JOB TITLE: Middle School Language Teacher 

REPORTS TO: Director of Middle School 

DIRECTLY SUPERVISES: None 

STATUS: Salary, 40 hours/week, Teacher Contract 

JOB SUMMARY: The Secondary Language Teacher uses research and evidence-based methodology infused with joyful learning to support students' reading and literacy development, use of technology, and positive self-identity.  The ideal candidate provides targeted language instruction that reflects the principles and practices of Structured  Literacy. The ideal candidate strives to work as a collaborative team member to instruct and support students in  Middle School (6th-8th grades) with mild to moderate learning disabilities by utilizing curriculum materials adopted by the school and appropriate supplemental and teacher-made materials. This position will play a critical role in partnering with the Middle School Director and Department Chair. 

The Briarwood School offers a competitive health insurance program, retirement benefits, paid time off, and robust professional development opportunities. 

The Briarwood Philosophy 

"Every student can learn, and every student has the right to be taught in the way he or she learns best." 

The Briarwood Core Values 

Community through Connections 

Our school community is a diverse group of learners who treat each other with kindness and respect. We value the connections that our faculty and staff make with our students. 

We value our partnerships with families. 

We strive to ensure that our community offers academic, social, and emotional growth opportunities. 

Transformation through Confidence 

Our faculty creates a structured and challenging academic environment. They hold themselves and their students accountable as they build confident, self-advocating learners prepared for an ever-challenging and complex world. We set high expectations for social behavior and academic success, which students attain through perseverance and a growth mindset. 

Each candidate is expected to understand and support the Briarwood Teaching Philosophy and Core Values. 

The Briarwood School is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.  Briarwood prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, disability,  religion, age, or any other protected characteristic outlined by federal, state, or local laws.  

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion,  termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. The Briarwood  School makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time. 

DETAILED RESPONSIBILITIES & ACTIVITIES (Including Physical Function):

• Commitment to Briarwood’s mission, purpose, and culture.
• Strive to inspire a love of the field of study in students.
• Partner proactively with faculty and administration to support students with Dyslexia and LD and teachers in their efforts to advance students with learning differences.
• Observe and evaluate individual students displaying academic or behavioral difficulties and assess their learning strengths and challenges.
• Direct one-on-one and small-group instruction.
• Prepare lesson plans.
• Document progress and assist with students' goals.
• Developing and issuing educational content, including notes, tests, and assignments.
• Supervising classes to ensure all students are learning in a safe and productive environment.
• Organizing supplies and resources for lectures and presentations.
• Delivering personalized instruction to each student by encouraging interactive learning.
• Planning and implementing educational activities and events. 
• Ensure your classroom is clean and orderly.
• Creating a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement, and self-motivation.
• Experience developing student-centered, differentiated lessons that provide students multiple venues to acquire and demonstrate knowledge.
• Excitement for and a growth-mindset of continuous development as a teacher through professional development opportunities, both internal and external.
• A mind toward contributing to school life through coaching, clubs, and advising.
• Willingness and experience in interdepartmental and cross-curricular collaboration with fellow members of the English department and/or divisional colleagues.
• Encouraging the use of technology as a teaching and support tool in the classroom.
• Preparing and distributing periodic progress reports and semester report cards.
• Attending parent-teacher meetings.
• Evaluating and documenting student progress.
• Allocating and grading homework, assignments, and tests. 
• Work with parents, faculty, and division heads when academic concerns arise regarding students.
• Implement a focus on technology use and adoption within the school.
• Represent the school at educational conferences and associations.
• Participate in any accreditation process for the school.
• Attend all staff meetings and staff retreats.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Middle School or the Head of School. 

Education: Bachelor’s Degree; Teacher Certification, with a State Certification in the field. 

Experience:

• Background in Orton-Gillingham methodology preferred; Wilson Reading System familiarity/training preferred. 
• Extensive experience and training with dyslexia, executive functions, and assistive technology are strongly preferred.
• 3-5 years as a language teacher, dyslexia interventionist, or related role preferred.
• Willingness and eagerness to work with students in grades 6-8 with learning disabilities.
• Affiliation with professional organizations, including but not limited to ASHA, IDA, HBIDA, etc., is preferred.
• Experience in independent schools.
• Exceptionally capable in both written and oral communication.
• Excellent organizational and presentation skills. 
• Technologically savvy, Google Suite.
• Working with students with diagnosed learning disabilities and dyslexia. 
• Proven success at working collaboratively. 

Physical Abilities: Maintain physical ability to complete all essential functions and activities of the position. 

About The Briarwood School

The Briarwood School is a not-for-profit, independent co-ed day school devoted to educating students in grades K-12 with diagnosed learning disabilities, language disorders and/or ADHD. Founded in 1967 and accredited by Cognia, The Briarwood School serves over 300 students in small class sizes of 10 or fewer students. All of the students in Lower, Middle and Upper Schools demonstrate average to above-average intelligence with a broad range of learning disabilities that include dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, speech/language disorders, along with written and expressive language disorders. Additional diagnoses addressed through accommodations include attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and processing disorders as they relate to academic issues. The Briarwood School is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Briarwood prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

Connections working at The Briarwood School