Career Center

Highlands School is a vibrant leader in independent education in the Birmingham metropolitan region. Highlands School's whole-child focused academic program – guided by a comprehensive emphasis on physical, social-emotional, creative and intellectual development – educates and inspires students in preschool through 8th grade. The School was founded in 1958 and holds dual accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS).

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Learning Specialist will provide academic support for recommended students in small groups and/or individual sessions. The Specialist will also coordinate Individual Learning Plans for these students. Additionally, the Learning Specialist will develop and curate resources to support teachers in research-based teaching practices and will provide on-going support and professional development for teachers. This position requires the Specialist to be able to work with students who have varied learning differences. Highlands School is committed to providing support so that the needs of all students will be met and all can achieve at high levels of academic success.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Major Responsibilities include the following:

Student Relationships:

• Build supportive, trusting relationships with students.
• Be attuned to each student’s specific learning profile.
• Help students develop self-advocacy skills and learning strategies that promote academic success.

Community Relationships (Teacher and Parent Relationships):

• Actively collaborate with the grade level teams to stay informed of and support student progress.
• Participate in the Student Support Team process.
• Participate in Parent-Teacher Conferences for students.
• Effectively communicate with parents and teachers to characterize how a student’s unique learning profile presents itself in the classroom.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Actively pursue new developments in teaching methods, educational psychology, differentiation in the classroom, and co-teaching methods.
• Develop student support plans that articulate needed accommodations.
• Guide parents and teachers with useful resources for the benefit of students' learning experience.
• Support teachers in the classroom through co-teaching or targeted mini-lessons for student success.
• Use technology effectively to address specific student needs and be able to support students in the use of assistive technology corresponding to their learning differences.
• Provide support for students in executive function skills.
•  Administer relevant assessments (in reading, math, and writing) and be able to interpret results from PsychEd reports. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree (master’s degree is preferred)
• Teaching certification
• A minimum of three years of classroom teaching experience
• A love for working with elementary and middle school children
• Compassion for all learners
• Extensive knowledge of learning differences (e.g. dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, auditory processing disorder, etc.) and differentiation strategies for each exceptionality
• Knowledge of and experience administering a wide variety of relevant assessments
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with students, teachers, parents, and school administration
• Specialized training in executive function skills, organizational and study skills, SEL, reading, math, and writing interventions
• Experience working with students in a variety of classes and age groups