Job Description
WHO WE ARE?
Ethical Culture Fieldston School is a progressive PreK-12 independent school that has been serving students from throughout New York City and the surrounding suburbs since 1878. ECFS offers a rich curriculum in the arts, sciences, and humanities. A co-ed, nonsectarian school, it serves a diverse community of about 1,700 students on two campuses -- one in the Riverdale section of the Bronx and the other in Manhattan.
WHAT IS ESSENTIAL ABOUT WORKING AT OUR SCHOOL?
The Ethical Culture Fieldston School has a long history of equity and inclusion deeply rooted in our mission and the educational philosophy of our founder, Felix Adler. We embrace diversity of ancestry, family, identity, culture, and beliefs and seek a student body and faculty that reflect the pluralism and socio-economic diversity of metropolitan New York. We affirm both our differences and commonalities, and strive to balance individuality and community. In keeping with our progressive tradition, we are dedicated to increasing our students’ cultural literacy to help them understand multiple perspectives, and see the world beyond the self.
We expect members of our community to engage in open dialogue about living and learning in a diverse environment inside and outside the classroom. We see this work, with its creative tensions, as a catalyst for individual and collective growth. On a daily basis, we are committed to making this vision of a democratic, pluralistic, and progressive school a reality.
The Learning Specialist is a member of the Language and Learning Team, which supports the work of the classroom teachers by helping students who experience challenges in literacy and executive functioning skills.
A Learning Specialist works with students who have been identified as having difficulties with decoding, reading comprehension and/or writing across content areas. In collaboration with teachers, the specialist works as a co-teacher in the classroom and leads small groups for targeted instruction. They perform both formal and informal assessments in order to monitor student progress and inform individual educational goals. The learning specialist also functions as a resource to classroom and specialist teachers by providing consultation about student learning profiles, selection of materials, and teaching strategies. They contribute to curriculum development and modification with a focus on student support. The learning specialist attends team, grade level, and administrative meetings to discuss student issues and progress. They participate in meetings with the parents of their students and facilitate coordination between the school, family and outside service providers.
This is a leave replacement starting February to June 2021.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Administer formal and informal language assessments, including the Fountas and Pinnell Assessment System and the online Raz Kids Assessment System
Lead language planning meetings with other teachers in the grade
Experience and comfort with co-teaching whole-class language instruction and leading small group instruction
Monitor and assess student progress in addition to supporting teachers and developing the curriculum.
Maintain database of literacy assessment results
Experience with Fundations, Guided Reading, and a structured writing curriculum/ strategies
Update and oversee individual learning plans
Act as liaison to parents about the program and the specific needs of their children
Maintain regular contact with outside providers
Develop curriculum and lead an after school language arts course
Have a commitment to our mission and the ten tenets of progressive education that guide our academic program.
While this is a mostly Remote position, the position may require occasional visits to school.
Requirements
Master’s degree in Reading, Special Education or related fields preferred
A minimum of three years experience with reading and writing instruction/remediation
Experience with learning differences and differentiated curriculum
Experience in administering and analyzing benchmark and standardized assessments of reading including the Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System (BAS) and the online Raz Kids Assessment System
Experience with Fundations
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Experience working in a diverse school, knowledge of and commitment to multicultural education, identity development and culturally relevant pedagogy and practices.
EEO
ECFS is an equal opportunity employer. Our goal is to be a diverse community of professionals who broadly reflects the people of the metropolitan New York City area, our students, and families. We aim to align our hiring process with our mission and institutional goals. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion or religious practices, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national origin, age, ability status, military status, unemployment status or any other category protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. ECFS takes affirmative action in support of its policy to employ and advance all qualified candidates