Lower School Learning Specialist (Grades 3-5)

The Learning Specialist supports, supplements and extends classroom instruction and works collaboratively to provide a high-quality, research-based literacy program that meets the range of learners in grades 3 through 5.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Support and model the spirit of the mission and founding documents of the Dwight-Englewood School in work with students, teachers, families, and administrators.
• Develop methods to support students both in small groups and within the classroom setting.
• Serve as a resource to increase teacher capacities in literacy instruction.
• Serve as a member of the Student Support Team to develop ways to address individual student needs and to create a cohesive plan to be implemented both at school and at home.
• Continue to grow as a professional through professional development opportunities.

Specific Duties:

• Supporting Students
  • Provide instruction to students in need of remediation and learning support.
  • Provide small group reading and writing instruction to the range of students in the classroom and in other appropriate settings.
  • Assess the strengths and needs of students, using a range of assessment tools, including standardized tests and communicate findings to teachers and families.
  • Monitor rate of progress of strategies of support implemented for any student.
• Support and Development for Teachers
  • Provide instructional support to classroom teachers.
  • Support teachers in developing and utilizing assessments to guide instruction.
  • Work collaboratively with the Preschool through Grade 2 Learning Specialist and the Literacy Team to provide a high-quality literacy program.
• Student Support Team
  • Collaborate with members of the Lower School Student Support Team to make referrals as well as review and implement evaluation plans.
  • Develop plans to address individual student needs in coordination with classroom teachers and members of the Lower School Student Support Team.
  • Provide teachers with an understanding of learning concerns and aid them in the implementation of school-based accommodations.
  • Communicate with families to develop and monitor plans for school and home.
  • Communicate with external tutors, specialists and agencies to develop and monitor plans for support.
  • Meet with members of the school-wide Student Support Team.
• Assessments
  • Conduct diagnostic reading and writing assessments.
  • Plan, organize, and interpret student data.
  • Collaborate with teachers to provide and utilize ongoing assessment.
• Involvement in the DE Community
• Supervise children during non-academic times such as snack, recess and dismissal.
• Participate in school and classroom events such as Back-to-School night, LS assemblies, parent conferences, grade-level planning meetings and faculty meetings.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Advanced degree in Special Education required.
• Understanding of child development, curriculum expectations and benchmarks, for elementary school students
• Knowledge of reading intervention programs and other research-based strategies that support a range of learners.
• Familiarity with a variety of instructional strategies including, but not limited to, reading and writing workshop.
• Familiarity with a range of formal and informal assessments.
• Previous experience working in an elementary school setting.

Terms of Employment:

• This is a full-time position in the Lower School.
• This is a ten month position including vacations for winter break and spring break as well as other school holidays.
• Eight hour work days as well as attendance at faculty meetings, division meetings and department meetings.
• Professional days are considered work days and participation in planned activities is mandatory.