Middle School Learning Specialist - Full Time
Beginning Fall 2022
Description
Baker Demonstration School, an independent progressive PK-8 school on Chicago’s North Shore, is seeking
an exemplary Middle School Learning Specialist for the 2022-2023 school year. We seek candidates who are
passionate about progressive education, have a love of students and teaching, are innovative and
knowledgeable about differentiated learning, and have strong MS math experience. We place a high value
on community and seek candidates who have excellent interpersonal skills who will work well with
students, colleagues, and parents. A full-time position includes curriculum development, participation in
all professional development meetings, collaboration with colleagues, and additional responsibilities
throughout the year that require attendance at evening and weekend school events.

Requirements
● 3-5 years experience managing a full caseload of students, including managing accommodations plans, regular

    progress monitoring and other data assessment and analysis, coordinating with students’ care providers, and liaising

    with local district learning support personnel for educational evaluations

● Experience analyzing benchmark and progress monitoring scores and utilizing the scores to inform

    instruction and form intervention groups● Experience providing push-in support in middle school classrooms
● Experience providing small group or 1:1 support
● Experience teaching math to small groups of students with learning differences
● Middle school special education teaching experience
● Bachelor’s or Master's degree in Special Education- LBS certification
● Effective communication skills with all stakeholders - students, teachers and parents
● Knowledge and experience with progressive education philosophy and a constructivist pedagogical approach

● A deep commitment to enhancing an inclusive school community for students and adults, based on cultural

    competence, social justice, and respect for diverse perspectives and backgrounds

●Ability and skill with collaborating and contributing positively to an educational environment that supports a lifelong

    love of learning, self-esteem, and respect for the community and the world in which we live

● Commitment to contribute positively to the school community and to develop supportive relationships with students,

    families and colleagues

●Continue to be a lifelong learner through ongoing professional development and collaboration with colleagues

School Information
Founded in 1918, Baker Demonstration School is an independent day school committed to providing an
exemplary Preschool, Elementary and Middle School progressive education to our 200 students. Our
students come from Chicago, Evanston, Wilmette and other North Shore communities. We believe that
children learn best in an inclusive, creative community that encourages individual risk-taking and values
learning by doing. Baker’s experiential approach nurtures the development of the whole child enabling each
student to be fully prepared for intellectual, artistic, physical and social/emotional challenges well beyond
Baker.
At Baker:
● We cultivate our students’ intrinsic motivation to learn and their active participation in the learning process.

● We foster excellence through critical thinking and integrated connections across academic and artistic endeavors.
● We promote collaboration while developing leadership capacity.
● We foster citizenship by encouraging students to develop self-awareness and compassion for others.
● We celebrate individual, familial and cultural identities and graduate students with an understanding and respect for   

    diversity, equity and inclusivity.

Application Materials
Candidates should submit a letter of interest and resume with 3-4 professional references to
employment@bakerdemschool.org.

Non-Discrimination and Disability Policy
Baker Demonstration School is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions,
including those related to recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, and recognition of individuals on the
basis of their ability and job related qualifications and without regard to race, gender, religion, national
origin, sexual orientation, disability, or any other classification prescribed under applicable federal, state,
or local law. We actively seek diversity among faculty and administration as well as among students. The
school complies with the law regarding reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application/interview
process are requested to contact the School in order to arrange such accommodation.

4/19/22

Middle School Learning Specialist Teacher

Roycemore is an Equal Opportunity Employer of minorities, females, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities, and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, creed, gender preference or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its policies.

Why Roycemore? 

“First and foremost, Roycemore prioritizes students; the best interest of students is the basis of every decision. Roycemore is a community that fosters individual growth and believes in the possibility of success for each student. It is a transforming environment! The Administration supports the faculty’s growth, providing amazing opportunities to learn new technologies and to participate in interest-based professional development. Finally, Roycemore is an inclusive family; a place that leaves an indelible mark on all Griffins.” 

We are currently seeking an experienced Middle School Learning Specialist Teacher for the 2022-23 school year. This person will be working with children from grades five through eight.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Identifies, monitors, and remediates students who learn differently
• Conducts quarterly formal screenings & assessments as well as informal screenings and assessments, on a regular basis.
• Actively participate in weekly/bi-weekly student-support team meetings with teachers, the School Social Worker, and Division Head.
• Assume an active role in Learning Development and Student Support Team meetings.
• Collaborate with Roycemore School Social Worker to support studentsʼ social-emotional needs.
• Works with Grade Level teachers to ensure optimal learning of students being served. This includes assisting with the implementation of models of differentiated instruction that provide specialized, small-group instruction in reading, writing, and mathematics
• Support teaching staff by offering resources, assistance, advice, and training to enable
• faculty to better meet the needs of all learners.
• Works with students who qualify for support in reading, writing, and mathematics by creating a learning plan while progress monitoring to ensure targeted goals are being met (push-in/pull-out, 1:1/small group)
• Works with faculty, parents, and private contractors on behalf of students who require specialized academic instruction
• Read and summarize neuropsychological evaluation reports for faculty as necessary.
• Works with the Student Support Team at Roycemore, especially during the transition to Middle School, for students who have Individualized Learning Plans and/or students for whom faculty have growing concerns
• Supports Admissions by reading and consulting with the division head and admissions director on incoming student evaluations when asked
• Offers occasional faculty and parent educational programs or training
• Establishes and maintains frequent communication with parents about their child’s academic, social and emotional, progress and needs. This includes Progress Reports, phone calls, and emails
• Makes recommendations for home interventions
• Fulfill assigned duty responsibilities [ morning arrival, lunch/recess, and or dismissal duty]
• Sponsor and facilitate a club or sport after school.
• Teach a class

Roycemore is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities

For best consideration please email or send a cover letter and resume with three references to
Adrienne Floro, Middle School Division Head, by April 30, 2022: afloro@roycemoreschool.org

3/5/22

Learning Specialist

Lake Forest Country Day School (LFCDS) seeks a talented and dedicated full-time Learning Specialist, starting in August 2022. This qualified candidate will join the Student Support team in providing research-based specialized instruction to students with a diverse range of learning needs and learning differences. The candidate will work collaboratively with the Student Support team, classroom teachers, students in preschool--8th grade, parents, and administrators to problem-solve and help students develop skills and strategies that adhere to their individual needs and enhance academic growth.  

LFCDS, located on a 30-acre campus about 30 miles north of Chicago, Illinois, is a co-educational, independent day school serving 400 students from age 2 through eighth grade. The School has a long tradition of producing thoughtful, confident, and successful students. Children are known, loved, and challenged at LFCDS, and a state-of-the-art facility provides a remarkable setting for inspired teaching, academic rigor, and attention to individual needs. 

The central mission of the Learning Specialist is to ensure that Lake Forest Country Day School identifies and supports its students who learn differently during elementary grades through middle school and provide appropriate instruction and intervention based on educational best practices supported by neuroscience research.  The Learning Specialist role also includes a responsibility to work collaboratively with other faculty members to help ensure curricular offerings are fully differentiated to meet the student’s needs, and includes helping write and design individualized learning plans for students and updating them as needed.  

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, monitor, and remediate students who learn differently. This involves working with faculty, parents, private contractors, and evaluators on behalf of students who require specialized academic instruction. 

• Provide one-on-one and small-group support/instruction for students, both in push-in and pull-out environments.

• Support students using specialized instruction in the areas of reading, written language, mathematics, executive functioning, and study skills. 

• Conduct ongoing assessments to identify needs and evaluate student growth and responsiveness to intervention.

• Actively participate in monthly consult meetings and weekly team meetings with teachers, Learning Specialists, Counselors, and Division Heads.

• Assume an active role in Learning Development and Student Support Team meetings.

• Collaborate with LFCDS School Counselors to support students’ social-emotional needs.

• Read and summarize neuropsychological evaluation reports for faculty as necessary.

• Collaborate with outside evaluators and professionals to support individual students’ needs. 

• Write, maintain and update Individualized Educational Plans. 

• Guide teachers in differentiating instruction and implementing classroom accommodations and modifications. 

• Support teaching staff by offering resources, assistance, advice, and training to enable faculty to better meet the needs of all learners. 

• Counsel families on learning support, classroom and assessment accommodations.

• Prepare and support students as they transition between each grade and secondary school. 

Professional and Personal Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in education with special education/LBS1 certification or endorsement from an accredited college or university is required; a graduate degree is preferred. 

• Extensive knowledge of learning differences and strategies. 

• Experience teaching diverse learners and age groups.

• Knowledge of early intervention, RTI, formative and summative assessments, acquisition of reading, and be current on the general teaching of reading, writing, and mathematics. 

• Training/certification in a multisensory reading program such as Wilson, SLANT, or Orton-Gillingham is preferred. LFCDS would fund such training for the appropriate candidate, even if they lack this skillset at present. 

• Knowledge and experience writing Individualized Educational Plans.

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills as well as proven ability to work with a diversity of colleagues and stakeholders at all levels. 

• A willingness to learn and grow professionally.

• Outstanding judgment and emotional maturity.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

• High level of energy, creativity, positive attitude, sense of humor, and flexibility. 

Mission Statement: Inspired teaching, academic rigor, attention to individual needs, a commitment to responsible citizenship—these principles infuse every aspect of life at Lake Forest Country Day School and define our dedication to producing students of strong character with a passion for learning.

Core Values: Excellence, Partnership, Responsibility, Participation, Diversity

Interested applicants should send a letter of interest, resume, and the names of three professional references (personal statement optional) in PDF format to the attention of Robin Baasen, Director of Student Support, at robin.baasen@lfcds.org with the subject line “Learning Specialist Application.”

Lake Forest Country Day School seeks and embraces diversity among our faculty, staff, and student body. LFCDS is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, religion, marital status, disability, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, order of protection status, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. 3/