Learning Specialist

Cold Spring School Seeks a Learning Specialist

Cold Spring School, a progressive preK- 6th grade school in New Haven, CT,  is excited to begin the search for a new learning specialist. The learning specialist plays a vital role in our community as advocate, teacher, facilitator, and coach. The learning specialist is responsible for supporting the needs of students requiring supplemental academic instruction for mild to moderate learning needs, and is the assigned case manager for those students who may have a psycho-educational evaluation or may need one. The learning specialist is also responsible for developing, overseeing and, when needed, providing intervention for said students. 

The learning specialist works closely with preschool through sixth grade classroom teachers as a consultative expert to differentiate curriculum according to students' strengths and opportunities for growth. The learning specialist is in regular contact with families/guardians, outside therapists, psychologists conducting evaluations, the school counselor, and with classroom and Special Area teachers to ensure that interventions and learning goals are aligned and that classroom accommodations are carried out with fidelity. 

The ideal candidate is a passionate special education teacher who is excited to help build a robust learning support program. They are flexible, collaborative, and an effective communicator.

Responsibilities include:

• Provide targeted intervention in reading, writing, and math to children with learning disabilities and/or are struggling in a given subject area. 
• Work collaboratively with grade level teachers (preschool- sixth grade) to provide guidance and support for differentiation and student accommodations in the classroom  
• Create summaries of all student evaluations and share with relevant faculty members to ensure accommodations are utilized across school settings
• Support teachers in differentiating instruction based on the learning profiles of the children in their respective classrooms. 
• Conduct observations for students referred by teachers due to academic or behavioral challenge related to possible learning disability
• Communicate regularly with families/guardians, as well as outside therapists, to ensure continuity and support in all settings
• Ensure students are fully included in the general education setting when possible and have equal access to the curriculum
• Attend Grade Team meetings / collaborative planning times at least once per month to communicate intervention progress and understand students’ participation in their given classrooms 
• Schedule and facilitate meetings to discuss student needs and progress with necessary team members
• Collaborate regularly with NHPS to ensure grant money and other free resources being used, as well as to follow-up on students with IEPs through NHPS
• Maintain confidential records and databases for all students assigned to caseload
• Keep an up to date referral list with speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and the like, to ensure families have access to a range of high quality outside support services
• Remain aware of current research and trends in special education and share pertinent information with faculty and families
• Act as a resource to families who are going through the evaluation process. 
• Complete student rubrics 3x/ year and student narratives 2x/year for students who receive intervention 
• Administer a range of diagnostic tests (PAT2, Blevins, QPS, Dibels, etc) to understand students struggling with reading 

Requirements:

• Master's degree in Special Education
• Minimum of three-five years experience working in an elementary and/or middle school setting with children with learning disabilities
• Significant knowledge of language-based learning disabilities, ADHD, ASD 
• The ability to interpret results of psycho-educational evaluations
• Experience giving a range of formal and informal reading, writing, and math assessments 
• Training in Orton Gillingham, Wilson, UFLI, or other structured literacy reading instruction programs, as well as multi-sensory math learning. Experience with The Writing Revolution is a plus. 
• Willingness to receive additional training in programs as needed depending on the student population

Reports to: Director of Cold Spring School

Hours: Five days a week, 30 hours total (8 am - 2 pm)

Salary: 55,000- 65,000

About Cold Spring School: 

Cold Spring School is a small, unique school community committed to progressive education. Cold Spring’s founders had a vision to create a school in which every child was known and every voice was heard. Their vision embraced thematic teaching in which learning is integrated and connected. They dreamed of classroom environments that sparked curiosity and honored children’s thinking and creativity. Forty-two years later, this vision still holds true. 

If interested, please send a cover letter and resume to [email protected]