Substitute Specialist

The Atlanta Speech School

Substitute Specialist

Start Date: August 2025

The provides an unmatched opportunity to learn from both peers and experts in the field, and to contribute to the School’s growing body of knowledge. Beyond seeking proficiency, we work to construct a Deep Reading Brain for each child at the School, and, through our Rollins Center for Language & Literacy, every child beyond the school. Deep reading requires learning to make connections between what we read to what we think, feel, and do. Through deep reading, children develop empathy, hone critical thinking, and go on to make the greatest possible difference in the lives of others.

• We believe in connection over compliance. Rather than silencing children, we teach them to listen - and to think, to question, and to solve.
• Our staff works together to know and serve each child from within an intentional learning ecosystem that is as joyful as it is rigorous.
• Our practices are grounded in structured literacy and built on the sciences of healthy brain development, language acquisition, and the construction of the Deep Reading Brain.  This work is intentionally centered around critical thinking, empathy, problem solving and the development of executive functions.

We are committed to providing a community through which all our students, families, and staff show up safely as themselves and for each other. As stewards of this environment, it is our responsibility to ensure safety extends to every person, inclusive of all races /ethnicities, religions, genders, family structures, sexual orientations, and any other aspect of their identity.

The School has never turned away a child in need of services based on their family’s financial circumstances.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Atlanta Speech School is seeking an organized and dependable Substitute Specialist to begin August 2025. As a school that always challenges itself to grow in our ability to achieve our mission, we seek a candidate who embodies that same spirit of curiosity and tolerance, commitment to excellence, and ability to both innovate and execute. All work is accomplished in the context of reflecting the highest standards in advancing the mission, values, and principles of the Atlanta Speech School.

The Substitute Specialist is responsible for filling temporary classroom vacancies when teachers are absent. It demands ongoing communication with substitute and classroom teachers to ensure that assignments and the classroom experiences are optimal for students. Providing each substitute teacher an orientation to the School and to his/her assigned classroom is a responsibility that is critical to the successful transition to the classroom. Managing the electronic communication system and training teachers and substitute teachers in its use are other key responsibilities of this position.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES:

· Fill the role of substitute teacher as first response to absences

· Manage the system for coordination and assignment of substitute teachers

· Maintain a pool of active, high quality substitute teachers

· Assign substitute teachers to fill all classroom needs

· Provide orientation to all substitute teachers

· Maintain ongoing communication with substitutes and teachers to maintain an efficient and effective system

· Inform directors of substitute teacher assignments in their respective departments

· Provide reports and feedback to teachers and coordinators

· Assist substitute teachers to obtain classroom materials if no lesson plans are available

· Maintain records for each substitute that will include, at minimum, attendance logs and feedback regarding his/her work performance

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

· Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university

· Demonstrated successful classroom experience, preferably with children with special needs

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Great interpersonal and organization skills

· Excellent computer skills

· Demonstrated ability to work independently

Soft Skills

• People person with a servant’s heart
• Attention to detail with a great sense of urgency
• Active listening skills with a vision for the future
• Anticipate needs of the department
• Self-starter who sees the big picture
• Adept at displaying grace under pressure
• Persistence with professionalism

Problem Solving Skills

• Excellent problem solving and people skills for collaboration
• Customer service oriented “can do” approach to work
• Ability to work independently with confidence

SALARY: $40,000

BENEFITS:

This 190-day, full-time position offers a generous benefit package including health/dental/life/vision and long-term disability insurance; the School subsidizes health insurance premiums for staff and families. Other benefits include Flexible Spending Account; 403(b) Plan; cost reduction of some Atlanta Speech School services; subsidized meals during working hours; and accrued sick leave.

TO APPLY:

Please provide a cover letter, resume, transcripts, and writing sample via e-mail. The writing sample should describe what you consider to be essential qualities that a teacher must possess to be effective. The sample should be no more than 500 words.

CONTACT:

Iris Goodson

Director of Human Resources
hr@atlantaspeechschool.org

Subject line: Substitute Specialist

Atlanta Speech School

Founded over 86 years ago, the Atlanta Speech School has evolved into four school divisions, four clinical programs, Rollins Center for Language & Literacy professional development program and Rollins’ free online Cox Campus. Across all our programs we are driven to ensure that each child can find their voice. The School has never turned away a child in need of our specialized services based on their family’s financial circumstances.

We are the educational equivalent of a teaching hospital. With our vision of literacy and justice for all, we lead equity-based change by extending our work beyond our campus. What occurs in the classroom for each child at the Atlanta Speech School is made available to every teacher by way of our free online professional learning platform, Cox Campus. Cox Campus’ membership is composed of more than 270,000 educators, leaders, healthcare professionals and parents representing fifty states and 100 countries.

The School, across all its programs, attracts a staff of the most gifted and committed teaching professionals who apply the research of the nation’s leading experts on early healthy brain development, language acquisition and Deep Reading Brain.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $40,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $40,000