Brooklyn Friends School (BFS), a thriving Preschool-12 grade school located in vibrant Downtown Brooklyn, seeks a Lower School Learning Specialist within a dynamic community of colleagues (BFS uses the all-inclusive term, colleagues, to refer to all rather than one that delineates faculty/staff). Founded in 1867, Brooklyn Friends School’s pillars of social justice, service learning/civic engagement, and Quakerism, serve as guideposts for our action-oriented collective work. Our school’s history has been illustrious and reflective of the expansive nature of human experiences. Guided by our mission, BFS provides a dynamic, diverse, and robust social/emotional environment and academic program that cultivates compassionate, intellectually curious, and confident changemakers. As a school, we affirm that human diversity includes, but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic class, family structure and physical ability, as well as diversity of thought, talents, and learning style.
This short video gives you a glimpse into our contemporary experience.
Primary Responsibilities Include
This position reports to the Head of Lower School.
Support the academic/social/emotional development of all students.
Collaborate well with the assigned grade level team to plan, create, and implement accommodations and differentiation.
Support ongoing student assessment and progress reporting where appropriate.
Share in supervisory duties and general support and care of the school community.
Perform necessary routine tasks and daily maintenance of the program and office.
Monitor student progress, and play an essential role in communicating needs, services, and accommodations to faculty, families, and administration.
Coordinate school-based standardized testing in collaboration with the Lower School administration for students with approved accommodations, including communicating with standardized testing agencies and with families as needed.
Interpret educational and cognitive testing and other diagnostics in order to develop learning profiles and, when needed, make recommendations for adaptive and/or accommodative strategies to students, parents, teachers, and administrators.
Create and maintain documentation and files for all student learning profiles in collaboration with other learning specialists, and serve as a liaison to external service providers.
Provide communication, coaching, and cooperates with teachers to implement the strategies and accommodations noted in student learning profiles
Lead professional development in collaboration with school administration for grade level teams in literacy and learning, and for families on strategies that assist students with learning differences, sensory needs, and/or behavioral needs.
Coordinate with administration and the grade level specialist team to ensure consistency and cohesion throughout the program specifically honoring our literacy programming.
Serve as a specialist in the work of literacy, collaborating literacy curriculum planning, scope and sequence documentation, professional development, and implementation.
Assume other responsibilities and modifications as assigned by administration.
Qualifications And Characteristics Sought
Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree preferred, in Curriculum Design, Special Education, Reading and Literacy, or similar discipline.
5+ years of experience in education and/or learning services
Demonstrated knowledge of instructional pedagogy, learning services, and an understanding of the developmental needs of students
Demonstrated success working with faculty in all disciplines to identify instructional needs to enable/enhance student learning
Classroom or institutional teaching experience
Fluency and proficiency with both PC and Macintosh operating systems
Fluency and proficiency with Google Apps for Education
Strong organizational, technical, and analytical skills
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
Detail-oriented and strong problem solver
Demonstrates cultural competency and a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice
Physical Requirements Of The Job
Must be able to work in an office environment including prolonged periods of sitting and standing.
Must be able to stand, bend over, twist and reach to access file cabinets, bookshelves and navigate office and workstation spaces.
Must be able to ambulate through a classroom setting, including walking up stairs.
Must be able to lift and carry small children up to 40lbs in the case of emergency.
Union Status: Union
Salary Range: $84,975 - $94,970
This salary range represents the expected annual salary range for this position. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we'll consider your education level, experience, and other job-related factors.
Benefits: Colleagues may be eligible to participate in employment benefits including, but not limited to, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, life insurance and long-term disability insurance. Benefits are subject to change at any time, and are subject to applicable plan documents.
To Apply, Please Provide The Following
Cover letter addressed to the Head of Lower School. Along with punctuating your interest and experience, your cover letter should also address how you feel that your professional journey aligns with our school’s Quaker values and pillars of social justice and civic engagement.
Resume/Curriculum Vitae
List of three references
Letters of recommendation are highly encouraged.
Completed online application.
Please email the above attachments as a single PDF to learningspecialistposition@brooklynfriends.org and hiring@brooklynfriends.org, and put Lower School Learning Specialist in the subject line.
Brooklyn Friends School COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
We appreciate your interest in employment at Brooklyn Friends School. We would like to note that the School has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, which requires all faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated, and provide proof of vaccination.
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About Brooklyn Friends School
Brooklyn Friends School (BFS) is a thriving Preschool-12 grade school located in vibrant Downtown Brooklyn with a dynamic community of colleagues (BFS uses the all-inclusive term, colleagues, to refer to all rather than one that delineates faculty/staff). Founded in 1867, Brooklyn Friends School’s pillars of social justice, service learning/civic engagement, and Quakerism, serve as guideposts for our action-oriented collective work. Our school’s history has been illustrious and reflective of the expansive nature of human experiences. Guided by our mission, BFS provides a dynamic, diverse, and robust social/emotional environment and academic program that cultivates compassionate, intellectually curious, and confident changemakers. As a school, we affirm that human diversity includes, but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic class, family structure and physical ability, as well as diversity of thought, talents, and learning style.