Washington, D.C.
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Posted: 27-Feb-23
Location: College Park , Maryland
Type: Full Time
Categories:
Required Education:
Friends Community School (FCS) is a progressive co-ed Quaker K-8 day school serving a diverse student body from the greater Washington, D.C. area. FCS offers a challenging curriculum imbued with strong values of equality, integrity, community, environmental stewardship, simplicity, and peaceful conflict resolution, rooted in our Quaker heritage. Faculty and staff are highly engaged and enjoy flexibility, autonomy, and creativity. FCS’s LEED-certified building is situated on 17 acres surrounded by Greenbelt National Park, nine minutes from the University of Maryland, College Park, and thirty minutes from Washington, D.C.
In its fourth decade, FCS has cultivated a diverse community of students, families, and employees. Fifty-four percent of its student body self-identifies as people of color and students and employees represent various gender identities, faiths, family structures, and socio-economic backgrounds.
FCS seeks a full-time Middle School Learning Specialist for the 2023-2024 school year. This position may become available permanently after June 2024. The Middle School Learning Specialist works in the middle school to support students with learning differences and their families, to enhance teachers’ knowledge and practice of teaching neurodivergent learners and to coach teachers to support all learners. The Learning Specialist maintains a broad understanding of the daily functioning of students and classes and identifies areas of concern for students demonstrating the need for additional academic or emotional supports. The Middle School Learning Specialist will participate actively in the community and establish working relationships that demonstrate integrity, confidentiality, respect, flexibility, equity and trust. '
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Oversees the Learning Lab to find tutors, coordinate/schedule rooms and times for tutoring.
- Collaborates with lower school learning specialist to ensure tutoring is based on student need and keeps close communication with teachers and tutors.
- Creates and maintains Individualized Support Plans (ISPs) based on evaluations and school data
- Helps teachers implement strategies and accommodations stated in the ISPs
- Supports teachers’ administration of baseline and benchmarks in math and reading to monitor growth
- Teaches six sections of Habits of Being to further develop study and executive function skills, and social-emotional learning
- Observes students in classrooms
- Provides resources for the Learning Lab tutors for Middle School students
- Organizes Milestone Assessments and identifies dates for the administration of assessment
- Provides parents with information about tutoring, educational testing, and documentation for accommodation, and communication about implementing ISPs and learning supports for the home.
- Navigates the process of securing formal evaluations and attends IEP meetings at public schools to advocate for students
- Screens prospective students for middle school
- Coordinates and authorizes accommodations for high school admission tests for 8th graders.
- Helps teachers implement strategies and accommodations stated in ISPS
To Apply
Please send a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information of three professional references to Katie Douglas, Head of Middle School at katied@friendscommunityschool.org
FCS is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive educational community and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, gender, gender identity, color, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
Qualification Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree in special education, learning disabilities, or education
- A minimum of 3 to 5 years as a classroom teacher
- A solid understanding of the developmental and academic needs of children
- Exceptional written and oral communication skills
- Excellent organizational skills
- Professional development in diversity, equity, and inclusion or multicultural education and experience working with a diverse population of children and adults
- Experience or openness to working in a Quaker organization or faith-based community
- Strong EQ and ability to form strong and trusting relationships with adults and children
- Possess joy, a growth mindset, and a sense of humor
