What are the responsibilities and job description for the HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING SPECIALIST position at OAK HALL SCHOOL?
Oak Hall School is seeking a dynamic and collaborative Teaching and Learning Specialist to join our Upper School team. The Teaching and Learning Specialist will support and enhance the academic experience of students in the Upper School, with primary emphasis on serving students with academic and social-emotional learning differences. The Learning Specialist will provide support to the entire Upper School community through instruction, professional development, and parent resources.
Key Responsibilities:
Support Student Learning
- Read/interpret psychological evaluations to determine academic levels and needs
- In collaboration with faculty, staff, and families, identify students experiencing learning or behavioral social-emotional difficulties
- Observe identified/referred students in their regular classroom settings
- Assess the students individual skills and difficulties in consultation with teacher, parents, and others, as appropriate
- Develop individualized Student Accommodation or Support Plans for identified students, as appropriate
- Apply for academic accommodations for identified students with outside agencies such as ACT and College Board
- Support and facilitate make-up testing for upper school students
- Support the testing center for accommodated students as needed with proctoring or scheduling
- Oversee Study Halls for rising 9th grade students and those identified as needing an additional support period
Facilitate Professional Development
- Provide faculty and staff with general training on various learning styles, learning differences, and learning challenges
- Train faculty and staff on learning strategies that can be utilized to successfully manage these differences and challenges within the classroom setting
- Be a resource for faculty, staff, and parents on learning differences and differentiated instruction
- Assist teachers to implement individual Accommodation and Support Plans and other strategies to ensure improved learning of identified students balanced with the learning needs of the other students
- Work with individual teachers to adapt lessons to meet the needs of students
Communicate Clearly and Regularly to Support Student Success
- Work collaboratively with faculty, parents, and Specialists in the Middle and Lower Schools, as needed
- Recommend/refer students for formal evaluations, as needed, and liaise with outside professionals
- Communicate clearly and regularly with parents of students being directly served
- Work closely with the faculty, staff, and administration to ensure coordination of appropriate messaging regarding students with learning differences
- Participate in department meetings, as needed
Use Data to Drive Decisions and Actions
- Assist in the coordination of school wide standardized assessments such as CTP5 or division specific exams such as PreACT, PSAT/NMSQT, and AP exams.
- Monitor the progress of identified students and evaluate strategies for effectiveness
- Document and discontinue non-effective strategies and modify student Accommodation and Support Plans as needed
- Participate in parent meetings, as needed
- Keep accurate, thorough, and confidential records of all support services and communications
- Develop and maintain a keen understanding of laws, policies, procedures, and ethical standards as related to the needs of students with learning differences
- Stay abreast of current research and research-based practices on learning differences, strategies, and interventions
- Support and advance the mission of Oak Hall School
- Serve as a mentor and advocate for your students
- Be a role model of integrity and professionalism
- Work positively and professionally with all constituencies of the school
- Meet regular and predictable attendance requirements, including attending division and other school meetings, professional days, graduation, Late Start meetings, and other required events
- Adhere to School policies as described in the Employee Handbook and other materials
- Other duties as assigned
- Masters degree in education or related field
- A minimum of 3 years of experience in a learning support, resource specialist or related role
- Ability to effectively communicate the needs, services, and accommodations of students to both faculty and parents with confidence, tact, and genuine compassion and empathy
- Strong knowledge of learning resources, working knowledge of assistive technologies
- Ability to cultivate a professional referral network of learning specialists, mental health professionals, and other outside experts
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- A high degree of professionalism, collegiality, and personal conduct, both in and outside of school
- Ability, willingness, and judgment to communicate thoroughly, accurately, and concisely with all constituents in the school community
- Enthusiasm and commitment to the vision and mission of the school
- Experience in individual student case management
- Experience in an independent school setting
- Working knowledge of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- Working knowledge of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Experience creating and managing Individual Education Plans (IEPs), 504 plans, etc.
- A keen understanding of the developmental and social-emotional needs of Upper School students
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Physical Requirements and Work Environment:
- Works in an environment dealing with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines and a varied and diverse array of contacts
- Regularly uses close and distance vision
- May work at a desk and computer for extended periods of time
- Ability to visually and audibly locate students under their supervision
- Ability to actively circulate throughout the diverse campus environment
- Works primarily in a traditional climate-controlled classroom environment
- Ability to occasionally lift, push, or pull up to 20 lbs.
Oak Hall is proud to offer a comprehensive employee compensation package, including a competitive salary, health and wellness benefits, paid time off, holiday pay, and generous retirement plan options to benefits- eligible employees.
Oak Hall School is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment. It is Oak Halls policy to provide equal employment opportunities and administer terms and conditions of employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, marital status, or other legally-protected characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
This employer participates in E-verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the US. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use Everify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.
