Instructional Specialist (ELL)-English Class for Electricians - Indy Reads

This listing is a call for an ELL/ESL Adult Education Instructor in Indy Reads' Community Classrooms program. The part-time instructor will need to be available beginning January 6, 2025 to teach 7-10 hours a week. The class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-7pm on the near west side of Indianapolis. The ideal candidate will be bilingual in Spanish (or have some proficiency in Spanish), be comfortable with both digital and physical learning tools, and have competency and enthusiasm for creating and designing language learning curriculum specific to construction/electrical/trades workers. 

Interested applicants should apply as soon as possible via this listing, attaching both a resume and a cover letter to the listing on the Indy Reads website. Go to the "About” tab on the Indy Reads homepage and choose the "Our Team” page from the drop-down menu. Click the “Check out our current open positions” link at the top of the page. 

About Indy Reads 

Our vision is simple: 100% literacy for all. 

Located in historic Fountain Square and serving central Indiana, Indy Reads builds the literacy, English language, and job readiness skills to empower adults and families to reach their full potential. We advance our mission through our virtual and in-person Community Classrooms and our community bookstore, which serves as a retail space, community space, and extension of educational programming. This is a highly regarded, well-established nonprofit organization with 40 years of experience in adult education. Under the direction of new leadership and deeply committed to advancing social equity within all aspects of the organization, Indy Reads is poised for growth.  

Our adult learners are at the heart of everything we do. Dedicated staff and volunteers work with native and non-native English speakers to strengthen their literacy and English language skills, earn their High School Equivalency diplomas, and acquire workforce certifications. With literacy and language education, our adult learners redefine their potential for success. They get new and better jobs, help their children with homework, and engage with society in new and deeper ways. Indy Reads advances social equity through education.  

Position Overview 

At Indy Reads, our vision is to make Central Indiana 100% literate. With 1 in 5 Hoosiers reading at or below a sixth-grade ability, our mission to promote and improve the literacy of adults and families in Central Indiana is needed now more than ever. We take a community literacy approach to teaching adult students. Through an innovative social learning model, instructors are supported by a team of volunteer tutors in each dynamic classroom setting.  

Reporting to the Vice President of Community Impact, the part-time ELL Instructor will provide basic, relevant language and literacy instruction through the use of technology and classroom instruction to provide an individualized learning experience. The instructor will oversee student progress, as well as a team of volunteer tutors who will act as instructional aides to provide a well-rounded language and literacy curriculum. The goal of instruction will be to support individual adult ESL/ELL students in making continuous improvements in their reading, writing, speaking, listening, and critical thinking skills in English.  

The following is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job. Other duties may be assigned.  

Responsibilities and Duties 

Creating a Comfortable and Positive Learning Community  

• Establish rapport with students   
• Promote student self-efficacy and growth mindset   
• Evaluate and respond to individual student needs   
• Observe confidentiality of students and program information   

Individualization  

Lead students in a multi-level classroom (Basic through High-Intermediate/Advanced): Analyze and select diverse texts from traditional print, digital, and online resources that link to multiple ability levels and multicultural perspectives, and connect to students’ backgrounds, interests, job-related needs, and English language proficiency levels, for a class of up to 32 students.  

• Design in-depth instruction to improve student's abilities to read and understand varied text, and to spur student interest in more complex reading materials   
• Coordinate tutors to maximize differentiation: Work with, support, and assist volunteer tutors in providing engaging small-group learning   
• Retain students by ensuring instructional content is relevant to individual specific adult lives and interests   
• Provide opportunities for authentic conversation on various relevant topics in the target language 

Relevant, Dynamic Lesson Planning & Instruction  

• Write lesson plans that include individualized activities for each group/level as well as activities that incorporate the entire class, such as pronunciation exercises, games, etc.   
• Develop English language instruction that is responsive to the diverse needs of the students, including background, education, and ability level   
• Scaffold instruction to support student needs 
• Use appropriate and varied instructional approaches supported by research for the following areas:   
• Comprehension, speaking, fluency, critical thinking, motivation, vocabulary, integrated writing, conversational English, phonological awareness, etc.  
• Use information from the TABE CLAS-E and classroom observations to monitor progress and measure effectiveness of intervention practices and students’ responses to instruction   
• Communicate student challenges as well as effective strategies to staff  

Other Duties  

• Training and Meetings: Plan collaboratively with other instructors and Instructional Team Lead to implement high-leverage language learning strategies 
• Attend monthly professional development workshops to strengthen professional teaching knowledge and to stay current with the latest research on effective practices  
• Use existing technology effectively in the performance of duties  
• Perform other work as required  
• Effectively manage volunteer tutors in classroom  

Qualifications  

• ELL background: Minimum two years classroom instruction experience OR ESL teaching certificate: TESOL/TEFL   
• Experience creating dynamic lesson plans for levels 2-6   
• Experience working with students with learning differences or working with adults preferred   
• Ability to speak other languages and experience living abroad a plus   
• Must have reliable transportation   
• Proficiency with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Office Suite, Office 365, Asana, Slack, and other tools    
• Ability to work well as part of a team within a culturally diverse environment with people from all backgrounds and with varying degrees of experience and skills     
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing    
• Curious, open, and dedicated to participating in Indy Reads’ journey to advance DEIA     
• Commitment to the mission of Indy Reads     
• A sense of humor  

We strongly encourage people of color, people from marginalized backgrounds, and people with immigrant experience to apply for positions at our organization. Indy Reads is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.  

Studies have shown that people from marginalized communities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. If you are excited about this opportunity and believe you have skills to contribute to the role, yet your past work experience isn't 100% in alignment with the listed qualifications, please apply anyway. We seek employees from all backgrounds to join our team and encourage them to bring their authentic and best selves to work.   

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 apprenticeship. Indy Reads makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use his/her hands to feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk and sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required for this position include close vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.   

Compensation  

This is an outstanding opportunity for a highly motivated individual to assume a pivotal role in advancing Indy Reads' mission. Pay is $32 an hour. Indy Reads also offers a 401(k) and 3% company match to part-time staff.