Academic Specialist (K-4th grade)

About Spring Lake Park Schools

Welcome to Spring Lake Park Schools! We are a vibrant school community serving about 6,200 students from the suburbs of Blaine, Fridley and Spring Lake Park, in the northern Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Our district purpose -- "High expectations, high achievement for all. No excuses" - provides our focus to meet the unique and varied needs of each student.

Spring Lake Park Schools is recognized for our commitment to personalized learning, creating a culture of innovation and creativity through human-centered design thinking. We are working to create a system - a culture with a methodology and set of processes - where teachers and staff have the freedom, flexibility and invitation to design new ways of learning centered around deepening student engagement to continuously improve student success.

Position Overview

The successful candidate will be an individual who:

• has a strong desire to work with elementary level school students
• be familiar with assessment for learning practices as well as how to provide appropriate interventions for students
• strong knowledge and skills in working with struggling readers
• has the ability to collaborate with their colleagues to discuss instruction and assessment to meet the needs of the students
• possess a sense of responsibility for the learning of all of the students
• has experience with technology is strongly desired

• all students can and will learn, and that their learning can be directly influenced by focusing on factors over which we have control;
• in the need to work interdependently with teachers, school, and district leaders throughout the system, aligning the work of adults around improving student learning by meeting the needs, interests, and aspirations of students;
• in the need to work in partnership with staff to continuously improve practices to enhance student and family engagement, creating the conditions for equity, excellence and student success; and
• in personalizing learning for students, meeting academic, social, and emotional needs and aspirations so that each student feels valued and has a sense of belonging, leading to academic success

• teaching students in the areas of reading including phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension, as well as math and writing
• assessing student learning and developing responses to learning
• reporting and communicating to parents and families on an ongoing basis
• engaging in professional development.

Preferences
We strongly prefer candidates who have exhibited excellence in collaboration with colleagues and an enthusiasm to work with students. Reading endorsement is preferred. Preferred candidates will also have a demonstrated commitment to ongoing learning as evidenced by graduate-level work or an earned degree, as well as participation in professional organization conferences or seminars related to the content area.

Qualifications

The successful candidate must have earned a B.A. or B.S. degree and current Minnesota State Licensure in Elementary Education with a reading endorsement Additional demonstrated qualifications include: commitment to the equitable education of all students; creative planning and organizational skills, and highly effective interpersonal skills. Previous experience working with elementary level students using differentiation, guided reading, and technology skills preferred. Prefer candidate with experience working with diverse learners.

Licensing Requirements
Current Minnesota elementary K-6 license or eligibility is required.

Salary
Highly competitive salary and benefit package for the region

How to Apply
Position will remain open until filled.
Individuals who wish to be considered for this position must apply online at
Only qualified and appropriately licensed individuals will be considered for an interview.

With inquiries, please feel free to contact Mona Perkins, Principal, at mperki@district16.org or (763) 600-5601.

Equity is one of Spring Lake Park Schools' core values and is essential to our goal of putting children first to ensure college and career readiness. A diverse workforce fuels innovation and allows us to better understand, communicate with, and educate our students. Spring Lake Park Schools will not deny anyone the opportunity for training or employment because of sex, race, religion, color, creed, national origin, marital status, age, sexual preference, disability, or status with regard to public assistance.