Overview: The Middle School Learning Specialist is a member of the Center for Learning, reporting to the Associate Head for Students and Families. The Middle School Learning Specialist works closely with the Associate Head for Students and Families and the Head of the Middle School and supports all Middle School faculty.

Description & Details

Qualified candidates must have strong knowledge and experience regarding current research on different learning needs and styles to best support middle school-aged students. The Middle School Learning Specialist serves as a leader regarding authentic approaches to learning and advocates on behalf of students and student learning. 

The Middle School Learning Specialist must be proactive and enjoy working within a fast-paced environment that is mission-driven, results and solutions oriented, and nurtures the strong sense of community at St. Anne’s School of Annapolis. The ideal candidate will have the ability to exercise good judgment in a variety of situations, possess strong written and verbal communication skills, be detail-oriented, have strong administrative and organizational skills, and have the ability to maintain a realistic balance among multiple priorities. The Middle School Learning Specialist will have the ability to work independently on projects, from conception to completion, and must be able to work under pressure at times to handle a wide variety of activities and confidential matters with discretion.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop lesson plans/instructional materials and provide individualized and group intervention in order to meet the needs of students with documented learning needs (interventions may include Orton-Gillingham, Visualizing and Verbalizing, Math180, and/or executive functioning and study skills support)
• Work with parents and faculty to ensure a strong partnership, exhibit empathy, and demonstrate the School’s core values to best support students receiving services in the Center for Learning
• Analyze testing results and evaluations and summarize findings for faculty
• Conduct AimswebPLUS assessments in the fall, winter, and spring for students receiving intervention; supplement this norm-referenced assessment with informal screenings, curriculum-based assessments, and classroom observations
• Compose, revise, and update Learning Strategy Plans regularly
• Develop and share student progress reports with parents at the end of each semester
• Remain current and abreast of educational research about students with learning differences and instructional practices
• Participate in regular student support meetings with Faculty and Administration
• Work in partnership with the Associate Head of School for Students and Families and the Head of the Middle School to ensure students and faculty are supported in a high quality and timely manner
• Collaborate with and offer support to faculty on behalf of students with learning differences
• Coordinate with teachers on the implementation of differentiation, classroom accommodations, and/or enrichment activities for students who use the Center for Learning
• Work collaboratively with faculty to identify students in need of academic support
• Develop solid knowledge of the curriculum in each content area taught so as to better to support students and assist classroom teachers
• Communicate information to parents about student performance and maintain accurate, complete, and correct records and logs related to parent communication
• Support the social, emotional, and academic needs of students
• Advise students, parents, and other teachers to fully develop a picture of a student’s strengths and learning needs

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Reading, Special Education, Education, or Psychology; a Master’s degree is preferred
• Minimum five years of experience in a related field, including experience working with fifth through eighth grade students with learning disabilities
• Familiarity with current research, strategies and programs in reading, writing, math, and, in general, for students with learning differences
• Trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach
• Strong knowledge base in the area of learning differences, especially Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia, as well as an extensive knowledge base regarding ADHD
• A strong repertoire of instructional strategies for students with language-based learning disabilities and/or executive function challenges
• Experience in assessment and test interpretation; familiarity with standardized and informal assessments commonly used when identifying students with reading, writing, math, and processing challenges
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong team player who thinks strategically, inspires and motivates others, has a growth mindset, and naturally takes initiative
• A joyful and positive disposition; recognizes the potential of every individual child

About St. Anne's School of Annapolis

St. Anne’s School of Annapolis invests in the intellectual and spiritual promise of each student in a community that celebrates diversity and upholds the dignity of every human being. We challenge students to think critically and creatively, to know themselves as learners, and to govern their lives with confidence, compassion, and integrity. St. Anne's School draws from its Episcopal tradition as an independent, co-educational school, serving students in Twos through Eighth Grade. St. Anne’s School is committed to equity and justice and aspires to be a community in which every member feels engaged, heard, and valued. We embrace the contributions of all members of our community as we foster a culture of respect. Sharing perspectives and experiences beyond our own boundaries through exploration, introspection, and civil discourse is integral to our mission of creating an inclusive learning environment. St. Anne's School of Annapolis does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability or national origin in admissions, employment or educational policies. We value diversity and embrace the fundamental Episcopal belief in the... dignity of each human being. We are committed to helping our school community understand and appreciate human differences and similarities.

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Connections working at St. Anne's School of Annapolis