New York, New York
Brooklyn, New York
Forest Hills, New York
New York, New York
New York, New York
Posted: 04-Jun-25
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Type: Full Time
Categories:
POSITION STATEMENT
Upper School Learning Specialist
Start Date: August 18, 2025
Union Status: Union
OVERVIEW
Brooklyn Friends School (BFS), a thriving Early Childhood - 12th grade school located in vibrant Downtown Brooklyn, seeks an Upper School Learning Specialist within a dynamic community of colleagues (BFS uses the all-inclusive term, colleagues, to refer to all rather than one that delineates faculty/staff). Founded in 1867, Brooklyn Friends School’s pillars of social justice, service learning/civic engagement, and Quakerism, serve as guideposts for our action-oriented collective work. Our school’s history has been illustrious and reflective of the expansive nature of human experiences. Guided by our mission, BFS provides a dynamic, diverse, and robust social/emotional environment and academic program that cultivates compassionate, intellectually curious, and confident changemakers. As a school, we affirm that human diversity includes, but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic class, family structure and physical ability, as well as diversity of thought, talents, and learning style. Brooklyn Friends School does not discriminate based on these characteristics or any characteristic prohibited by law and provides reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified colleagues and applicants. If you need an accommodation related to any part of the hiring process, please send an email to hiring@brooklynfriends.org.
This short video gives you a glimpse into our contemporary experience.
THE POSITION
The Upper School Learning Specialist will support the academic progress and achievement of students in our Learning Center and our classrooms. The Learning Specialist (LS) will help to ensure that all BFS students graduate as self-reliant, confident, resourceful learners, well-equipped to succeed in a vigorous high school, and college academic environment.
In partnership with the Head of Upper School, Assistant Heads of Upper School (9/10 & 11/12), Upper School Counselor, Dean of Student Engagement, and Student Support Team (SST), the LS supports student learning in a dynamic, student-focused, and socially and emotionally responsive academic environment in which teaching for understanding, integrity, and compassion are the guides.
The LS uses a variety of research-based methods to share and practice with students executive functioning skills, foundational and high-level mathematics skills, analytical thinking, writing and critical inquiry, as well as assist students with diagnosed learning differences. Additionally, the LS facilitates individual and small group faculty workshops in and out of the classroom to model, partner, and support faculty to differentiate instruction for all students, integrate metacognitive strategies for learning, and design and practice student-centered learning approaches.
Primary Responsibilities Include:
This position reports to the Head of Upper School.
- Work in partnership with the Student Support Team and Enrollment Management to support student learning for students with evaluations and academic challenges.
- Facilitate learning and support for faculty to enable teachers to differentiate instruction, integrate metacognitive strategies, teach toward mastery, and use student-centered methodologies across all subject areas and grade levels.
- Analyze, summarize, make accessible and constructive for teachers and families information regarding neuropsychological evaluations, psychoeducational evaluations, psychological evaluations, IESPs, and 504 Plans completed in consultation with the Upper School Psychologist to ensure a student’s social-emotional wellbeing and academic needs are communicated and supported appropriately.
- Apply for and work with the Assistant Head of Upper School to ensure proper and appropriate testing accommodations for all upper school, College Board, ACT, and International Baccalaureate exams.
- Coordinate occasional special testing at the School on the weekend for students with specific accommodations for the SAT and ACT.
- Provide 1:1 targeted support to students in the Learning Center.
- Provide academic support to students with evaluations through skill-building, metacognitive learning strategies, and direct curricular teaching.
- When appropriate, identify students with learning needs, facilitate their evaluation, design, share, and help teachers and students use an individualized support plan, or Strategy Letter, which may include a behavioral modification plan or a reentry plan after a medical leave or other extended absence.
- Work in partnership with the Department of Education to evaluate students and meet the support needs as mandated by their IEPs.
- Partner with parents to discuss their child’s learning needs and develop individualized support plans.
- Coordinate with outside programs through which students may obtain course credit to ensure that their academic requirements and needs are met.
- Collaborate with tutors to ensure students are adequately supported in and out of school.
- Promote equity and inclusion for students in all classrooms, and help to ensure support for all students regardless of financial means.
- Coordinate with the Middle School Leadership Team and Learning Specialists to ensure that upon entering the high school, students’ learning support needs can be and are appropriately met and their progress is closely monitored throughout their high school years at BFS.
- Collaborate with the Upper School Advisory Admissions Committee to assess BFS Upper School applicants and ensure each newly-admitted student requiring resources is appropriately supported.
- Participate in All-School Student Support Team, overseen by the All-School Learning Support and Well-Being Coordinators.
Qualifications and Characteristics Sought:
- Bachelor’s degree required (MA or PhD in related field preferred)
- Commitment to the School’s mission, values, and vision
- Has relevant experience in an Upper School setting
- Extensive knowledge of learning differences and strategies therein
- Experience administering a variety of assessments to track and support student growth
- Ability to create a learning environment that addresses and supports each student’s needs
- Ability to use technology to enhance the learning experience
- Ability to think ahead and plan for effective one-on-one or small group instruction
- Ability to organize and manage multiple priorities
- Experience leading professional development activities for teachers
- Strong working knowledge of the IEP process, 504s, and ISPs, and familiarity with neuropsychoeducational testing, individual academic plan processes, and reporting
- Interest in and willingness to use new and different educational approaches
- Demonstrates strong communication skills (oral and written)
- Approaches work with flexibility, patience, grace, connection, and a willingness to learn
- Demonstrates cultural competency and a commitment to diversity, equity, social justice, and inclusion
- Brings a passion and desire to create a joyful learning environment
- Respect for the life of the child
- Compassion, integrity, and open-mindedness in all interactions
- Collegiality, approachability, flexibility, and adaptability
- Ability to partner and collaborate across professional statuses, i.e., with all colleagues (i.e., staff, leadership, families, student body, local and national independent school communities, and the neighborhood community)
Physical Requirements of the Job:
- Must be able to work in a school environment including prolonged periods of sitting and standing.
- Must be able to stand, bend over, twist and reach to access file cabinets, bookshelves and navigate office and workstation spaces.
- Must be able to ambulate through hallways and classroom settings, including walking up stairs.
- Must be able to lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
Union Status: Union
Salary Range: $81,200 - $104,083
This salary range represents the expected annual salary range for this position. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we'll consider your education level, experience, and other job-related factors.
- Benefits: Colleagues may be eligible to participate in employment benefits including, but not limited to, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance. Benefits are subject to change at any time, and are subject to applicable plan documents.
To apply, please provide the following:
- Cover letter addressed to the Head of Upper School. Along with punctuating your interest and experience, your cover letter should also address how you feel that your professional journey aligns with our school’s Quaker values and pillars of social justice and civic engagement.
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae
- Statement of Education Philosophy
- List of three references (with emails, phone numbers, and relationship to you).
- Supporting materials are encouraged, including and letters of recommendation.
- Completed online application.
Please email the above attachments (if possible as a single PDF) to hiring@brooklynfriends.org and Head of Upper School lfernandez@brooklynfriends.org, and put US Learning Specialist in the subject line. Qualified candidates will be contacted after materials have been reviewed.
Brooklyn Friends School COVID-19 Vaccination Policy:
We appreciate your interest in employment at Brooklyn Friends School. We would like to note that the School has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, which requires all faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination.