Bank Street Children’s Programs
Title: Learning Specialist, (4th–8th Grade) (One-Year Position)
Salary Range: $61,793–$114,915
Start Date: Aug 26, 2024
Schedule: This role is a 10-month position, and is in the Professional Employees’ Federation (PEF), the union for faculty members at Bank Street College. The hours for this position are 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, Mondays through Fridays, and until 5:00 PM on Wednesdays for a weekly afternoon faculty meeting. This role also includes occasional overnight work (~2 multi-night trips per year) for class field trips and occasional event support (~3 per year) that may happen outside of typical work hours.
About Bank Street
A leader in progressive education for more than 100 years, Bank Street provides students an education that engages their natural curiosity, nurtures critical thinking, and helps to develop a sense of community and social responsibility. Through a teaching approach that is fundamentally hands-on and child-centered, Bank Street students develop the courage and confidence to think independently, work collaboratively, understand themselves and others more deeply, and possess the compassion to make meaning of the world around them.
About the Position
The Learning Specialist works collaboratively with teachers, coordinators, the school psychologist, outside support personnel, families and the dean to support students with different learning styles by providing intervention and remediation and by supporting teachers in their efforts to advance students with different learning needs within the classroom. This role will primarily work with 4th–8th grade students and may have some responsibilities for other grades or parts of Children’s Programs.
Learning Support Responsibilities:
- In collaboration with teachers, adapt curriculum to meet the needs of students
- Meet and communicate with parents to increase their knowledge and understanding of their children’s learning and support with learning interventions
- Support children with learning differences through direct contact with children, meetings with parents, and collaborating with outside professionals and agencies
- Use formative and summative assessments to document student progress and achievement
- Assess and analyze student strengths and challenges, and design and implement appropriate instruction that response to those strengths and challenges
- Create annual transition notes and other documents that communicate student needs to other faculty
- Remain current with accepted and appropriate instructional theory, practice, and research
- Assist with the admissions process for incoming students by interviewing candidates, reviewing applicant work, and other tasks as needed by the admissions team
- Manage the collection and documentation of student IEPs and IESPs and schedule student service providers
- Liaise with the NYC Department of Education and outside service providers on providing services to students
- Work with students from the Graduate School that are in programs that intersect with your work
- Meet regularly with the mental health team and participate in all relevant meetings
- Participate in and support the facilitation of the Schoolwide Student Support Team (SST) meetings.
Additional Responsibilities
- Contribute to internal coverage within 4th–8th grade and across Children’s Programs
- Fulfill weekly community duties as assigned (i.e., lunch, recess, early morning care, bus)
- Support events including school dances, graduation, school musical, promotional videos, field day, field and field trips
- Attend and participate in weekly faculty meetings
- Attend and engage in regular planning meetings and supervision meetings
- Attend to other duties as specified by supervisor and division head
Desired Qualifications & Skill Sets
- Master’s degree preferred
- Experience working as part of a collaborative team of teachers
- Special Education degree desired
- 3 years experience working with young children with special needs
- Knowledge and experience in integrated and mainstreamed setting
- Experience with both standards-based assessment and progressive teaching methods
- experience with anti-bias and culturally responsive pedagogy
- Strong organizational and communication skills, both written and verbal
- An ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, parents, and administration
- Proficiency with incorporating technology into the classroom to enhance learning
- A commitment to professional development and lifelong learning