Learning Resource Specialist Teacher (for Grades 5-8)

About Us

At Marin Primary & Middle School, we believe that it’s deep connections–between students, with teachers, and with ideas, that help kids know themselves and push through boundaries in school and in life. Every day we strengthen these connections so our students are able to tackle new ideas and challenges, pursue their goals with optimism and courage, and apply all they learn to the world they’ll inherit.

Serving 320 students in preschool through grade 8, Marin Primary & Middle School’s vibrant learning community is located in the town of Larkspur, just 4.5 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Taking advantage of both the beautiful outdoor environment of Marin County and the cultural offerings of metropolitan San Francisco, MP&MS asks its students to Be Connected, Be Curious, and Be Courageous.

Our Mission

At Marin Primary & Middle School we make education meaningful, while encouraging pride in self, respect for others, and enthusiasm for learning.

We treasure childhood. We honor and enjoy children’s natural curiosity, competence, and exuberance.

We teach to reach children. Using teams of teachers and educational methods tailored to how children learn best, we connect with our students, build trusting relationships, and make learning relevant, memorable, and fun.

We teach children to reach. Asking not “how smart is the child” but “how is the child smart,” we guide our students to see their full potential, and we equip them to pursue it with passion and purpose.

We inspire children to make a difference. We value academic excellence, personal integrity, and community action, and encourage our students to become informed, engaged, and ethical global citizens.

The Learning Resource Program (LRP) learning specialist is an integral member of the LRP team. The learning specialist demonstrates a deep understanding of how children learn according to their developmental age and has the passion and skill-set to team effectively with students, teachers, and parents in support of academic and learning success. The learning specialist has specific training, skills and experience related to the assessment and treatment of language-based learning disorders and/or dyscalculia and has a background working with students with executive functioning, attention, memory and other learning challenges.

The learning specialist effectively communicates and collaborates with students, teachers, advisors, parents and division directors to identify and support students with learning challenges. The role of the learning specialist involves managing a caseload of students, developing and implementing learning support plans, collaborating regularly with teachers and communicating regularly with parents. The learning specialist has expertise using a variety of learning and teaching tools, techniques, technologies and programs to remediate and support learning. The learning specialist also participates in the school’s assessment and standardized testing programs.

This position will be starting August 2022.

Duties & Responsibilities Include:

• Provide for the safety and well-being of students at all times through the creation of safe and secure environments
• Work effectively with an assigned caseload of students, providing direct support through one-to-one, small group and/or push-in support as appropriate to students’ needs
• Collaborate with teachers regarding students’ accommodations and support needs
• Design and implement learning plans and programs to actively engage students to meet their learning goals, including the use of assistive technology
• Maintain and update the school’s electronic learning profile system and learning support plans for each assigned student regularly with new information on effective strategies, testing and reports received, notes on meetings with parents, and classroom and testing accommodations
• Share information with all members of a student’s learning team (student, parent, advisor, teachers, outside professionals) as necessary to ensure learning team cohesion and support the student’s progress
• Communicate regularly with parents about their child’s progress and invite their participation and questions
• Attend conferences and team meetings as needed (conferences may be scheduled before, during and after school as well as during the school day)
• Complete narrative reports of student progress on report cards or more frequently when deemed necessary by a child’s learning team
• Assist parents in understanding their child’s unique learning profile, participation in a learning support program, and how the program connects to classroom learning and content/curriculum mastery
• Maintain accurate documentation of sessions, meetings and other communications appropriate to ethical and professional standards; distribute notes to team when requested
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality concerning each student within and outside the school community
• Work as a member of the faculty to further develop the school’s learning support program
• Keep relevant credentials and training up-to-date. Set professional development goals with supervisor to enhance effectiveness in the field and continue ongoing growth
• The learning specialist is expected to attend school events and faculty meetings and participate in teacher duties
• Provide distance learning opportunities as needed via Zoom, Google Classroom, or other online learning platforms

Experience and Qualifications:

• Masters degree or equivalent training and experience in learning disabilities, educational therapy, special education or related field
• Experience as a school-based learning specialist (preferred)
• Knowledge, skills, and experience to provide individualized, multi-sensory approaches to remediation of language-based learning challenges, such as Orton-Gillingham, Wilson, Lindamood-Bell and/or Slingerland programs
• Knowledge, skills and experience to provide individualized approaches to math remediation such as Making Math Real (preferred)
• Knowledge, skills, and experience around underlying attention, memory, language, social skill, and executive functioning challenges and how they impact learning and academic success
• Knowledge and appreciation of child development in young children and adolescents
• Ability to establish effective and collaborative working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and parents
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues and assigned supervisor
• Appropriate technology skills to accomplish job responsibilities and interest in new resources in this area
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

ADA Requirements

Marin Primary & Middle School is in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and does not discriminate with regard to applicants or employees with disabilities, and will make reasonable accommodation when necessary.

• For the purposes of the ADA, the “Duties & Responsibilities” listed are essential job functions
• Work is normally performed in a typical interior/classroom and office work environment, with typical school-related noise and other disruptions
• Both sitting and standing are required during a regular workday
• Normal vision and hearing abilities are required to interact with students, parents, faculty, and staff, and with school equipment
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs
• Ability to work at a desk and computer screen for extended periods of time
• Ability to turn, bend, and reach
• Ability to move oneself around the campus
• Ability to drive to other locations for meetings, conferences, etc.
• Position requires adaptability, analyzing, assessing, calculating, decision making, dependability, good judgment, reading, memorizing, social skills, speaking, multitasking, and writing

MP&MS is an equal opportunity employer. All individuals have an equal opportunity for employment based on qualifications and merit, regardless of religion, race, sex, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, military service status, or any other factor prohibited by state or federal law. This policy applies to all areas of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, and other conditions of employment. MP&MS also makes reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities and for employees who request accommodation for pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.

MP&MS welcomes and encourages applications from members of traditionally underrepresented groups.

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter. No phone calls please.