Middle School Learning Support Specialist

Job Title: Middle School Learning Support Specialist

Job Class: Full Time, Exempt. (75% Learning Support, 25% Teaching)

Reports to:      Director of Student Learning and Social Emotional Programs

The community of EBI, including the faculty and staff, is a unique and valuable asset to the school. It is with this in mind that, in addition to specific responsibilities, it is essential that all EBI employees demonstrate the following:

Personal alignment with the EBI mission and the IB mission
Value for bilingualism, educational excellence, diversity, international mindedness, and the cultivation of character
Enjoy working in a diverse, international, and collaborative school environment
Effective listening, speaking, writing, and presenting skills in both Spanish and English, as required
A positive attitude and a deep sense of professionalism

Position Overview

The primary goal of the MYP Learning Specialist is to support all students to achieve academic success despite any adversities that individual students may face due to learning difficulties. This is accomplished by working with the Guidance Counselor, teachers, families, Principals, external professionals, as well as students on an individual and small group basis, providing targeted academic support, including intervention, and case management.

General Responsibilities

Work closely with the Director of Student Learning and Social Emotional Programs  and the Division Head to seek ways to reach success for the largest number of EBI learners.
Guide the Teachers and parents through the early detection and diagnostic process and the development of the Individual Education Plan (IEP) for students who require it.
Manage a caseload of all students with Individual Education Plans, supporting the Division Head and Teachers in achieving the necessary strategies and approaches to learning necessary for the success of each student with an IEP.
Support Teachers in differentiating learning strategies to reach a wide range of learners in the regular classroom.
Chair the Middle School student support follow-up meetings.
Work alongside the other Learning Specialists, ensuring continuity of services across Divisions.

Specific Areas of Responsibility

Support the Teachers in the early detection of students with special learning needs.
Complete preliminary diagnostics and observations to determine when it is necessary to refer a student to external specialists for diagnostic testing, and then coordinate the process with the parents when it becomes necessary.
Create/update all Individual Education Plans (IEP) once per year, normally in preparation for the following school year, meeting with teachers, guidance counselors, and parents, as necessary during the process and collecting the necessary signatures.
Read, interpret, and translate educational testing into appropriate accommodations and/or interventions.
Share the Individual Education Plan with teachers working with the students on the Learning Support caseload and monitor that the learning plans are being met.
Train teachers in the specific methodologies and approaches required for each student with an Individual Education Plan, including as students transition across grade levels and Divisions.
Work effectively with an assigned caseload of students, providing direct support through one-to-one, small group, and push-in support as appropriate to students’ needs.
Facilitate small group testing for students with accommodations.
Facilitate executive function/study skills classes.
Educate faculty, families, and students about learning differences, teaching styles, and strategies, and provide feedback on professional development opportunities.
Lead student support meetings and share information with all members of a student’s learning team (student, parent, teachers, outside professionals) as necessary to ensure learning team cohesion and support the student’s progress.
Collect and maintain records, goals, notes, and progress for students on caseload.
Communicate regularly with parents about their child’s progress and invite their participation and questions.
Facilitate and coordinate communication between the family, the school, and any outside service providers or agencies to effectively support students.
Plan with teachers to create lessons and learning experiences in a differentiated manner, working to develop faculty capacity and skills in working with all students, especially those with learning differences.
Oversee acceleration and enrichment for students who require it, according to their Individual Education Plan.
Ensure student access to needed standardized testing accommodations.
Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements

Master’s degree in education, special education, or educational therapy
Minimum of three years experience in education
Experience using neuropsychological evaluations, IEPs, and related educational assessment tools to assist with interpreting scores, implementing accommodations, allocating resources, and helping teachers and families understand their students’ learning needs
Excellent writing, communication, and teamwork skills
Must be organized and detail-oriented and exhibit technical/computer skills as required for job performance
Demonstrate an interest in staying current on education and diverse learning research and best practices
Demonstrate knowledge of managing student data with confidentiality
Fluency in English and Spanish is highly preferred.

EBI  uses a salary scale that is based on education and years of experience and ranges from $67,900 to $108,600

To be considered for the position, please complete an application, and send a letter of interest, a resume, and contact information for at least three professional references, including supervisors, to Dr.Rebecca Hawley, Director of Learning Services and Social Emotional Programs at rhawley@ebinternacional.org