Brilla Charter Schools

Multilingual Learner Specialist

About Brilla Charter Schools

Brilla Public Charter Schools is a network of K-8th grade schools that currently serves nearly 1,600 students from Mott Haven, University Heights, and other neighborhoods in the Bronx. The network is growing from its current four elementary and two middle schools to five elementary and five middle schools educating some 4,000 students in the Bronx and Paterson, NJ.

Brilla combines a Classical approach to education – an emphasis on an ennobling and content-rich curriculum, inductive inquiry-driven instruction, and virtue formation that fosters an encounter with Truth, Beauty, and Goodness – with co-teaching practices and individualized instructional support. We approach the formation of our students holistically and maintain high academic expectations. Ours is a joyful community that honors the dignity of each student, our staff members, and the families we serve.

Position Overview

Under the supervision of the Student Services Manager, the Multilingual Learner Specialist (MLL) provides legally mandated services to identified English Language Learners, as well as students who are identified as needing at-risk interventions. The MLL Specialist pulls out small groups of students and works collaboratively in a teacher team model with the general education teachers using the Hand on English curriculum. The MLL Specialist works with the school administrators to implement school procedures and policies and communicates with students’ parents, guardians, and/or caregivers. The MLL Specialist holds primary responsibility for designing and implementing direct MLL instruction and collaborating with teachers to provide English language support in other content areas.

This position requires a positive, flexible, solutions-oriented, organized, and innovative educator who aims to challenge the status quo of the current educational landscape in urban areas. Brilla MLL Specialists must have a deep passion for student-engaged learning, a desire to accept, implement, and seek feedback, and a proven ability to manage multiple concurrent tasks and responsibilities, while inspiring outstanding achievement in children in a joyful and collaborative work environment.

The MLL Specialist will be a highly motivated collaborator who goes above and beyond prescribed duties in support of the principal, teachers, and their students, while also taking initiative to solve problems and address challenges. A successful MLL Specialist will be a positive and supportive presence on the campus, committed to the demonstration of Brilla’s Core Virtues, calm and confident despite any adversity, and deeply dedicated to the Brilla mission. The MLL Specialist will work to ensure that all aspects of the Brilla mission are executed with fidelity, excellence, and joy.

Core Competencies

• Create a joyful work environment that honors the dignity of all scholars and adults while still pushing them to achieve more than they think possible.
• Forge and maintain productive, collaborative, and collegial working relationships with leaders, community partners, teachers, staff members, parents, and related service providers.
• Contribute to a positive network and school culture and environment through consistent implementation of behavior management strategies, attendance at Brilla-sponsored culture events, and regular, professional communication.
• Attend regular, mission-critical programming including summer development sessions, data days, parent workshops, parent-teacher conferences, and other activities.
• Maintain and ensure team members keep accurate and complete student files and academic records.
• Demonstrate preparation and skill in working with students from diverse cultural, economic and ability backgrounds.
• Organize and manage time and commitments efficiently to maximize productivity and intentionality throughout the school day and school year.
• Demonstrate courage, justice, wisdom, and self-control, while championing a positive, flexible attitude and solution-based approach to challenges.
• Reflect and seek to understand both individual strengths and areas for growth, committing to continuous professional development.
• Seek to grow professionally as an educator of students with varying learning needs by deepening content mastery, independently reading current literature, and improving in leadership competencies.
• Model the Brilla Mission through consistent professional dress, demonstration of core virtues, execution of professional norms, and enthusiastic, regular engagement in ongoing professional development and community-building.

Key Responsibilities

• Demonstrates knowledge of grade-level content curricula to engage students in all content areas and differentiate curriculum and instruction to support all MLLs.
• Co-plans prepares and facilitates daily standards-based lessons that utilize a variety of MLL instructional strategies which differentiate teaching based on the diverse and individual needs of all students.
• Co-teaches with general education teachers and supports student learning through modeling, lesson planning, team teaching, data analysis, and ongoing feedback through dialogue and reflections.
• Manages both regulatory and instructional requirements as an MLL Specialist.
• Administers Home Language Questionnaires and administers ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS for MLLs to determine student eligibility for MLL services.
• Administers ACCESS and Alternate ACCESS for MLLs test annually.
• Use assessment data to refine curriculum and inform instructional practices to create a classroom culture of data-driven decision-making to close the achievement gap for all students including general education, students with disabilities, and MLLs.
• Creates a classroom environment of respect and rapport to ensure a safe, caring, and orderly school environment which nurtures the unique needs of each student.
• Participate in collaborative curriculum and professional development, professional learning communities, grade-level activities, and school-wide functions.
• Seeks to actively know students’ strengths and challenge areas and communicates effectively with parents.
• Evaluate, determine goals for, and track progress of individual English language learners, and communicate with faculty, students and families.
• Maintain MLL records.
• Advise teachers on modifying/accommodating curriculum for ENL students and share best practices to ensure high quality instruction.
• Build a warm and inclusive classroom environment, implementing the practices of Responsive Classroom
• Create and maintain strong relationships with students and families
• Actively participate in grade-level meetings, collaborative planning, and professional development, including an annual summer institute
• Accept ultimate responsibility for the academic progress of his or her students, and work to actively overcome setbacks
• Review and comply with guidelines of students’ IEPs, attend IEP meetings, follow IDEA reporting requirements, and provide information about student performance and services received
• Participate in meetings, designated school functions outside of school hours, and opportunities for individual and school-wide professional development
• Supervise out of classroom settings such as arrival, transitions, lunch, recess, dismissal, and field trips

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required
• New Jersey State teaching certification in Students with Disabilities, Special Ed, or ESL preferred
• Teaching or student teaching experience in a school required
• Experience with and interest in working with high needs students preferred

Brilla provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees.

Pay may vary within a salary range depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits will be provided. A sign-on bonus of $4,000 upon completion of 90 full days of work will also be offered.