- Middle School Learning Specialist

2024-2025 Middle School Learning Specialist (Jamaica) Mission Statement: The Growing Up Green Charter School (GUGCS) supports children to be conscious, contributing members of their community through a rigorous, anti-racist, anti-bias, curriculum and an engaging green culture. Graduates of GUGCS will be prepared to attend high-performing schools where their interdisciplinary academic foundation, knowledge of sustainability, and strong sense of self sets them apart as leaders and social justice advocates of the future. Instructional Responsibilities:

• Work in an ICT classroom as a co-teacher while collaborating in lesson planning, delivery, scaffolding, and differentiation
• Utilize a variety of specialized curricula to develop a long-term individualized scope & sequence for small group instruction
• Assess student progress with a variety of methods in order to ensure progression towards individualized goals
• Collaborate with classroom teachers and related service providers in order to align and differentiate instruction
• Participate in weekly RTI meetings to develop strategies and interventions for struggling students
• Support classroom teachers to implement intervention plans, as well as monitoring student progress
• Prepare documentation of student's current academic performance in preparation for attendance at IEP meetings
• Administer regular assessment of student IEP goals and complete IEP goal progress reports on a quarterly basis
• Develop individualized SMART goals for student IEPs

IEP Coordination:

• Collaborate with Director of Support Services to coordinate all mandated special education services in accordance with student IEPs
• Collaborate with Director of Support Services to coordinate and facilitate IEP meetings, including informing teachers, providers, and families in a timely manner and compiling all necessary paperwork and data
• Collaborate with the Director of Support Services with submitting initial referrals or re-evaluation requests to CSE and ensuring CSE compliance with the referral timeline
• Communicate regularly with teachers and service providers to discuss recommendations for appropriate levels of services in advance of IEP meetings
• Ensure modifications made to student IEP services are implemented in a timely manner
• Ensure high quality, detailed, and accurate student IEPs and and SMART goals
• Gather related service progress reports and summarize progress with families when providers are unable to attend IEP meetings
• Collaborate with Assessment Coordinators to ensure students receive mandated testing accommodations
• Provide families with information and guidance regarding evaluation procedures, timeline, and due process rights
• Create and maintain up-to-date classroom service schedules
• Facilitate IEP team meetings to discuss students of concern and plan next steps to support their learning

Response to Intervention:

• In collaboration with the Director of Support Services, oversee and manage the RtI process by developing, refining, and implementing protocols for SSC (Successful Students Committee)
• Conduct baseline assessments and/or classroom observations for students referred to SSC
• Maintain detailed records by keeping SSC tracker up to date and ensuring that student cases are regularly reviewed through follow up meetings
• Facilitate weekly SSC meetings to develop individualized intervention plans and student goals
• Provide support and feedback for classroom teachers and/or intervention teachers implementing intervention plans
• Ensure consistent data collection and progress monitoring within each tiered level of intervention support

Other Responsibilities:

• Maintain internal database containing student IEP information, as well as an internal database of IEPs accessible to select staff members
• Support Director of Support Services to update student service information for per pupil invoicing
• Support Director of Support Services in finalizing budgetary projections
• Coordinate the distribution of IEP goal progress reports on a quarterly basis
• Maintain an active lending library of instructional resources, sensory tools, and professional development books for students, classroom teachers, and support services staff members

School-Wide Responsibilities:

• Utilize the Responsive Classroom approach to discipline and community-building
• Establish and maintain ongoing positive relationships and communication with families
• Actively participate in school community through weekly staff meetings, PD opportunities, staff committees, and school events
• Work with instructional coach on improving teaching practices throughout the year
• Respond productively to ongoing, year-round professional feedback
• Use weekly lesson plans to help drive instruction in a clear manner
• Demonstrate commitment to working with diverse populations of families and students

Minimum Qualifications:

• Strong commitment to Growing Up Green Charter School's mission and green theme
• Strong commitment to a multi-sensory teaching approach
• Demonstrates the ability to work collaboratively with a team of teachers
• Demonstrates initiative and flexibility in scheduling changes to meet all student needs
• Experience in environmental education a plus
• Experience with technology integration
• Excellent organizational skills
• Starting salary is $62,902. Salaries are determined using an equitable compensation scale that accounts for years of experience as lead teacher in a K-12 setting and levels of attained education

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree required; Master's Degree preferred
• Teaching Certificate in Students with Disability required
• Experience teaching students in Middle school grades preferred

Required Certificates & Licenses:

• NY Teaching Certification
• Teaching Certificate in Students with Disability
• NYC DOE/Fingerprinting & Background Clearance