Charlotte, North Carolina
Posted: 27-Mar-26
Location: Lake Placid, New York
Type: Full Time
Salary: $30,000 - $45,000
Categories:
Required Education:
Internal Number: LSS
About North Country School & Camp Treetops
Located on the outskirts of Lake Placid, NY, Camp Treetops and North Country School sit on a 333-acre campus amid majestic mountain peaks in New York State’s Adirondack Park. Since 1921 and 1938, respectively, we have been nationally renowned for pioneering educational programs rooted in progressive practices and experiential learning. Both Camp and School guide children to engage the natural world, take on intellectual and physical challenges in a nurturing community, and cultivate independence and creativity.
Position Overview
This Learning Support Specialist will assist in supporting our middle school students and their unique learning styles. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated skills and experience in evaluating and aiding children with various learning strengths and challenges. This teacher will be responsible for teaching a full course load of learning support classes as well as serving as a houseparent. A candidate must also demonstrate excellent communication and collaboration skills, creativity, and a high degree of self-direction and flexibility.
Major Responsibilities
1) Student Relationships
- Creating an inclusive, welcoming, learning-motivated classroom environment where students’ voices are celebrated.
- Be attuned to the specific learning needs and social and emotional development of each student.
- Serve as a houseparent in a house of 8-12 students; provide instruction in health, wellness, and character education while coaching, mentoring, and counseling.
- Provide academic support for students outside of class time (answering homework questions, providing extra writing help, etc.), as needed.
2) Learning
- Facilitate age-appropriate exploratory, investigative, and challenging instruction.
- Plan instruction that inspires enthusiasm and confidence.
- Bring Experience with skill-building strategies and tools of learning support such as mnemonics, graphic organizers, webs and two column notes for enhancing comprehension, visualizing, making inferences, drawing conclusions and synthesizing information
- Create learning experiences by incorporating a range of instruction modalities.
- Assess understanding using a variety of formative and summative assessments.
- Utilize assessment feedback to adjust instruction and continuously improve student learning.
- Use technology creatively and effectively in a one-to-one laptop environment.
- Attend and collaborate in the organization of annual overnight educational trips.
- Actively pursue student-centered professional learning opportunities aligned with school goals and initiatives.
3) Community
- Active collaboration with other middle school teachers, educators, and specialist teachers to develop curriculum, plan trips, interdisciplinary learning opportunities, and special projects.
- Communicate regularly with parents regarding curriculum, student progress, and course placements.
- Be a positive and contributing member of the school community.
- Supervise students in other roles such as recess, lunch, field trips, etc.
- Participate actively in department, grade-level team, and faculty meetings as scheduled.
- Pursue relevant opportunities for professional growth and development.
How You Will Spend Your Time
Residential & Community Life (50%)
Our community is the heart of the student experience, and your role as a positive, contributing member is key to sustaining it. You will:
- Be a houseparent for 8-12 students, acting as a trusted adult and providing instruction in health, wellness, and character education while coaching, mentoring, and counseling.
- Partake in community work during work jobs and chores alongside students across campus—these can range from barn chores on our working educational farm to other contributions across campus that sustain our community.
- Plan and lead outdoor trips and activities like rock climbing, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, overnight hiking and camping, and many other activities that support our co-curricular focus on experiential learning.
- Lead “out-times” or daily recess periods that you facilitate and supervise, as well as weekend trips that take students off campus to immerse students in all our surrounding Adirondack region has to offer.
- Serve as an advisor for up to 5 students.
Teaching and/or supporting classes during the school day (40%)
As a key member of our tight-knit faculty, the bulk of your work will revolve around creating an inclusive, welcoming, learning-motivated classroom environment where students’ voices are celebrated. This includes facilitating age-appropriate exploratory, investigative, and challenging instruction while using technology creatively and effectively in a one-to-one laptop environment and incorporating a range of instruction modalities. Throughout, staying attuned to the specific learning needs and social and emotional development of each student will be essential.
Professional Development & Growth (10%)
Embedded within your teaching position will be a number of professional development opportunities and opportunities for building your skills. This includes active collaboration with other middle school teachers, educators, and specialist teachers to develop our curriculum, multidisciplinary learning opportunities, and special projects.
The Benefits of Working Here
In addition to a salary of $30,000-$45,000 (based on experience), you will enjoy:
- Housing
- Health insurance
- Personal time off during school vacations
- Vegetables and food from the farm when in season
- Seasonally sourced daily meals
- On-campus access to miles of walking/hiking/skiing trails, rock climbing crag, and ski hill
- Access to on-campus shop and studio spaces
How to Apply
To apply, please compile a cover letter, resume, and references, and submit them through this survey. All candidates will be required to complete a nationwide criminal background check.
Our Mission and Values
North Country School & Camp Treetops strive to create a diverse and inclusive community that gives children the self-confidence, knowledge, skills, and values to lead fulfilling and productive lives while contributing to a more equitable and sustainable world.
We are a values-driven community and seek to have a positive impact on the world around us by living out our core values on and off campus:
- Cultivate Community: We believe in the inherent value and contributions of every person, and in fostering connections to build and nurture a strong, inclusive community.
- Walk a Mile: We believe that understanding and honoring every person’s unique worldview, experiences, and challenges is at the root of empathy and compassion.
- Dig Deep, Keep Growing: We believe that by setting ambitious goals, working hard, and persevering, we build strength and character and set a course for lives of growth, purpose, and fulfillment.
- Stay Curious: We believe in the power of creativity and wonder. We believe that curiosity about ourselves, other people, and the world around us leads to growth, innovation, and sometimes unconventional ideas.
- Our Planet, Our Job: We believe in individual and collective responsibility for our planet, and in leading by example as a community that works to respect, protect, and restore the natural world.
WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Applicants and employees are considered for positions and are evaluated without regard to mental or physical disability, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status or any other protected Federal, State/Province or Local status unrelated to the performance of the work involved.
The Skills You Bring to Our Community
- Bachelor’s degree; a degree in middle school education and/or special education, and/or experience in providing Orton-Gillingham services is preferred
- Previous teaching experience, especially previous experience teaching learning support classes at the elementary, middle, or high school level
- Prior experience in, or a willingness to be a part of, the residential life programming and mentoring students grades 4-9 in a boarding school setting
- Prior experience in, or a willingness to embrace, outdoor education and participate in activities like hiking, skiing, and working on our educational farm
- Passion for, or interest in, progressive education and experiential, hands-on learning
The Values You Bring to Our Community
- Enthusiasm for working with children in grades 4-9 and fostering their curiosity
- Deep appreciation for community and working with others
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
- Adaptability, curiosity, and a willingness to learn
- A passion for outdoor activities, including hiking, skiing, and farm-based activities
- A growth mindset and openness challenge
- Warmth, kindness, empathy, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone
- Independence and ability to be a self-starter