POSITION OBJECTIVE

A major responsibility of this position is to provide a learning assistance program related to the needs of the students with a diagnosed learning disability, and related disorders, in the Upper School.

QUALIFYING CHARACTERISTICS

• Master’s degree and educational diagnostic experience preferred
• Experience requesting accommodations from College Board and/or ACT preferred
• A minimum of five years teaching and diagnostic experience, preferably in an independent school environment
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Demonstrated leadership and facilitative skills
• Ability to interact with parents, faculty, and staff
• Ability to handle confidential material and situations with discretion and sensitivity
• Strong ability to work collegially with the Division student support team (SST)
• Able to set goals and accept professional feedback
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Internet functions
• Must be able to perform the physical requirements of the position

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.

• Implements goals and objectives of the Academic Assistance Program related to the needs of students, faculty, and parents
• Collaborates with the other Parish Episcopal School Learning Specialists to develop and to maintain a learning assistance program for the Upper School Division that can be integrated as a sequential learning assistance program across divisions (Lower, Middle, and Upper Divisions)
• Creates a listing of community resources/services/agencies/ and outside specialists/professionals and develops and maintains a strong networking relationship with these resources
• Communicates effectively and on a timely basis with the Division Heads regarding learning assistance related issues involving students, parents, and teachers and creates ways to keep the Division Heads updated and informed
• Reviews and interprets all psych educational testing, other medical reports, and creates for each student with a DSM/ICD diagnosis an Individual Accommodation Plan for the Upper School; also updates accommodation plans every three years, and updates accommodation plans as needed for College Board and ACT applications for accommodations
• Coordinates with faculty extended time testing where indicated
• Adheres to the laws, policies, procedures, and ethical standards of the learning assistance profession
• Coordinates, initiates, and implements all responsibilities of the primary SSD Coordinator for College Board and ACT for Parish students
• Works collaboratively with Lead Testing Coordinator for all standardized testing in the high school
• Obtains student accommodations for standardized testing-College Board and ACT
• Coordinates, supervises, and administers the PSAT, PACT, and AP standardized testing programs for students with accommodations
• Coordinates and supervises SAT and ACT School Based testing available for students who meet the requirements (may include personally administering some standardized tests on weekends, and/or engaging proctors from faculty/staff/sub lists)
• Attends professional development programs and training and uses available technology resources to enhance the learning assistance program
• Acts as an on-going, effective advocate for students
• Works individually with students to plan for student success within a variety of formats and strategies to meet individual student needs (it is helpful to reach out to rising freshmen and any new students each year to communicate about accommodation plans and self-advocating)
• Uses appropriate learning assistance techniques and strategies including identifying/defining problems and exploring alternative solutions
• Collaborates with Head of Upper School for Academics and Upper School Guidance counselor to provide overall student support
• Informs and collaborates as needed with Director of The Gilman Study (specific for ParishLink and ParishLab) the needs of Upper School students requesting on campus academic coaching/tutoring support
• Admission Committee participation for upper school including attending events, admissions interviews, and reviewing of applicant files
• Maintain electronic files of all upper school students’ diagnostic reports, medical records, accommodation plans for current and past students for at least 10 years (plus paper files for current students) (it is helpful to include ACT and College Board decision letters)
• Provides fall presentations in freshman seminars on study skills and test preparation

Involvement with Faculty/Staff

• Communicates effectively and on a timely basis with the faculty regarding the accommodations of students
• Provides initial information/reminders about accommodations and strategies at first-of-year division meeting via a brief presentation
• Posts learning profiles on the portal in a timely manner and keeps them updated
• Develops recommendations and strategies regarding students and communicates the information to the Upper School
• Assists teachers in understanding the academic, organizational, and accommodation needs of students
• Provides staff with a variety of resources to meet the individual needs of students
• Collaborates with teachers regarding specific classroom problems (e.g., academic needs, organizational needs, accommodations, test preparation needs, self-esteem), and assists teachers regarding implementation of accommodations and strategies

 Involvement with Parents

• Communicates effectively and on a timely basis with parents regarding student issues or concerns
• Meets with parents of rising freshmen and parents of any new students to setup accommodation plans and discuss student support as well as plans for applications to College Board and ACT during the high school years
• Provides information to parents (both orally and in writing) that enables them to better understand their child’s individual needs and the accommodations that Parish Episcopal provides to students with a formal diagnosed learning disability or related disorders
• Initiates all necessary correspondence to parents regarding psychoeducational testing (including necessary updates to Psychoeducational testing), medical updates, accommodation plans, and applications for accommodations on college entrance exams and AP exams
• Provides direction/support to seniors and their parents in requesting accommodations at college

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• No supervisory duties assigned. All school employees have some responsibility for supervising students and assisting in maintaining a safe environment.

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 Upper School Night, Admission Open House, Class Retreat

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Stand, walk, and/or sit, bend for an extended period of time
• Occasionally lift and carry up to twenty (20) pounds
• Grasp, reach, and manipulate objects with hands for an extended period of time
• Able to communicate orally, in English
• Operate the following office equipment: Telephone, copier, computer, printer
•  

The above description covers the most significant duties performed but does not exclude assignments not mentioned.

QUALIFYING CHARACTERISTICS

• Master’s degree and educational diagnostic experience preferred
• Experience requesting accommodations from College Board and/or ACT preferred
• A minimum of five years teaching and diagnostic experience, preferably in an independent school environment
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Demonstrated leadership and facilitative skills
• Ability to interact with parents, faculty, and staff
• Ability to handle confidential material and situations with discretion and sensitivity
• Strong ability to work collegially with the Division student support team (SST)
• Able to set goals and accept professional feedback
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Internet functions
• Must be able to perform the physical requirements of the position

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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