The Teaching and Learning Center at Darlington School seeks an experienced Learning Specialist who is eager to work with students who have diverse learning needs and supporting and enhancing their academic experience. A Darlington Learning Specialist fully supports the mission and values of the school and has the primary responsibility for creating the best student experience possible in support of the school’s learning framework, The Cycle of Learning. This candidate must be adept at enriching curricular approaches and understanding pedagogy as it relates to differentiation and neurodiversity. This candidate must also enjoy the meticulous nature of the position that requires careful tracking and documentation of academic needs, accommodations, interventions, and testing processes in order to communicate with stakeholders, set goals, track growth, and empower students to achieve success at Darlington. The candidate should value the craft of teaching and learning, and would join a dynamic environment of teaching professionals who are continuously growing and collaborating.
Qualifications
The candidate must have experience teaching middle and/or upper school students with documented learning differences. The ideal candidate will have classroom teaching experience as well as experience as a Learning Specialist, may have training or experience with remediation for learning disabilities (ie: dyslexia, dyscalculia, etc), hold a relevant degree in Education, Special Education or other related field (master’s degree preferred). The ideal candidate has experience with psychoeducational evaluations as a key reference point in composing and managing support plans for students, and experience with providing explicit universal and targeted executive function instruction for students with a diverse range of learning needs.
Expectations
The clearest set of expectations for a Darlington teacher and Learning Specialist is fully described in our Academic Standards. Specific responsibilities of the position are highlighted below:
Learning Specialist
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Manage a caseload of students with learning differences in grades 6-8
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Compose and Oversee Student Support and Accommodations Plans
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Develop ways to help students understand their unique learning profiles with the aim of developing self-awareness, self-management, and self-advocacy
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Teach Learning Strategies classes which support the development of executive functioning skills (ie: time-management, organization, self-monitoring, etc), study skills, and application of accommodations
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Communicate and contribute to the support of teachers, specifically as it relates to students’ learning profile, accommodations, and classroom based instructional strategies
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Works as a member of the Teaching and Learning Center team
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Builds an authentic relationship with each student as the cornerstone of learning experience
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Approaches the practice of teaching and learning with a growth mindset and always acts professionally and holds high expectations for him/herself
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Facilitates the needs of individual learners in a safe and active learning environment
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Communicates effectively and uses technology proficiently.
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Adhere to strict student confidentiality
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Coordinates and oversees testing accommodations with Middle School teachers and students
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Ensures tests are received, administered, and delivered to and from the teachers with integrity and efficiency
Core Responsibilities
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Teach 2 Learning Strategies classes targeting the learning needs of 6th and 7th graders (see course build and design standards)
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Oversee a Learning Strategies focused study hall for 8th graders
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Management of a caseload of students with diverse learning needs
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Provides brief and short-term individualized intervention and strategy sessions for students across the division both directly and not directly served by the Learning Center
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Provides Testing Accommodations including management of extended time, separate testing environment, and other appropriate testing-based accommodations as identified in each student’s support plan.
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Office Hours
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Regular student feedback (grades, attendance, comments, etc)
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Advising 12-15 students
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Various other responsibilities may include writing student recommendations, weekly faculty meetings or professional learning communities, substituting, committee meetings, professional development, weekend/campus activities, campus events (i.e. parents weekend, admission, etc)
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After School responsibilities
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Perform other duties as determined by the Director of the Teaching and Learning Center
