| Job Description: |
The University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning’s mission is to improve the quality of teaching, learning, and childcare. We research, develop, and scale equitable educational innovations for adults and children that put all learners on trajectories for lifelong success. Specifically, the Center targets kindergarten readiness, 3rd grade reading proficiency, and algebra proficiency as critical milestones in children's educational trajectory that are predictive of success in school and life. The Center works at the nexus of research, practice, and policy to develop sustainable systems that leverage educational technologies and improve the implementation of research-based practices. Housed in one of the nation's elite public research universities, the Center operates as a dynamic, entrepreneurial workplace focused on executing UF's service mission to strengthen the human condition and improve the quality of life. The Lastinger Center is committed to attracting, hiring, and retaining top talent by valuing diversity of thought, skill, and experience. As an equal opportunity employer, we believe in fostering environments where team members feel included, valued for their differences, and empowered to do their best work.
About This Position:
The bill establishes responsibilities for the state-level Administrator to include:
- Developing, in conjunction with the Just Read, Florida! Office, a selection of books from a variety of genres and covering a range of topics, appropriate for each grade level.
- Facilitating book distribution directly or through an agreement with a book distribution company.
- Developing and distributing marketing materials to help school districts and local partners raise awareness of the initiative.
- Helping school districts identify potential nonprofit partners by maintaining a list of national, state, and local organizations that have experience supporting efforts to distribute books to children
- Developing training materials, including video and text resources, to assist families as they engage in reading and improve literacy skills
- Periodically distributing to participating families helpful tips and hyperlinks to video modules via text messaging and email.
Coordination/Supervision
- Work with other colleagues and teams across the Center to ensure research-based products are created and delivered supporting evidence-based Science of Reading content.
- Provide consultation on a variety of projects and tasks to the Content Development and Learning Experiences team.
- Provide insight and expertise on the development of other products that will be offered online for educators and families.
- Supervise the New Worlds Reading Literacy Content Specialists, to ensure delivery of high-quality products and services to caregivers and students.
- Schedule recurring meetings with teams to support ongoing projects and ensure timelines are met.
- Work with the Literacy Content Development Manager, New Worlds Reading Initiative to plan and implement the mission of the Lastinger Center and the goals of the New Worlds Reading Initiative.
Logistical Support
- Manage ongoing curation of the book list to ensure alignment with grade-level expectations, genres, diversity, and interest areas.
- Troubleshoot challenges and address them as they arise; coordinate with Literacy Content Development Manager and other project staff providing implementation support to ensure consistency and effective communication structures.
Content Review
- Review content and materials for improvements, as necessary.
- Author activities for the content that are developmentally appropriate and ensure that content follows the outlined templates.
- Review and author high quality content that supports current evidence-based research.
Literacy Content Development
- Develop content for students and caregivers in partnership with the team.
- Design face-to-face experiences for caregivers and students.
- Develop scripts for asynchronous learning experiences for caregivers and students.
- Develop book-specific reading guides.
- Support the creation of institute materials. This includes developing and creating learning activities, assisting in the selection of materials, infusing adult learning strategies within materials, and providing the evidence base that supports the selection of materials, programs, and strategies
Other Tasks as Assigned
Will travel for assigned business purpose minimally.
Hybrid work location policy:
Lastinger Center for Learning supports and promotes a healthy work-life balance. To achieve this, the Lastinger Center offers a flexible, hybrid work schedule that aligns with the university’s Flexibility in the Workplace Policy. Allowing employees to stagger arrival and departure times as necessary and to vary the number of workdays in the office so long as an employee’s FTE commitment is fulfilled within the university workweek. This policy also allows for occasional, incidental remote work based on individual circumstances. New Worlds Reading:
In 2021, the Florida Legislature created the New Worlds Reading Initiative, Florida’s first statewide book distribution program, to provide at-home literacy support for students reading below grade level. Under the initiative, a high-quality, hardcopy book is delivered monthly to eligible students. Their parents are provided resources to help improve their student’s reading skills and instill a love of reading. The Department of Education has designated the Lastinger Center as the Administrator for the program, responsible for fulfilling all the requirements of the initiative.
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