Lower School Learning Specialist

Title: Lower School Learning Specialist

Requirements: Masters Degree in elementary education or special education; additional credential(s) in reading remediation or mild to moderate learning disabilities

Reports to: Lower School Division Head

Primary Responsibilities: Works with Lower School students who are experiencing academic difficulty and/or who have diagnosed learning differences. Identifies learning styles, analyzes and interprets testing data, provides screenings, reviews other pertinent information, and prescribes specific, appropriate, and practical learning strategies. Coordinates a team effort that includes teachers, other educational professionals, physicians, the student, and parents. Supports students in developing strategies in the areas of time management, organization, and study skills.

Hours/Classification: Full-time; Exempt

The Hamlin School seeks employees who will support and implement the school’s mission and Creed.  Hamlin employees are caring, compassionate, collaborative, and dedicated to the education of girls. Hamlin girls are celebrated because of their curious minds, joyful work ethic, and tenacity in the classroom. At the same time, the school is convinced that ensuring academic growth is only one part of its work. Excellent schools must also pay close attention to ethical excellence and the innovations that impact teaching and learning; all employees are expected to support the school’s overarching strategic goals and commitment to academic and ethical excellence.

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Professional Responsibilities:

Students

• Advises students on effective learning strategies and helps them to demystify their learning profiles

• Meets regularly with Lower School students who have learning differences in an effort to support classroom instructional goals and their self-confidence

• Administers assessments to help screen for learning differences

Parents

• Serves as the point person for outside providers and parents whose children require support beyond classroom instruction

• Attends and participates in meetings with parents, Lower School division head, teachers, and outside student support such as tutors, learning specialists, doctors, etc.

• Provides opportunities for parents to increase their knowledge about learning differences and accommodations

• In partnership with the administration, supports and crafts the continuing education of Hamlin parents (i.e. meetings, the facilitation of parenting groups, recommendations of appropriate books, speakers, workshops).

• Maintains a robust webpage on the Hamlin website that includes pertinent information and valuable resources for parental support

• Interprets standardized test scores with parents for students with low or discrepant scores, or as requested by parents

Faculty

• Consults with teachers regarding students’ learning needs

• Teaches and demonstrates learning strategies to teachers and advisors to enable them to support students’ academic growth and executive functioning

• Offers professional development sessions to faculty during division meetings or in smaller groups

• Works in partnership with the Lower School counselor, Mathematics Specialist (K-4), and Literacy Specialist (K-2) to build faculty capacity to understand and meet students’ needs

• Coordinates with MS Learning Specialist to ensure successful transfer of student information between divisions

Administrative Tasks

• Serves as a member of the Student Support Services Team with the Lower School counselor, literacy specialist,  and division head

• Remains current on developments in the fields of special education, learning and the brain, classroom methodologies, and the unique challenges for girls in academic settings

• Recommends, in close partnership with the Lower School division head, full neuropsychological testing when needed

• Generates records of recommendation for Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions

• Maintains and updates student learning profiles and official notes using School’s online student information system

• Reads and distills neuropsychological reports and interprets results for school personnel

• Manages the process for standardized testing accommodations and administration of such tests with Lower School division head.