Lower School Learning Specialist

JOB SUMMARY

The Lower School Learning Specialist position is a full-time 9.5 month position and reports directly to the Head of Lower School. Major responsibilities of the position are to identify and support Parish Episcopal School Students with learning differences and provide appropriate interventions based on educational best practices. The Learning Specialist makes referrals for diagnostic evaluations, assists parents and faculty in interpreting evaluation results, creates individual accommodation plans for students, and helps faculty to implement the accommodation plans effectively.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

• Collaborate with the other Parish Episcopal School Learning Specialists to develop and to maintain a learning assistance program for the LS Division that can be integrated as a sequential learning assistance program across divisions (Lower, Middle, and Upper Divisions).
• Create a listing of community resources/services/agencies/ and outside specialists/professionals and develop and maintain a strong networking relationship with these resources.
• Communicate effectively and on a timely basis with the Division Head regarding learning assistance related issues involving students, parents, and teachers and meet monthly with the Division Head, to keep the Division Head updated and informed.
• Review and interpret all psychoeducational testing, other medical reports, and create for each student with a DSM diagnosis an Individual Accommodation Plan (IAP) for the Lower School; also update accommodation plans yearly.
• Coordinate with faculty for extended time testing as appropriate and necessary.
• Remain current with best practices in the field of student support services and diverse learners.
• Select and demonstrate appropriate learning assistance models and techniques to provide individual and group assistance to students relative to academic related issues, organizational issues, and extended time, where indicated.
• Assist teachers in understanding the academic, organizational, and accommodation needs of students, including identifying and supporting students across tiers of intervention to ensure appropriate levels of assistance and differentiation.
• Assist teachers in individualizing instructional techniques, programs, and/or activities for students with academic, organizational, and accommodation needs.
• Provide staff with a variety of resources to meet the individual needs of students.
• Attend and participate in grade-level meetings to gather information on student progress and needs, monitor benchmarking data, and ensure appropriate support and interventions are in place.
• Provide staff development training on pertinent topics on staff development days, in designated division meetings, and during grade level planning meetings.
• Communicate effectively and on a timely basis with parents regarding student issues and concerns.
• Coordinate and schedule IAP meetings, initiate all necessary correspondence with parents regarding Psychoeducational testing, accommodation plans, and inform parents as to when an update to Psychoeducational testing is needed.
• Provide assistance to families as they navigate the evaluation process.
• Assist with extra-curricular activities and duties as assigned.
• Promote the school’s statement of mission and philosophy.
• Maintain professional credentials as required by Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) or other accrediting agencies.
• Perform assigned duties such as carpool, lunch, and recess duties.
• The use of technology in instruction is an expectation as well as being able to provide a basic level of support to students using classroom devices including iPads and Chromebooks. Additionally, candidates should be proficient in utilizing technology for administrative functions including, but not limited to, grading, attendance, resource sharing, and communications. 

MARGINAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Marginal duties of this position include the following. Employees in this position perform some or all of the following tasks. Other duties may be assigned.

• Attends Staff Development Meetings 
• Attends Chapel
• Attends Division Meetings
• Attends Department & Team Meetings
• Attends school events such as Lower School Night, Admission Open House, Field Trips/Class Trips
• Attends Student Support Meetings

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

• Master’s Degree or post graduate work preferred
• 3-5 years teaching experience preferred
• Experience with diagnostic evaluations and working with students with learning differences

Job Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

The candidate must have knowledge and experience in teaching students with learning differences. Involvement in student life is an expectation of all teachers. We are especially interested in candidates who have a strong interest and/or background in interdisciplinary work, differentiated instruction, and collaboration with colleagues. We seek candidates who have the interest in and ability to contribute to our extracurricular programs, including athletic coaching.

The candidate must have excellent communication skills and command of subject matter with tact in dealing with parents, other instructors, and children in a school setting. Must have experience working with children and demonstrate desire to do the same. Maintaining classroom structure, exercising good judgment, and setting good examples for students, and complying with school standards as they relate to faculty conduct are essential. Involvement in student life is an expectation of all faculty and staff including, but not limited to, lunchroom and carpool duties and field trip/class trip participation.

About Parish Episcopal School

Thank you for exploring the professional opportunities available at Parish Episcopal School. As a place that seeks to add value to the lives of the students in our community, we search for faculty members who possess a passion for their subject, an eagerness to build meaningful relationships with those they teach and a recognition of the important place that contemplation and reflection hold in the educational process. If you are committed to purposeful work and possess a spirit of possibility, I would invite you to learn more about Parish through our website and to apply for an appropriate position. Parish Episcopal School is an equal opportunity employer and affords equal opportunity to all applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other status protected by law.

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