EARLY ELEMENTARY LEARNING SPECIALIST

Description

POSITION:    EARLY ELEMENTARY LEARNING SPECIALIST

REPORTS TO:  LOWER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

The Early Elementary Learning Specialist will bring a strengths-based approach to serving learners who demonstrate potential or identified learning differences. Working closely with the Early Childhood Director, Lower School Principal, School Counselor, Elementary Learning Specialist and teachers.  The Early Elementary Learning Specialist will design and lead programming to serve students in partnership with faculty and parents in our school community. They will also develop learning plans and monitor student progress. The ideal candidate will have expertise in learning differences and the development of instructional strategies and learning accommodations for Early Childhood and Early Elementary students. Additionally, the ideal candidate will bring excellent social and emotional learning skills and stay current on the latest research in neurodiversity and learning strategies. Finally, the ideal candidate will bring a compassionate approach to collaborating with students, families, outside providers, and colleagues to provide consistent academic support.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Co-designs and iterates systems and structures of learning support for the Early Elementary School grades
• Develops collaborative relationships with families of students receiving accommodations and support
• Partners with and coaches teachers to co-develop pedagogy, interventions, and accommodations or modifications to support both the individual needs of students on accommodation plans and differentiation for all students
• Provides direct support for students, individually or in groups, to help them understand their strengths and stretches, set goals, and develop self-advocacy skills
• Reviews educational evaluations, writing and tracking related accommodation and intervention plans.
• Conducts both formal and informal assessments (screenings, formative, and summative)
• In partnership with the Student Support Team, maintains a robust professional network of outside providers to assist in referral processes and actively works with these providers as they support and assess our students
• Leads student support meetings and collaborates with the student support team including administration, teachers, school counselor, and outside providers
• Collaborates with Lower School Learning Specialist to align learning support across the Early Childhood and Lower School divisions
• Uses data to assess the current and long-term needs of our student population
• In collaboration with the Lower School Principal, designs both proactive and responsive regular professional development programs for faculty and staff to better understand learning differences and support implementation of classroom accommodations
• Organizes and proctors testing for students with testing accommodations

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participate in school events, such as Back to School Night, as needed, and perform supervision duties as assigned
• Attend weekly faculty and staff meetings

HOURS

7:50 am - 3:30 pm

Faculty Meetings are on Monday from 3:30 to 5:00 pm

Occasional evening events

COMPENSATION

Anticipated compensation range is $80,000 to $110,000, depending on experience.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

This is an exempt position. Competitive compensation commensurate with experience. Benefits package includes, but is not limited to a national medical and dental insurance plan, life insurance, short term/long term disability, and life and retirement plan (up to a 9% match). 

All school personnel must successfully complete a fingerprint background check through Live Scan and provide current tuberculosis clearance

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s in related field; Master’s degree preferred
• Special Education experience preferred
• Experience and ability to provide leadership and expertise in interpreting and disseminating data and psycho-educational assessment results
• Able to provide leadership and expertise in communicating the needs of diverse learners
• Highly knowledgeable in the developmental needs of all students, with an expertise in the unique needs of early childhood and early elementary students
• Excellent listening, speaking, and written communication skills
• Flexible, innovative, and creative
• Inspires collaboration among colleagues and is inclusive
• Organized, efficient, flexible, able to contend with complexity and nuances.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively
• Openness to feedback and improvement, modeling lifelong learning
• Commitment to ensuring that recommended student supports/accommodations are accessible and equitable for all students
• Well versed with up to date educational technology platforms.
• Highly knowledgeable in best practices of curriculum, instruction, differentiation, and assessments
• Is professional, timely, and compassionate in responding to all constituents.
• Committed to professional development in all areas related to learning, curriculum, and leadership
• Tech savvy

Salary : $80,000 - $110,000