What are the responsibilities and job description for the Academic Support Specialist - High School position at Barre Unified Union School District?
The Academic Support Specialist provides targeted academic assistance to high school students at Spaulding High School receiving special education services, with a focus on helping them complete coursework, strengthen study and organizational habits, and build the skills necessary to meet the demands of the general education curriculum. This position complements the work of special educators by reinforcing learning and supporting student independence, rather than delivering direct IEP instruction.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Provide structured academic support to students during study periods, academic support blocks, or as assigned
- Assist students in completing assignments, preparing for assessments, and organizing materials for general education classes
- Teach and reinforce executive functioning skills such as organization, time management, planning, and task initiation
- Support students in understanding class content and applying effective study strategies across subject areas
- Collaborate with general education teachers to monitor student progress and identify areas where additional support or clarification is needed
- Encourage students to take ownership of their learning by developing self-advocacy and problem-solving skills
- Maintain clear communication with special educators and case managers regarding patterns in student performance or barriers to success
- Create a supportive, inclusive, and motivating learning environment that promotes persistence and confidence
- Track student engagement, assignment completion, and academic growth through informal progress monitoring
Job Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Education, or a related field
- Experience supporting students with diverse learning needs in a school setting
- Understanding of differentiated instruction, accommodations, and supports for students with learning differences
- Ability to collaborate effectively with general education and special education staff
- Demonstrated ability to teach and reinforce executive functioning and study skills
- Strong academic skills with ability to do math up to and including Algebra and Geometry
- Reading Comprehension in order to access classic texts and support Document Based Questions
- Good spelling or be a very conscientious spell checker, understand Grammar, Usage and Mechanics, and use MLA formatting in writing
For complete job description, click here. For more information about our district, please visit BUUSD.org.