Job Title: Sr. Instructional Designer and Writer, Reading Universe

Reports to: Director of Instructional Design, Learning Media

Status: Full-Time, Exempt, Grant-Funded

Salary Range: $120,000 to $140,000

Position Overview

We are looking for a senior curriculum designer and writer to join the team responsible for Reading Universe, WETA’s ambitious new web-based national literacy project focused on teacher professional development. You would play an essential role in planning, writing, and advising the production of multimedia content for the Reading Universe website.

We launched the prototype of Reading Universe in July 2023, and we’re aiming for it to become the definitive online guide to teaching reading and writing effectively. It is growing into a state-of-the-art, research-based, video-rich service for educators working with children in pre-K through 6th grade.

We are seeking to add a literacy expert with a deep understanding of the research that informs how children learn to read. This role is perfect for the candidate who brings a combination of: 1) experience in the classroom teaching children to read, 2) expert knowledge of the research, and 3) proven expertise in communicating the research and practice to teachers through effective professional development. Additionally, this literacy expert should have experience working with a diverse population of teachers and students, displaying a cultural responsiveness essential for instructing children and teachers. We are especially interested in candidates who are knowledgeable about one or more of the following domains: language comprehension (e.g. vocabulary, morphology, critical thinking, and background knowledge); pre-K education; and effective writing instruction.

If you are interested in this position, please send us a resume, cover letter, and 1-2 writing samples.

Essential Functions

Primary Responsibilities 

In this job, your primary responsibility will be the development of online teacher professional content that is accessible, authoritative, and appealing. 

Research, write, review, and copy edit content, especially for our Reading Universe skill explainers. This includes drafting extensive content on your own and also at times working in collaboration with other writers. This work involves: 

• Ensuring that our content reflects the best and most current research in the field.
• Consulting periodically with our expert advisers for their input on reading and writing research and their advice on how teachers can apply that research in the classroom.
• Contributing to or drafting print material and graphical presentations that will make our skill explainers engaging and compelling for the educators we serve.
• Support our video production team:
  • Help to identify, scout, and prepare the schools we select for our in-classroom video, including planning what content to cover, writing the lessons (and support materials) that we will film, and training teachers who will implement the lessons. 
  • Travel as needed (approximately two to three times per year) to film locations to support the production and to ensure fidelity of the reading instruction. 
  • Review and comment on rough cuts of in-classroom video, offering suggestions for our narration scripts and on-screen graphics. 

• Represent Reading Universe as requested by meeting with partners, experts, and funders; and making public presentations (in-person or online) at conferences and teacher training events.
• Monitor blogs, websites, journals, and news articles for new developments in the world of literacy.
• Help ensure that Reading Universe meets all deadlines and fulfills its commitments to funders, partners, and underwriters.
• Perform related special projects or other duties as assigned, primarily for Reading Universe but also possibly for WETA’s other education websites.

Core Competencies: 

• Teacher training and coaching.
• Extensive knowledge of reading research and of the challenges facing schools and teachers in grades pre-K-6 including a strong command of research on reading instruction, why so many children struggle to learn to read, and how to apply research to improve classroom instruction. 
• Excellent understanding of the essential concepts and terms related to research-based reading and writing instruction, including structured literacy and the simple view of reading.
• Knowledge and understanding of every skill within the Reading Universe Taxonomy and the ability to write an explanation of these skills for teacher professional development. 
• Experience in writing and developing literacy curricula. 
• Proven ability to develop and create professional content that teachers value.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully perform in an atmosphere of multiple projects, shifting priorities and deadline pressures.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written.
• Clear and colloquial writing style.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise considerable initiative and sound judgment.

Skills & Abilities Required

• Five to ten years of teaching and/or coaching experience in grades pre-K through 6th grade. 
• College degree, preferably in the humanities.
• Masters degree or doctoral degree in education or a related field (e.g. linguistics or speech pathology) strongly preferred.
• Experience with writing and implementing professional development efforts focused on literacy and elementary education, online and/or in-person. 
• Experience as a published writer, especially articles about reading and elementary education, is helpful.

Education & Experience

• MA / MS / MBA / JD (Masters / Postgraduate / Advanced Degree)

Location:

WETA and NewsHour Productions are Washington, DC established media and news organizations. We are a largely local workforce based out of the Campbell Place office in Arlington, VA. WETA and NewsHour Productions value employee flexibility when possible. Most positions based in our Arlington, VA office will be onsite or hybrid, depending upon the role.

Company Overview:

WETA and its subsidiary NewsHour Productions LLC serve local and national public media audiences by producing and distributing content of intellectual integrity and cultural merit. Through broadcast, digital and community services, the organization offers compelling, diverse programming on five television channels, including primary channel WETA PBS, and on WETA Classical, the exclusive home for classical music in the nation’s capital; produces a portfolio of national television productions, including PBS NewsHour, recognized globally for bringing balanced, in-depth news coverage to all Americans; creates impactful documentaries with longtime production partners Ken Burns and Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.; features a variety of content offerings on weta.org, WETA Passport, the PBS Video App and the WETA Classical App; and serves communities near and far with education and engagement initiatives that contribute to the company’s mission of public service. Benefits | WETA

Equal Employment Opportunity:

WETA and NewsHour Productions are equal opportunity employers committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and internships. WETA and NewsHour Productions make hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

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