Literacy & Professional Learning Specialist - Open Up Resources

Who We Are

Open Up Resources is a publisher of high-quality open educational resources in core content areas, with a vision of providing teachers with the tools to engage students in liberating educational experiences.

Open Up Resources’ portfolio seeks to include the highest-quality, standards-aligned PK-12 curricula, with validation from respected third-party entities, evidence of efficacy, effective supports for multilingual learners, inclusive strategies for students with exceptionalities, embedded culturally relevant pedagogy, and professional learning that is inclusive and culturally considerate.

We are transforming instructional materials through our commitment to classroom equity. This intentional commitment infuses every program, partnership, and practice. Our desire is that Open Up Resources' curricula catalyzes equitable classroom norms, structures, practices, and policies in education and society.

The Role

The Literacy & Professional Learning Specialist reports to the Sr. Director of ELA and is responsible for assisting in the execution of the Academic Team’s strategy to ensure that all curriculum materials and resources are of the highest quality, aligned to standards, and meet the needs of students, teachers, and families. The Literacy & Professional Learning Specialist will also provide support in the promotion and implementation of OUR ELA curricula within school districts. 

Requirements

Key Responsibilities 

Literacy & Curriculum

• Assist in evaluating ELA instructional materials to support the completion of rubrics, district requirements, and RFP proposals. 
• Assist in the identification and creation of ELA instructional materials and resources to support curriculum implementation and professional learning.
• Assist with revising and editing to ensure all ELA instructional materials are accurate, free of error, and meet OUR’s high-quality standards. 
• Support the Director of ELA in the development and refinement of ELA instructional materials.
• Manage multiple projects effectively by creating timelines, organizing materials and resources, and prioritizing tasks to meet established deadlines. 
• Engage in cross-team collaboration to support strategic initiatives related to the ELA portfolio.

Professional Learning

• Lead the development and delivery of professional learning for educators focused on literacy instruction and OUR curricula both virtually and in-person.
• Collaborate with internal and external experts to provide ongoing training opportunities.
• Support partner school leaders during on-site visits by leading learning walks, data-stepbacks, and customized professional learning experiences.
• Support the development of asynchronous professional learning curricula.
• Develop conference proposals and present sessions aligned with the current OUR portfolio, seminal reading research and theoretical models, and the literacy education landscape. 

Open Up Resources: Core Competencies

Ethics and Integrity:  Behave in a fair and ethical manner toward peers, partners, and customers; instill mutual trust and confidence; act with honesty and integrity.

Continuous Learning: Hone and improve the level of knowledge and skills through education and training.

Business Skills and Knowledge: Demonstrate a solid literacy in areas related to OUR’s business and curricula products; able to design and develop organizational strategies to align performance with business needs or desired results.

Planning/Organizing/Goal Setting: Demonstrate the ability to organize people and tasks; develop realistic action plans while being sensitive to time constraints and resource availability; define realistic, specific goals and objectives; prioritize objectives

Teamwork and Collaboration: Work with colleagues to build morale and team commitment to goals and objectives.

Diversity: Understand that each individual is unique and celebrates individual differences including race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical disability, marital status, veteran status, education, training, position, level of authority, seniority, full-time or part-time status.

Solution Oriented: Able to take action in solving problems, using reason and a systematic approach.

Managing Change: Create an environment that embraces change, both internally and externally, and help others to accept new ideas.

Open Up Resources: Organizational Values

• Belonging: We embrace diverse perspectives and value inclusivity, respecting every voice.
• Collaboration: We find joy and drive innovation through collaborative efforts with others.
• Commitment: We boldly hold ourselves and others accountable, guided by our mission and values.
• Continuous Learning: We prioritize personal and professional growth through continuous learning.

Job Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of classroom experience teaching secondary students English Language Arts 
• Experience in supporting secondary multilingual learners
• Experience in facilitating professional learning for secondary English Language Arts
• Deep knowledge of the educational landscape in secondary English Language Arts
• Expertise in the teaching and learning of Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts  
• Demonstrated experience evaluating instructional materials using a variety of review tools and rubrics (i.e., EdReports ELA review tools, EQuIP, IMET, Knowledge Matters Review Tool, Curriculum Evaluation Guidelines, Culturally Responsive English Language Arts Curriculum Scorecard, state-specific rubrics)  
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize appropriately
• Proven organizational skills, high attention to detail, strong work ethic, and superior time management
• Dedication to excellence and proven track record of accountability
• Experience facilitating meetings and presenting to project teams  
• Strong technology skills
• Ability to lead meetings via web conference tools
• Working knowledge of email, Google platform, MS Office 365, and Adobe  
• Superior project management skills with a track record of proven results
• Extraordinary written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills 
• Ability to consolidate feedback from multiple sources and communicate results effectively  
• A growth mindset with a positive attitude focused on collaboration and problem-solving   

Benefits

• At Open Up Resources, we believe in building and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace environment. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer where all applicants are considered for employment without attention to color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
• We are seeking candidates who have lived experience related to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• We are a virtual organization with headquarters in the California Bay Area. 
• We offer competitive compensation and generous benefits packages including healthcare, vision, dental, 401k matching, unlimited paid-time-off, and much more!
• This is a remote, full-time, benefited position with a salary range of $66,000-$92,000.