| Overview of School Prospect Sierra is an independent, coed TK–8 school located on two campuses in El Cerrito, California, serving 470 students. Prospect Sierra gives students the tools to build a better world by integrating rigorous academics with a deep understanding of human emotions. Every day our exceptional teachers connect students' academic experiences to ethics, empathy, and social and emotional intelligence. The result is deeper intellectual engagement, greater self-knowledge, and compassionate relationships. Prospect Sierra students develop the courage to become more than great students, but great people. Please visit our website, www.prospectsierra.org, for more information. Overview of Position This is a full time position for a kindergarten - second grade learning specialist. This teacher will report to the Elementary Division Head. The position will begin in August of 2021 and is for the 21-22 school year and beyond. This staff will need to be prepared to teach both on campus and remotely, depending on county and state directives. Student Support Responsibilities - Work 1-2 times per week in both kindergarten classrooms to help teachers differentiate instruction, provide academic support, and get to know all students.
- Run weekly remedial reading groups 2-3 times per week in both first grade classes, in collaboration with classroom teachers.
- Push-in to reading, writing, math or humanities classes in first and second grade classes on an as-needed basis in order to ensure needed accommodations are in place and provide additional one-on-one support for students.
- When necessary, provide direct support in reading, writing, or math in second grade.
- When necessary, organize spelling or handwriting small group pull-out to provide additional instruction for those identified as needing more support in these areas.
- Write mid and end of year reports for all students instructed that semester in any small group pull-out work.
Case Management Responsibilities - Interpret, advise, and assist faculty and parents with implementing recommendations for accommodations for students with identified learning differences.
- Act as a liaison between faculty and outside professionals to support students with learning differences who receive outside support.
- Participate in Information Sharing Meetings (ISMs) in order to collect data about how individual students are doing across the program and disseminate notes from ISMs to those teachers who teach the student.
- Participate in student team meetings which include teachers, parents, and outside professionals.
- Update digital LS hubs with current information on students’ learning needs to ensure important history and current information is communicated to teachers at each grade level.
- Meet and communicate with parents for consultation and discussion of individual student’s learning needs on an as needed basis.
Curricular Support & Team Collaboration - Join team meetings when necessary in order to support teachers with needed accommodations and to support differentiated curriculum needs.
- When needed, provide support in designing and implementing sensory diet plans and/or accommodations to the learning environment in order to address sensory needs of individual students.
- In kindergarten, team with the classroom teachers to identify needed phonics, phonemic awareness, handwriting/fine motor, or numeracy activities to push-in and teach to all kindergarteners or select students weekly.
- Collaborate weekly as a member of the learning support team, made up of all learning specialists, the Elementary Head, and the Elementary psychologist/counselor.
- Implement in-house screenings (language, processing skills, memory, etc..) when needed, and follow up with parents and teachers.
- Recommend outside evaluation and services to students/families as needed, and keep referral lists up to date.
Faculty and Community Education/Resources: - Design and execute faculty education opportunities on topics of learning diversity and differentiation in a variety of formats, several times per year.
- Evaluate kindergarten applicants during kindergarten admissions visit days.
- Join the Head and Division Head at K-2nd grade parent coffees.
- Work in collaboration with the Learning Specialist team to create communication to current and prospective families around learning differences, support, and resources on the school website.
Salary The salary is competitive. Benefits included. How to Apply Send a résumé (including contact information for three references) and one-page cover letter to: Abby Guinn, Elementary School Division Head tapscottjobs@prospectsierra.org Prospect Sierra School is an equal opportunity employer. Our community is diverse in many ways, inclusive of race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender spectrum, age, ability, and more. We welcome and value the same in our faculty and staff. |