Elementary School Learning Specialist

Headwaters School, a Pre-K through grade 12 independent day school serving over 520 students across its three campuses in Austin, TX, is seeking a full time Elementary School Learning Specialist for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

At Headwaters, our faculty and staff nurture a school culture that promotes a growth mindset, a collaborative spirit, a joyful environment, and the achievement of high expectations. Our faculty and staff ensure all members of our school community understand their role in advancing issues of justice, equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. Headwaters School supports the professional growth of our school employees in order to contribute to their feelings of fulfillment, to provide a model of lifelong learning for our students, and to advance the strategic goals of the school.

Our faculty and staff are responsible for bringing our Purpose statement to life: to cultivate identity formation, foster empathy, and embrace diversity to bring more peace to the world. In addition, they guide our students to live authentically, think expansively, and create bravely. We invite our students, guides, staff, parents, and trustees to be Peacemakers, Advocates, Creators, and Thinkers.

The Learning Specialist works collaboratively with academic leadership, our faculty, our students and families. Our ideal candidate will have a Master’s degree in Special Education. The Learning Specialist reports directly to our Elementary School Director. 

Job Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Special Education or a related field, preferred
• Minimum of 3 years managing student support services
• Possess significant knowledge of neurodiversity, diagnostic assessment processes, writing action plans in collaboration with faculty members, and student support case management 
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Passion for working with elementary school-aged children
• Ability to problem-solve complex student issues with professionalism and discretion
• Strong commitment to equity, inclusion and belonging practices 
• Commitment to personal and professional development
• Operates with a high level of integrity, professionalism and organization
• Experience integrating technology in pedagogy and the classroom
• Highly motivated with a growth mindset
• Capable of working independently while thriving in a collaborative environment

The Learning Specialist is responsible for the following:

 Case Management

• Meet with faculty and families to provide feedback and recommendations to communicate next steps including action plans, accommodations, and/or evals
• Advocate to ensure that students receive the resources and support they need to succeed.
• Participate in meetings and discussions to help develop appropriate accommodations.
• Interpret evaluation/assessment results and recommendations and incorporate into action plans as needed

Assessment of Student Needs

• Observe students who are demonstrating academic or behavioral difficulties to assess learning strengths and challenges
• Administer MAP and DIBELS to help identify strengths and learning needs.
• Interpret assessment data to design individualized plans for students.
• Regularly assess the effectiveness of interventions and instructional methods.
• Maintain detailed records of student progress and outcomes.
• Use data to refine teaching approaches and improve student performance.

Direct Student Support

• Deliver small-group or one-on-one instruction to address specific academic challenges.
• Use evidence-based strategies to support foundational skills
• Identify learners who need small group testing environments

Faculty Collaboration

• Develop action plans for students in collaboration with faculty.
• Support faculty members in differentiating instruction for diverse learners.
• Co-teaching or modeling effective instructional techniques.
• Attend weekly faculty meetings

Professional Development and Parent Education 

• Lead workshops or training sessions for faculty on best practices for addressing diverse learning needs.
• Lead parent education presentations 
• Share knowledge of new educational research, tools, and strategies.

• Advocate for students with diverse learning profiles.
• Help create classroom environments that celebrate neurodiversity and encourage participation from all students.

• Keeping up-to-date with the latest research in education and child development.
• Attending conferences, workshops, or certification programs to enhance expertise.

This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position and compensation is competitive for the greater Austin area. The School offers a wide-range of benefits including generous paid time off, 100% paid medical insurance for the employee, 401(k) retirement plan, on-going professional support and continuing education opportunities, and a unique working environment where you are able to share and receive ongoing feedback. This position reports to the Elementary School Director.

Interested applicants should email a resume, cover letter, and statement of educational philosophy to Leslie Hirsch, Director of Human Resources at hr@headwaters.org to apply or visit our school website at https://www.headwaters.org/page/about/employment.

Headwaters School welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. As a 501(c)3 non-profit school, Headwaters provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local anti-discrimination law. The School’s equal employment opportunity practices extend to recruitment, hiring, selection, compensation, benefits, transfer, promotion, training, discipline, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. All Employees are responsible for complying with the School’s equal employment opportunity policy.

Salary : $65,000