Director of Special Services

Title: Learning Resource Specialist – (Grades K-8)

Reports to: Head of Lower School

Status: Full time, Exempt Employee

Description: Greenwich Catholic School (GCS) is an independent school that believes in developing the whole child by providing strong academics and social-emotional learning to foster a lifelong passion for learning and service. Teachers at GCS are passionate, innovative, and dedicated members of the school community who work together to offer an engaging curriculum that promotes critical thinking and intellectual curiosity. We support our students to develop meaningful relationships with peers and faculty based on honesty, respect, and responsibility. We are a dedicated team of professionals who work closely together to create cross-curricular learning for all grade levels and maintain a positive work environment for all.

GCS is looking to expand our teaching team to include a Learning Resource Specialist (LRS) to support our Kindergarten through Eighth grade students. This role will work closely with teachers across these grades to identify and support the needs of Greenwich Catholic students across a variety of subject areas. The LRS will provide whole classroom support for teachers as well as engage in individualized or small group instruction depending on the needs of Greenwich Catholic teachers and students. The role of the learning specialist will include managing a caseload of students, developing and implementing learning goals and support plans, consulting regularly with teachers, and communicating regularly with parents. We are looking for an educator with a deep understanding of how children learn and child development along with applied experience helping students, teachers, and parents navigate neurodiversity and individualized learning plans with confidence and success. This LRS should have specific training, skills, and experience with selecting and conducting appropriate assessments and developing individualized learning plans based on assessment data or existing diagnoses. The successful candidate for this position will have experience working with students with language-based learning disorders, and students experiencing challenges with executive functioning, attention, memory, and pace-of-learning. We would also like for the person in this position to have experience with supporting language arts and math.

Areas of Responsibilities Include:

● Ensuring the safety and well-being of students at all times through the development and support of safe and secure environments at school

● Managing a caseload of students who are in need of learning support

● Providing direct support to teachers and students through one-to-one meetings, small group lessons, push-in support, and/or whole class support for the lead teacher during class lessons.

● Collaborate with teachers to assess and implement student 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

● Create and maintain the school’s electronic learning profile system and learning support plans for each student who needs additional support- this includes regularly updating student files with information on effective strategies, testing/assessments, reports received, notes on meetings with parents, and classroom accommodations

● Facilitates the distribution of information about students with all members of a student’s learning team (student, parent, advisor, teachers, outside professionals) as necessary to ensure learning team cohesion and support each student’s progress

● Communicate regularly with parents about their child’s progress and invite their participation and questions

● Meet with classroom teachers and administrators, as necessary, to give student updates and share guidance about the resources each student needs to succeed at GCS

● Attend student-parent-teacher/advisor 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 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 LRS is expected to attend school events and faculty meetings and participate in teacher school duties.

Experience and Qualifications:

● Special Education credential required; Masters degree or equivalent training and experience in learning disabilities, educational therapy, special education, or related field preferred.

● 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

● Knowledge, skills, and experience to provide individualized approaches to math remediation (preferred)

● Knowledge, skills, and experience around underlying attention, memory, language, social skill, and executive functioning challenges and how they impact on learning and academic success

● Knowledge and an 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

GCS is an equal opportunity employer. All individuals have an equal opportunity for employment based on qualifications and merit, regardless of religion, race, sex, 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. GCS also makes reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities and for employees who request an accommodation for pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.

Salary range $45,000-$75,567, 12-month contract

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $45,000.00 - $75,567.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to Relocate:

• Greenwich, CT 06830: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person