Middle School Learning Specialist – Temporary - The Buckley School

Middle School Learning Specialist - Temporary

The Buckley School, Los Angeles' oldest all-gender learning institution, is seeking a temporary Middle School Learning Specialist for the 2024-2025 school year. This individual serves the academic needs of our 6-8th grade students. The Learning Specialist provides support services to students with learning differences and their families.
The specialist works closely with administrators, teachers, and other student support staff to promote overall student wellness and academic performance.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Academic Support:

● Work with teachers, administrators, and parents to help identify students with learning differences, including follow up guidance to faculty and families for identified students and/or referrals to outside professionals as needed.
● Interpret psycho-educational evaluations and create Individual Learning Plans (ILP) when appropriate, including obtaining family endorsements of ILPs and dissemination of ILP to faculty, advisor and administration
● Meet and work with faculty, advisors, students, and families to understand the identified student's strengths and weaknesses as well as ensuring proper implementation of accommodations.
● Monitor progress of students with ILPs and assist them in utilizing accommodations
● Coordinate extended testing time for Buckley assessments and standardized testing, including supervision of the testing center, which may include proctoring in the testing center.
● Proctor standardized testing for all MS students with accommodations as well as assist families with the application process when applying for testing accommodations to outside organizations.
● Work with students who are having academic difficulty and/or students returning to school after an extended absence.

Coordinating:

● Promote the coordination of academic responsibilities, school activities and wellness resources, including appropriate communication between school and home.
● Function as a liaison among faculty, advisors, parents/guardians, and those providing outside support to students. Communicate often with faculty and advisors.
● Coordinate classroom observations of students with faculty and administration.
● Periodically conduct professional development workshops for faculty and parents/guardians.

OTHER DUTIES
● Assist in the transition to and from school divisions, communicating regularly with student support staff in both Lower and Upper Schools, including an annual transition meeting in the spring.
● Maintain a current referral list of outside professionals for both mental/social/emotional health services and learning difference support, acting as a liaison between the school and outside professional support.
● Observe students in classroom settings to help teachers with behavior management and learning issues.
● Participate in Outdoor Education, chaperone school events, attend grade level meetings, and get involved in Middle School life.
● Conduct admission interviews for possible incoming students who have been identified as having a learning difference.
● Plan, implement and evaluate the systems necessary for the educational support program.
● Articulate the school counseling program and learning differences support program to students, parents, teachers, advisors, staff, and community.
● Develop and maintain skills needed to utilize technology systems and participate in professional development activities.
● Meet weekly with Middle School Administration and other student support staff to consult and collaborate (MS Student Support Team). Attend all faculty and grade level meetings.

Professionalism:

● Adhere to the ethical standards and preferred practices of related state and national professional associations.
● Demonstrate knowledge of local policies and state and federal laws pertaining to children.
● Demonstrate a commitment to personal growth and professional development.
● Maintain professional confidentiality and discretion at all times.
● Be comfortable working with teachers and administration in a collaborative environment.

REQUIRED/DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
● Bachelor's degree in special education or related field; Master's degree or educational therapist certification preferred
● A minimum of two years of experience working with Middle School children and families in a school setting is preferred.
● Applicants must have a strong knowledge base in the area of learning differences, especially dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, as well as a deep knowledge base regarding ADHD and Executive Functioning issues.
● Excellent verbal, written and organizational skills
● Strong interpersonal, counseling and facilitation skills
● Kindness, compassion, sensitivity, and the ability to listen carefully
● Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion
● Demonstrated expertise and experience in childhood development and social-emotional learning
● Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse populations, including students, parents, and faculty.
● Genuine interest and excitement in working with students and a desire to support their learning and growth

COMPENSATION
$80,000 - $105,000 per year depending on experience.
The base salary is separate from fringe benefits, such as retirement contributions, daily lunch, on-site parking, contributions to medical, dental, vision, life/AD&D plans, our generous time off policy, or potential stipends (for eligible employees). Our pay ranges are reasonable estimates of what the School anticipates paying for a role but are not guaranteed. If hired at The Buckley School, your actual base salary will be determined by your education and experience.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL
The Buckley School proudly carries on the mission of its founder, Dr. Isabelle Buckley, who in 1933 set out to provide students with an education characterized not only by academic excellence, but also a sense of self-esteem, responsibility, and character. An independent, all-gender day school for students in kindergarten through grade 12, providing students with a program based on critical thinking, creative self-expression through arts, physical development, and moral education lies at the heart of Buckley's ethos.

At The Buckley School, faculty and staff believe in their students, see their capacity for growth, and nurture their ability to create and evaluate. Students are honored for their diverse backgrounds and admired for their ability to lead with empathy and courage. Inspired by its mission, the Portrait of a Graduate, Dr. Buckley's Four-Fold Plan - education with equal emphasis on Academics, the Arts, Athletics, and Moral Education - and the Buckley Commitment of Honesty, Loyalty, Respect, Kindness, Self-Reliance, and Self-Discipline, faculty uplift students, partner with parents, and build community every day.