Dwight-Englewood Lower School is a place where faculty encourage children to embrace every aspect of childhood development and play, while paying close attention to each students’ growth and progress. Grade levels range from Preschool 3 through Grade 5.

Dwight-Englewood encourages faculty to practice both the art and science of teaching. Our faculty understand the importance of balancing explicit instruction with more open-ended inquiry, and they bring this perspective to their planning and work with students. In addition, faculty understand the importance of observing and assessing students both formally and informally in all subject areas and throughout the day in order to plan instruction for whole groups, small groups and individuals. The desire to continue to grow and learn professionally within our diverse community of learners is essential, and we seek colleagues who will remain excited by the opportunity to do so.

The position:

Dwight-Englewood School is seeking a dynamic and experienced Lower School Learning Specialist. We are currently interviewing candidates interested in working with a range of children enrolled in

Preschool 3 through grade 5. Collaborating with the current Learning Specialist is essential to success in this position.  The Learning Specialist supports, supplements and extends classroom instruction, and works collaboratively to provide a high-quality, research-based literacy program that meets the range of learners.

Interested candidates should:

• Be well organized and have excellent communication skills in order to cultivate equity and understanding in a diverse school community
• Exhibit a collaborative approach to teaching that produces and reveals a genuine enthusiasm for working with colleagues by sharing strategies and exploring effective ways to enhance the student experience
• Possess a passion for teaching and learning and find joy in working with young children, laying a social-emotional foundation upon which academic excellence may be built

Responsibilities:

• Support and model the spirit of the mission and founding documents of the Dwight-Englewood School in work with students, teachers, families, and administrators.
• Develop methods to support and challenge students both in small groups and within the classroom setting.
• Serve as a resource to increase teacher capacities in literacy instruction.
• Serve as a member of the Student Support Team to develop ways to address individual student needs and create cohesive plans to be implemented both at school and at home.
• Continue to grow as a professional through professional development opportunities.
• Demonstrate knowledge of, experience with, the developmental, social, emotional and cognitive issues of the primary grades.
• Create differentiated, challenging lessons aligned with school philosophy, standards and curriculum.
• Maintain professional and collaborative collegial relationships that encourage sharing, planning, and working together toward improved instructional skills and student success
• Communicate with families about student progress, goals, benchmarks respectfully, openly and showing an ability to ask questions and listen with empathy.

Specific Duties:

• Supporting Students
  • Provide instruction to students in need of remediation and learning support.
  • Provide small group reading and writing instruction to the range of students in the classroom and in other appropriate settings.
  • Assess the strengths and needs of students, using a range of assessment tools, including standardized tests, and communicate findings to teachers and families.
  • Monitor rate of progress of strategies of support implemented for any student.
• Support and Development for Teachers
  • Provide instructional support and coaching to classroom teachers.
  • Support teachers in developing and utilizing assessments to guide instruction.
  • Work collaboratively with the current Learning Specialist and the Literacy Team to provide a high-quality literacy program.
• Student Support Team
  • Collaborate with members of the Lower School Student Support Team to make referrals as well as review and implement evaluation plans.
  • Develop plans to address individual student needs in coordination with classroom teachers and members of the Lower School Student Support Team.
  • Provide teachers with an understanding of learning concerns and aid them in the implementation of school-based accommodations.
  • Communicate with families to develop and monitor plans for school and home.
  • Communicate with external tutors, specialists and agencies to develop and monitor plans for support.
  • Meet with members of the school-wide Student Support Team.
• Assessments
  • Conduct diagnostic reading and writing assessments.
  • Plan, organize, interpret and utilize standardized testing.
  • Collaborate with teachers to provide and utilize ongoing assessment.
• Involvement in the DE Community
  • Supervise children during non-academic times such as snack, recess and
  • Participate in school and classroom events such as Back-to-School night, Lower School assemblies, parent conferences, grade-level planning meetings and faculty meetings.

Terms of Employment:

• This is a 10-month teaching position.
• Eight-hour workdays as well as attendance at faculty meetings and other school-wide meetings and events.
• Professional days are considered workdays and participation in planned activities is mandatory.

Dwight-Englewood School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, ethnicity, age, national origin, religion, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy or military veteran status. The diversity of our student body supports our commitment to employ a diverse faculty and staff. Educators from all backgrounds who bring knowledge and expertise in equity, diversity and multicultural education are especially encouraged to apply.