementary school students who show developmental language delays, while other specialists in the school system provide coaching and support for struggling learners at all grade levels. Adult literacy specialists work with foreign-born students studying English as a second language (ESL), as well as American-born adults who have difficulty reading and writing. Library literacy specialists often are employed by large urban public library systems to provide support for library patrons with reading problems.

Responsibilities

The job responsibilities of literacy specialists vary slightly depending on the setting in which they work. However, all are expected to assess the literacy skills of those that they serve, identify individuals with reading and writing problems, and provide personal attention and coaching to help such students overcome their literacy deficits. Literacy specialists in the school system are expected to help other teachers develop strategies to assist slow learners and to identify educational materials that can be used in building literacy skills.

Educational & Qualitative Requirements

The minimal educational requirement for certification as a literacy specialist in the public school system is a bachelor's degree, although many school systems will not consider anyone without an advanced degree in education. Comparable educational backgrounds are required for specialists who work outside school systems. Literacy specialists are expected to have taken a number of courses that focus specifically on literacy education. In terms of personal qualifications, the most important are patience and a love of helping others to learn.

Job Outlook

Literacy specialists who work in the school system fall within the broad category of special education teachers in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook. The outlook for educators in this overall category is bright, according to the BLS, which predicts that the total number of special education teachers will grow by 15 percent between 2006 and 2016. Other literacy specialists fall into the category of Teachers---Adult Literacy and Remedial Education. Here, too, the outlook is promising, with a predicted increase of 14 percent in the total number of jobs between 2006 and 2016.

Earnings

The average salary for literacy or reading specialists, according to SimplyHired.com, was $71,000 as of late 2009. Earnings vary considerably based on the institution for which the specialist works and the area of the country in which the institution is located.

References

• WorldWideLearn: Guide to College Majors: Reading and Literacy
• SimplyHired.com: Reading Specialist Salaries
• Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition

Resources

• Potsdam, The State University of New York: M.S.Ed., Literary Specialist
• Literacy Specialist Project
• Reading Rockets: Roles of the Reading Specialist