Literacy Specialist Jobs
Literacy Specialist jobs are open across K-12 schools, community colleges, nonprofit organizations, and state education agencies, at every level from entry-level interventionist to lead specialist and curriculum coordinator, with specializations in early literacy, reading intervention, and adult basic education. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 23+ Literacy Specialist jobs
We hire for this position in Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Manhattan.
About New York Junior Tennis & Learning
For over fifty years, New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL) has honored its founder Arthur Ashe’s legacy by celebrating the diversity of children, encouraging them to reach their highest potential through free tennis and academic programs. NYJTL is the largest provider of youth tennis and education programs in the nation, providing services in 100 unique sites across all five boroughs while reaching nearly 90,000 kids. In addition, NYJTL designed, funded (with NYC), built and operates the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in the South Bronx. All NYJTL community tennis and after school programs are offered at no cost to its participants.
The mission of NYJTL is to develop the character of young people through tennis and education for a lifetime of success on and off the court. It believes life skills gained through tennis, academics, healthy living, and character development are a catalyst for long-term achievement.
Position Summary
The Literacy Specialist will design and facilitate engaging literacy programming for middle school students in grades 6–8. The specialist will strengthen students' reading comprehension, writing, vocabulary, communication, and critical thinking skills through interactive lessons, creative writing activities, literature discussions, and project-based learning. The specialist will expose students to diverse genres, authors, and perspectives while encouraging a love of reading and helping students develop confidence in expressing their ideas. Students will have opportunities to develop original writing, participate in book discussions, create literary projects, and share their work through readings, publications, and showcases.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan and facilitate engaging literacy lessons, reading groups, writing workshops, and literary projects.
- Strengthen students' reading comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, and analytical thinking skills.
- Introduce students to diverse literary genres, authors, cultures, and perspectives.
- Develop creative writing opportunities, including poetry, short stories, journaling, essays, and personal narratives.
- Facilitate group discussions, book clubs, debates, and activities that encourage critical thinking and communication.
- Incorporate literacy into interdisciplinary projects, media, storytelling, and real-world experiences.
- Encourage students to develop original writing and creative literary portfolios.
- Prepare students to participate in poetry readings, writing competitions, literary showcases, and student publications.
- Create an inclusive environment that supports different reading levels, learning styles, and individual interests.
- Maintain accurate attendance and program documentation as required.
Schedule: Monday through Friday
Shifts scheduled between 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
(Start and end times may vary based on site assignment.)
Up to 20 hours per week.
Availability during these hours is required.
Selected candidates are expected to work the full school year through June 2027.
Additional Responsibilities
- Complete 15 hours of professional development each calendar year.
- Attend all meetings, training workshops and special events as required, inclusive of those outside of program hours.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Curriculum & Activity Planning
- Design and implement sequential, project-based units and lesson plans in assigned specialty area.
- Align activities with program goals, youth interests, and DYCD/COMPASS-SONYC frameworks.
- Integrate social-emotional learning, teamwork, and youth leadership opportunities into activities.
- Prepare materials and supplies in advance; maintain an organized, safe activity space.
- Lead engaging, hands-on sessions that are inclusive and differentiated for various skill and grade levels.
- Establish clear expectations, routines, and positive behavior supports.
- Build strong relationships with youth; encourage participation, creativity, and persistence.
- Adapt activities as needed based on student responses, behavior, and feedback.
- Collaborate with Group Leaders, Tutors, and site leadership to coordinate schedules and support youth needs.
- Participate in staff meetings, trainings, and planning sessions.
- Share progress, challenges, and recommendations for program improvement with supervisors.
- Ensure youth safety and supervision at all times, following agency and DYCD policies.
- Assist with attendance, sign-in/out, and other basic documentation as required.
- Care for and inventory program equipment and supplies related to the specialty area.
Qualifications
Required:
- Available during after-school hours, 2:00pm - 6:00pm, (20 hours per week not inclusive of meetings); Monday-Friday during the school year and some school holidays.
- 2+years' experience working with children or youth in group settings (after-school, camp, school, recreational program).
- Experience working with middle school or adolescent youth preferred
- Demonstrated experience or knowledge in literacy education, English language arts, creative writing, reading instruction, or a related field.
- Strong knowledge of reading comprehension, writing development, and literacy strategies
- Ability to develop engaging and age-appropriate reading and writing activities.
- Strong communication, classroom management, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to support students with varying reading abilities and learning needs.
- Passion for literature, storytelling, and youth development.
- Must be dependable, professional, patient, and enthusiastic.
- High school diploma/GED required; college degree, teaching certification, literacy training, or equivalent experience preferred.
- Ability to pass required background checks and comply with program policies and safety requirements.
Preferred:
- Some college coursework or degree in Education, Arts, Recreation, Youth Development, or related field.
- Experience in a DYCD-funded program or NYC after-school setting.
- Bilingual language skills.
- Part Time
- Monday - Friday, 2:00pm - 6:00pm
- $21.50 - 24.50 per hour
Please click "Apply" below, or visit our careers page at nyjtl.org to complete an application. Thank you!
NYJTL values the diversity of the people we hire and inspire. Diversity at our organization means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, respected, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation/affectional preference, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We center equity in all our work and in our hiring practices.
We hire for this position in Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Manhattan.
About New York Junior Tennis & Learning
For over fifty years, New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL) has honored its founder Arthur Ashe’s legacy by celebrating the diversity of children, encouraging them to reach their highest potential through free tennis and academic programs. NYJTL is the largest provider of youth tennis and education programs in the nation, providing services in 100 unique sites across all five boroughs while reaching nearly 90,000 kids. In addition, NYJTL designed, funded (with NYC), built and operates the Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in the South Bronx. All NYJTL community tennis and after school programs are offered at no cost to its participants.
The mission of NYJTL is to develop the character of young people through tennis and education for a lifetime of success on and off the court. It believes life skills gained through tennis, academics, healthy living, and character development are a catalyst for long-term achievement.
Position Summary
The Literacy Specialist will design and facilitate engaging literacy programming for middle school students in grades 6–8. The specialist will strengthen students' reading comprehension, writing, vocabulary, communication, and critical thinking skills through interactive lessons, creative writing activities, literature discussions, and project-based learning. The specialist will expose students to diverse genres, authors, and perspectives while encouraging a love of reading and helping students develop confidence in expressing their ideas. Students will have opportunities to develop original writing, participate in book discussions, create literary projects, and share their work through readings, publications, and showcases.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan and facilitate engaging literacy lessons, reading groups, writing workshops, and literary projects.
- Strengthen students' reading comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, and analytical thinking skills.
- Introduce students to diverse literary genres, authors, cultures, and perspectives.
- Develop creative writing opportunities, including poetry, short stories, journaling, essays, and personal narratives.
- Facilitate group discussions, book clubs, debates, and activities that encourage critical thinking and communication.
- Incorporate literacy into interdisciplinary projects, media, storytelling, and real-world experiences.
- Encourage students to develop original writing and creative literary portfolios.
- Prepare students to participate in poetry readings, writing competitions, literary showcases, and student publications.
- Create an inclusive environment that supports different reading levels, learning styles, and individual interests.
- Maintain accurate attendance and program documentation as required.
Schedule: Monday through Friday
Shifts scheduled between 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
(Start and end times may vary based on site assignment.)
Up to 20 hours per week.
Availability during these hours is required.
Selected candidates are expected to work the full school year through June 2027.
Additional Responsibilities
- Complete 15 hours of professional development each calendar year.
- Attend all meetings, training workshops and special events as required, inclusive of those outside of program hours.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Curriculum & Activity Planning
- Design and implement sequential, project-based units and lesson plans in assigned specialty area.
- Align activities with program goals, youth interests, and DYCD/COMPASS-SONYC frameworks.
- Integrate social-emotional learning, teamwork, and youth leadership opportunities into activities.
- Prepare materials and supplies in advance; maintain an organized, safe activity space.
- Lead engaging, hands-on sessions that are inclusive and differentiated for various skill and grade levels.
- Establish clear expectations, routines, and positive behavior supports.
- Build strong relationships with youth; encourage participation, creativity, and persistence.
- Adapt activities as needed based on student responses, behavior, and feedback.
- Collaborate with Group Leaders, Tutors, and site leadership to coordinate schedules and support youth needs.
- Participate in staff meetings, trainings, and planning sessions.
- Share progress, challenges, and recommendations for program improvement with supervisors.
- Ensure youth safety and supervision at all times, following agency and DYCD policies.
- Assist with attendance, sign-in/out, and other basic documentation as required.
- Care for and inventory program equipment and supplies related to the specialty area.
Qualifications
Required:
- Available during after-school hours, 2:00pm - 6:00pm, (20 hours per week not inclusive of meetings); Monday-Friday during the school year and some school holidays.
- 2+years' experience working with children or youth in group settings (after-school, camp, school, recreational program).
- Experience working with middle school or adolescent youth preferred
- Demonstrated experience or knowledge in literacy education, English language arts, creative writing, reading instruction, or a related field.
- Strong knowledge of reading comprehension, writing development, and literacy strategies
- Ability to develop engaging and age-appropriate reading and writing activities.
- Strong communication, classroom management, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to support students with varying reading abilities and learning needs.
- Passion for literature, storytelling, and youth development.
- Must be dependable, professional, patient, and enthusiastic.
- High school diploma/GED required; college degree, teaching certification, literacy training, or equivalent experience preferred.
- Ability to pass required background checks and comply with program policies and safety requirements.
Preferred:
- Some college coursework or degree in Education, Arts, Recreation, Youth Development, or related field.
- Experience in a DYCD-funded program or NYC after-school setting.
- Bilingual language skills.
- Part Time
- Monday - Friday, 2:00pm - 6:00pm
- $21.50 - 24.50 per hour
Please click "Apply" below, or visit our careers page at nyjtl.org to complete an application. Thank you!
NYJTL values the diversity of the people we hire and inspire. Diversity at our organization means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, respected, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation/affectional preference, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We center equity in all our work and in our hiring practices.
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Find Literacy Specialist JobsLiteracy Specialist Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in literacy specialist jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in education, reading, or a related field
- State teaching license or reading specialist endorsement
- Experience delivering structured literacy or phonics-based interventions
- Proficiency with diagnostic assessment tools such as DIBELS or Fountas and Pinnell
- Knowledge of multi-tiered systems of support or response to intervention frameworks
- Experience analyzing student data to inform small-group and whole-class instruction
Tips for Your Literacy Specialist Job Search
Tailor your resume to assessment tools
Literacy specialist postings frequently list specific diagnostic tools like DIBELS, AIMSWEB, or Fountas and Pinnell. Name the exact tools you've used and briefly note the grade levels or caseload size you managed with each.
Lead with intervention data on your resume
Hiring committees want proof your work moved the needle. Describe student growth in concrete terms: the number of students served, the intervention program used, and the direction outcomes moved over a defined period.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists literacy specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match your grade-level focus and setting, then apply directly to each listing without bouncing between sites.
Filter by certification requirements before applying
Some districts require a Reading Specialist endorsement or a state literacy license beyond a teaching credential. Confirm the certification requirements for each state you're targeting before you spend time tailoring your application materials.
Prepare a sample intervention plan for interviews
Many literacy specialist interviews include a scenario question or a brief practical task. Having a one-page sample intervention plan ready, built around a hypothetical struggling reader, signals hands-on competence faster than any credential alone.
Negotiate for professional development funding
Literacy instruction evolves quickly, and training in new frameworks like Science of Reading can cost several hundred dollars per course. When you receive an offer, ask whether the district includes a professional development stipend as part of the total compensation package.
Literacy Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most literacy specialists?
Lead for America, Gwinnett County Public Schools, and Tutor Solutions are hiring the most literacy specialists right now, with openings concentrated in Maryland, Georgia, and North Carolina, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is particularly strong in districts that have recently adopted Science of Reading aligned curricula.
How many literacy specialist jobs are remote?
About 40% of literacy specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote roles most common in adult basic education, curriculum development, and literacy coaching positions at the state or nonprofit level rather than in-person school-based intervention roles.
How do you become a literacy specialist?
Start by earning a bachelor's degree in education or a related field and completing a state-approved teacher preparation program. From there, obtain your state teaching license and gain classroom experience, ideally in early grades. Pursue a master's degree or graduate certificate in reading or literacy, then apply for your state's reading specialist endorsement, which typically requires passing a content-area exam and documenting supervised practice in literacy instruction.
How do you get hired as a literacy specialist with little experience?
Start by gaining classroom experience that includes small-group reading instruction, even if your official title isn't specialist. Volunteer to co-lead literacy intervention groups or assist a school's reading coach. Completing a Science of Reading training course or earning an Orton-Gillingham certification signals specialized knowledge that can outweigh limited formal experience. Applying to districts that are actively building out new literacy programs is also a practical way in, since they're more open to developing candidates.
What does the literacy specialist interview process look like?
Most districts run a two-stage process: an initial screening call with HR or a district coordinator, followed by a panel interview with school administrators and sometimes a lead teacher. Expect questions about your philosophy of reading instruction, the diagnostic tools you use, and how you've supported classroom teachers. Some panels include a scenario question where you're asked to recommend an intervention approach for a struggling reader based on a brief student profile.
Where can I find and apply to literacy specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to literacy specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search for roles that match your grade-level focus, setting, and certification, then apply directly to each listing. New positions are added regularly, so checking back frequently gives you the best shot at early openings.
See All 23 Literacy Specialist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Literacy Specialist Jobs