School Based State Literacy Coaches
Education Program Specialist I
Recruitment #26-005055-0005
| Department | MD State Department of Education |
|---|---|
| Date Opened | 4/16/2026 09:00:00 AM |
| Filing Deadline | 5/8/2026 11:59:00 PM |
| Salary | State Salary: $53 per hour (or Equivalent to LEA salary) **Budget** |
| HR Analyst | Christopher King |
Introduction

The Maryland State Department of Education is dedicated to supporting a world-class educational system that prepares all students for college and career success in the 21st century. With excellent stewardship from our divisions, we oversee State and federal programs that support the needs of a diverse population – students, teachers, principals, and other educators throughout Maryland.
GRADE
LOCATION OF POSITION
Main Purpose of Job
POSITION DUTIES
- Lead teachers through individual literacy coaching cycles.
- Provides non-evaluative, job-embedded coaching to strengthen reading instruction aligned to the Science of Reading and Maryland's Comprehensive PreK-3 Policy (i.e., writing SRIPs, delivering screeners, etc.).
- Supports teachers in delivering systematic, explicit foundational skills instruction including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
- Models structured literacy practices through co-teaching, lesson modeling, and elbow coaching and conducts observations focused on reading instruction and provide targeted, literacy specific feedback.
- Guides and supports teachers in implementing high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) for reading and in administering and interpreting early literacy screeners and diagnostics to select appropriate interventions.
- Delivers professional learning aligned to the Science of Reading, structured literacy, and HQIM implementation.
- Provides training for teachers on using literacy assessment data to make instructional decisions within an MTSS literacy framework and facilitates professional learning on evidence-based interventions, structured literacy instruction, academic routines and procedures, text complexity, and metacognition.
- Builds teacher capacity to deliver coherent literacy instruction across grade-levels aligned to Maryland's Comprehensive PreK-3 policy, the Ready to Read Act, and COMAR 13A.03.08 Students At-Risk for Reading Difficulty.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Candidates may substitute two additional years of experience directly related to the position option for the required education.
- Candidates may substitute the possession of a Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to the position option for one year of the required experience.
- The required field of education and experience are unique for each option and are established by MSDE in accordance with Education Article, Section 2-104 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The specific education and experience qualifications for each position are on record in the Human Resource Management Branch of the Division of Business Services.
- Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Education Program classifications or Education Program specialty codes in the Education field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.
DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Active teacher certification in any state with experience as a classroom teacher.
- Experience supervising and/or coaching professional education staff.
- Experience with the Science of Reading, Structured Literacy, associated HQIM and PreK-3 learning theory and various approaches to instructional coaching.
- Experience working with K-3 reading achievement and Maryland's Comprehensive PreK-3 Policy
- Experience implementing curriculum and evidence-based instructional practices in English Language Arts and literacy.
- Experience with high impact coaching methods and developing and facilitating professional learning focused on research-based practices and evidence-based interventions including professional learning cycles and the MSDE coaching model.
- Experience delivering data-driven literacy instruction that meets the needs of diverse learners.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
SELECTION PROCESS
BENEFITS
STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS (only if hired as MSDE Contract)
-OR-
Benefits will be provided by the selected applicant’s current employing Local School System.
FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS
Click on a link below to apply for this position:
| Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet. | Apply Online |
| View and print the Supplemental Questionnaire. | This recruitment requires completion of a supplemental questionnaire. You may view and print the supplemental questionnaire here. |
| Apply via Paper Application. | You may also download and complete the Paper Application here. |



