The Hudson School

Position: Learning Specialist

Location: 422 Willow Avenue

Full-time position starting in the 2025-2026 school year

Under the supervision of the Lower School Head, the Learning Specialist at The Hudson School works to promote the school’s mission with students. This position will interact primarily with lower school students in grades PK-4 but may also work in tandem with the middle and upper school counselors for specific cases in other grades. 

Mission: The Hudson School provides intellectually inquisitive students with a rigorous and relevant college-preparatory education that inspires independent thinking and intellectual risk-taking. Our goal is to develop compassionate, responsible, principled citizens who are socially conscious and committed to lifelong learning and service. The school fosters an eclectic and supportive environment that challenges students and faculty to develop their passions and talents through a stimulating, balanced and creative interdisciplinary curriculum.

Essential Qualities

Teacher knowledge and skills work together with teacher dispositions (which include beliefs, values, attitudes, aspirations, motivation) to promote positive outcomes in the life of each student.  The work of any teacher or specialist at The Hudson School is to grow and demonstrate the following characteristics that lead to effective teaching (Stronge, 2018) and ultimately student development, growth and achievement. 

Professional Knowledge

A learning specialist works to maintain an understanding of the curriculum, best practices for assessment and instruction, and students’ developmental needs and therefore provides relevant learning experiences for all students.  This will include an understanding of Universal Design for Learning, as well as learning disabilities, child development, and the science of reading and learning. A learning specialist supports and leads professional development for all teachers in areas of behavior, development, assessment and data, and learning strategies, among other topics.  

Learning Specialist  Additional Responsibilities

Many learning specialist  responsibilities fall into these areas:

• Observation and assessment of student learning needs and progress.
• Design of instructional support systems for struggling learners.
• Coordination of support services and funding (paraprofessionals, supplemental and compensatory education, speech, counseling, occupational therapy, ESL instruction, tutoring, behavioral therapy, etc.) through Hoboken Board of Education.  Train new support staff and orient them to the needs of students in the school culture. Maintain a working relationship with the Board of Education and other service providers. 
• Supervision/safety: supervise park time, snack, lunch, quiet/rest time and/or study hall periods on a regular basis.
• Record-keeping and documentation 
• Communication with families
• Collaboration and collegiality, and professionalism maintained through proactive planning and communication
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging: model inclusive practices to welcome and affirm diverse students and families and support anti-bias, anti-racist, and anti-bullying strategies in instruction and classroom management

Additional Considerations

Evaluation/Professional Growth

• Learning specialists participate in a cycle of evaluation that is outlined in the handbook. 
• Teachers will participate in professional development sessions as determined in collaboration with school leadership
• Teachers may be required to participate in courses in Abuse Prevention, First Aid, CPR, and/or medical administration at the expense of the school and as requested by the school

Qualifications

The Hudson School learning specialists will generally have at least the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university acquired or in progress or equivalent experience, preferably in special education. A master’s degree in a related field is preferred.
• Have a deep interest in children and ability to connect with them
• Be able to clearly communicate verbally and in writing in English
• Be able to collaborate with others in an open way
• Be able to work both indoors and outdoors
• Be able to bend or kneel to facilitate communication with young children, climb multiple flights of stairs while supervising children, and maintain a high level of activity while supervising children
• Treat all members of the The Hudson School community with respect and civility
• Upon employment, be able to pass criminal background checks.

About The Hudson School

Founded in 1978, The Hudson School in Hoboken NJ provides intellectually inquisitive students in grades PK-12 with a rigorous and relevant college-preparatory education that inspires independent thinking and intellectual risk-taking. Our goal is to develop compassionate, responsible, principled citizens, who are socially conscious and committed to lifelong learning and service. The school fosters an eclectic and supportive environment that challenges students and faculty to develop their passions and talents through a stimulating, balanced and creative interdisciplinary curriculum. Since our inception, we have been committed to a need-blind admission policy. The Hudson School accepts students from diverse economic and ethnic backgrounds based on their academic promise and intellectual curiosity, rather than their financial ability. We began with 18 middle school students in 1978 (of whom 12 received scholarships through the generosity of the Geraldine Dodge Foundation) and now include 195 students in grades 5 – 12. We continue to admit every qualified student for whom we have room and do whatever we can to help that child’s family meet the costs of sending their child to our s...chool. In 2024-2025 we will begin a new chapter by the addition of a lower school. We are merging with Mustard Seed School in Hoboken to become the only PK-12 independent school in Hudson County.

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Connections working at The Hudson School