Program Overview

Middle schools recognize, celebrate, and respond to the rapid change in the growth and development of students during this unique period of life. This rate of change happens only one other time in a person’s life - birth to age 3. Students’ brains grow and change rapidly during this time, moving them from concrete thinkers towards abstract thinkers. On the other hand, students’ social and emotional maturity does not always keep pace with their physical maturity, thus creating dissonance between how they are perceived and what they are asked to manage on their own. There is a healthy tension as students begin to explore their identity of who they are as learners and as emerging young adults and who they want to become. Students also begin to discover their passions and define their moral compass as they continue to step toward independence. Marshall’s middle school faculty understand this and design a holistic program that is responsive and nurturing for students, helping them build the skills and confidence they will need to be successful learners who embrace a growth mindset, and who are ready for the next phase of their journey.

Position Overview 

Marshall’s learning specialists proactively partner with teachers and administrators to support student learning, especially students with learning differences. They possess a passion for supporting students with diagnosed and undiagnosed learning differences to be effective learners. In addition to serving as a learning specialist, the teacher may be asked to teach classes, lead professional development, and serve as an advisor to a small group of students, overseeing academic progress, providing support and encouragement, and helping plan and ensure progress in grade-level programs. 

Primary Responsibilities 

Learning Specialist

• Proactively works with faculty and administration to support students with learning differences and teachers in their efforts to advance students with learning needs.
• Observe and evaluate individual students displaying academic difficulties and assess their learning strengths and challenges.
• Provide direct academic support for all students.
• Reviews psychoeducational evaluations and other assessments to support students and teachers in their support of students 
• Develop and write an accommodation plan for students who have diagnosed learning differences. 
• Initiate and schedule parent conferences as needed.
• Coordinate and facilitate communication between student, family, school, and other involved professionals.

Advisor Role

• Support the anchors of Marshall’s Advisory program:
• Relationship and culture building
• Develop a culture of being a member of a crew 
• Build a sense of community within the crew
• Academic Advising
• Monitor and support student progress
• Help advisees establish learning goals
• Review progress toward goals with advisees regularly
• Support the development of executive functioning skills and other essential study skills that will ensure a successful learning experience
• Wellness skill development
• Help students develop skills to maintain social and emotional wellness
• Communicate regularly with parents  

Student Life Role

• Participate fully in the life of students while at school, including supervision responsibilities and shared duties among teachers in the middle school division.
• Report concerns about student welfare to school administrators, learning specialists, and/or counselors. 
• Engage in forming connections and building community by coaching/advising athletics teams, co-curricular offerings and student-led clubs, organizations, and activities.

Community-builder Role

• Design experiences for students to gain social-emotional skills, including self-awareness, social awareness, responsible and ethical decision making, self-management, and relationship skills
• Strengthen relationships of belonging, openness, and vulnerability
• Develop an understanding of historic circumstances and injustices in order to acknowledge its impact and promote the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion

Safety Role

• Implement Marshall School policies and procedures and follow safety protocols to ensure the health and safety of students.
• Exercise good judgment when proposing and supervising activities to ensure the safety of students
• Communicate with supervisors any safety concerns or incidents in a timely fashion.

Networker Role

• Collaborate with different departments at Marshall School and within the local community to ensure an  effective delivery of program elements
• Seek ideas and local resources to augment the program and lessons
• Regularly check a variety of sources for professional development: conferences, literature, colleagues, etc.
• Share new ideas, approaches, activities.

Technology Role:

• Demonstrate a growth mindset with regards to technology in education, regularly sharing and discussing technology best practices with peers

Program Development Role

• Strive for continuous school improvement and articulate and advance school Mission, values, and beliefs
• Work effectively as a team member in planning, shared decision making, and problem solving

 Secondary Roles and Responsibilities

• Collaborate and coordinate with other departments within Marshall School
• Participate in other duties as assigned. 

Required Skills

• Knowledge of learning disabilities, psycho-educational tests, reports, and assistive technology. 
• Knowledge of administering and interpreting assessments and test results, academic achievement, and diagnostic testing.
• Understanding of differentiated instructional strategies across the curriculum.
• Growth mindset-oriented with an ability to give and receive feedback for positive change
• Excellent leadership, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Flexible, adaptable, and open to change.
• Strong personal motivation, initiative, follow through, and commitment.
• Ability to work both independently and cooperatively as a team member and give and receive both positive and constructive feedback.
• Strong and effective communicator, both written and oral.
• Tactful and discreet.

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelors degree with training in special education
• A strong desire to work closely with students and colleagues in and out of the classroom. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Masters or doctoral degree special education or a related field
• 2+ years of teaching experience
  
  

Marshall School is committed to equitable hiring practices, and enthusiastically encourages professionals of all backgrounds to apply. A benefits summary can be reviewed here. Salary range is based on years of experience:

00-10 years $34,619 - $48,691/year    

11-20 years $47,340 - $56,908/year    

21-30 years $55,214 - $65,035/year    

31-40 years $61,055 - $69,163/year    

Interested candidates should click here to formally apply for this position.  Please upload and include a cover letter, resume, transcripts, and at least three professional references.

Marshall School is an equal opportunity employer.

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelors degree with training in special education
• A strong desire to work closely with students and colleagues in and out of the classroom. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Masters or doctoral degree special education or a related field
• 2+ years of teaching experience

About Marshall School

Founded in 1904, Marshall School is an independent day school and international boarding school in scenic Duluth, Minnesota. Marshall is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of Central States and exists as a closely-knit community of approximately 400 students age 4 through grade 12. We believe in a welcoming environment of trust, creativity, and adaptability focused on development of character, high academic expectations, and supportive community - where highly-qualified staff have flexibility and freedom to meet each student where they’re at, and where every student is guided along their own individual journey to success. Possibility thrives here.

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