SY24-25: Elementary School Learning Specialist

Elementary School Learning Specialist

Who We Are:

School in the Square (S2) is a fast-growing charter school currently serving elementary and middle school students, with plans to serve families from Pre-K through High School. S2 engages, educates and empowers its students to respond mindfully and creatively to life's opportunities and challenges. Drawing its name from the concept of the public square or "la placita", S2 is where communities come together to solve problems and celebrate successes. Here, students, families and educators are seen, heard, and inspired. S2 students build the academic foundations, social-emotional intelligence, and the leadership skills necessary to excel in college and professional life. Our community is grounded in principles of justice, equity, diversity and inclusivity (JEDI), enacting a culturally responsive and sustaining lens to our pedagogical practice and consistently examining the ways we can continue to walk firmly in the pursuit of social justice and against injustice of any kind. S2 provides a progressive and rigorous learning community in which students thrive physically, emotionally, and academically through differentiated and personalized education and adults grow through rich and robust professional development.

We take seriously our obligation as an anchor institution in our community. We understand that our students' ability to learn is directly impacted by their access to basic needs. Through our Family Support Program, we support over 200 families every month with bimonthly food pantries and other essential services, including internet hotspots and rent relief.

Our Elementary School:

We believe a culture of care leads to a culture of achievement. Our elementary school is located in Washington Heights where our programs are designed with students' personal interests and learning styles in mind. Our elementary school provides robust educational programming in both Spanish and English. S2's program is dedicated to providing each student with the tools and support to become lifelong learners. That includes embracing that 89% of S2 families are Hispanic or Latinx.

Job Summary

The Learning Specialist works as a part of a team of other Learning specialists in the student support services Department led by the Director of Student Support. The Learning Specialist plays a unique role as a collaborator with teachers on various teams, as a family liaison, and as a small group and individual instructor of students with varying learning needs. The primary responsibility of the Learning Specialist is to support a range of students across K-3 grade levels in literacy and/or math

Responsibilities

• Progress Monitoring & Data Study
• Contributes to the school's ongoing efforts to monitor student pace and progress
• Collect data to identify students in need of Tier 2/Tier 3 intervention and current levels of students already identified for SETSS
• Collecting, analyzing and using data to differentiate instruction for students within sessions as an integral aspect of planning and teaching
• Create data-based groupings and schedule in collaboration with other service providers and classroom teachers
• Evaluates academic achievement and progress towards learning objectives through detailed data analysis of student performance on a wide variety of metrics; Utilize student data collected to drive instruction and intervention (progress monitoring)
• Keep records on student progress and participate in student progress report writing
• Serves on the Child Study Team (attend weekly meetings, manage incoming teacher referrals, monitor recommended plans, and help determine scholars who need an evaluation for special education services)
• IEP Facilitation & Implementation
• In preparation for IEP meetings: collect student work samples and anecdotal information from classroom teachers, write teacher report
• Assists in the development of standards-driven IEPs, keeps organized case files on each scholar with an IEP or 504, attends IEP meetings, and collects multiple sources of data on scholar progress to goals and standards
• Generate Individual Learning Plans for specific children based on outside educational evaluations in conjunction with the SS Head
• Instruction
• Collaboratively plans, prepares, and implements lesson plans that utilize a variety of instructional strategies and differentiated teaching based on the diverse and individual needs of the students, both those that have mandated services and those receiving Tier 2 and 3 interventions
• Provides teachers and staff with academic differentiation strategies and interventions for struggling scholars
• Differentiates instruction and learning approaches as needed in literacy and mathematics
• Collaboration
• Attends Student Support Services team meetings with the Student Support Services Coordinator
• Build and maintain productive, collaborative, and collegial working relationships with leaders, co-teacher(s), other teachers, staff members, parents, and community members
• Attend regular, mission-critical programming including summer development sessions, data days, parent workshops parent-teacher conferences, and other opportunities
• Establish strong communication with families through email/phone/Zoom/newsletters/PTC
• Communication with outside tutors and service providers alongside classroom teachers, as needed

Who You Are:

• Bachelor's Degree Require, Masters Degree Required, SWD preferred
• NYS Special Education teaching certification is required
• Multi-lingual, bilingual (spanish) preferred.
• Certification in Orton-Gillingham or a similar reading approach
• Knowledge of Fundations, Wilson, Heggerty, Science of Reading, Singapore Math, CPA Approach to teaching mathematics, as well as other remedial math programs
• Experience with scheduling
• Flexible thinker and problem solver
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• A high level of integrity and a strong work ethic
• Belief in School in the Square's mission, education model and core values
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Impeccable organizational and time management skills
• Strong sense of urgency
• Keen eye for detail

What You Can Expect From Us:

At S2 we take as much care of our teachers and staff as we do of our students. S2 is committed to supporting our teachers by helping them build sustainable, rewarding careers that center on each educator's passions and multi-disciplinary interests. All of our faculty and staff are valued professionals and we are proud to provide extended planning time, team-building and collaboration, comfortable and friendly working conditions and more, to ensure our team members all have the tools they need to succeed.

In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, S2 provides ultra competitive salaries including opportunities for supplemental compensation, an excellent benefits package with employer-paid life insurance, a 401K program with a 6% organizational match, longevity bonus, generous paid time off, access to a federal student loan debt reduction program and a supportive work environment

The salary range for teachers at S2 is $68,675 - $121,230; individual salaries are set based on years of experience, education level, and certifications obtained. S2 also has opportunities for supplemental compensation, an excellent benefits package with a 401K program with a 6% organizational match, longevity bonus, generous paid time off, access to a federal student loan debt reduction program and a friendly work environment

Anyone who joins our team must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

School in the Square understands specific groups are subject to marginalization. We believe these powerful groups should be centered in our community and are highly encouraged to apply. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.