Learning Specialist

Learning Specialist

At Beacon College, you'll do more than support students—you'll help transform lives. Join a collaborative team at the forefront of making higher education accessible to neurodivergent learners, developing innovative strategies that foster meaningful engagement, academic success, and independence. Guided by a holistic, student-centered philosophy, you'll have the opportunity to help shape the future of neurodivergent education while making a lasting difference in students' lives.

Location: Beacon College, Leesburg, Florida

Work Type: Full-Time | Staff | Academic Year: August through May a 10-month position

Division: Academic Affairs

Job Summary: The Learning Specialist promotes student success by providing academic, personal, and developmental support throughout a student's college experience. Through mentoring, advising, coaching, and advocacy, this role helps students strengthen learning strategies, executive functioning, study skills, and the confidence needed to succeed in college and beyond. The Learning Specialist serves as a consistent source of support, meeting regularly with students in individual and group settings to foster academic achievement, resilience, personal growth, and independence. This role also maintains accurate documentation and collaborates with faculty, staff, administrators, families, and other stakeholders to ensure student success. Above all, the Learning Specialist demonstrates care, accountability, collaboration, and a student-centered approach that empowers students to thrive academically, socially, and personally.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Educational and Developmental Mentor
• Monitor students' academic performance and assist them in developing effective learning strategies, positive habits, and compensatory skills related to attendance, class participation, assignment completion, use of campus resources, and communication.
• Model, scaffold, and monitor the initiation and completion of academic tasks during one-on-one meetings and Open Learning sessions.
• Reinforce skill development in executive functioning, study strategies, technology literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
• Identify students who may be at risk of academic, social, or campus-related challenges and provide proactive support.
• Develop and implement interventions to improve student success throughout the semester, including after midterm grade reviews, ensuring access to appropriate services and resources.
• Collaborate with departments across campus through the Triadic Model to support students' academic, social, and personal development through coordinated efforts.
• Utilize shared resources and information to improve efficiency and avoid duplication of services.
• Individualize support based on each student's academic level, developmental needs, and personal goals.

• Academic Advisor
• Communicate advising policies, procedures, and expectations clearly to students.
• Connect students with academic resources, including the Student Portal, Catalog, and other support services.
• Assist students in selecting academic programs and courses aligned with their interests, strengths, and career goals, including developmental coursework when appropriate.
• Help students develop balanced and realistic academic plans.
• Collaborate with the Director of Advising to ensure adherence to degree and program requirements.
• Maintain effective communication with faculty, staff, students, and families, ensuring timely responses and collaboration.

• Life Advisor
• Support students in addressing personal concerns, life challenges, and interpersonal conflicts.
• Help students build productive relationships and navigate the college environment effectively.
• Develop students' communication skills, including active listening and self-advocacy.
• Monitor student well-being and connect students with appropriate mental, physical, and campus wellness resources.
• Teach and reinforce strategies for managing stress, anxiety, and other challenges that may affect learning and success.

• Supporting the Transition to Independence
• Utilize scaffolding and gradual release strategies to build student autonomy.
• Guide students in planning for their academic, professional, and personal futures.
• Assist students in establishing and pursuing meaningful academic and life goals.
• Foster self-awareness, social-emotional growth, and personal responsibility.
• Provide guidance related to life skills and make referrals when additional support is needed.
• Encourage informed decision-making, accountability, and self-advocacy.
• Build students' confidence, competence, and independence.

• Recordkeeping and Documentation
• Following each student session, document student progress, trends, interventions, and other relevant information in Maxient.
• Review faculty updates and student performance information in Canvas on a weekly basis.
• Update the Student of Concern document weekly and provide bi-weekly updates during meetings with the Dean of Student Success and Disability Services Coordinator.
• Track student contacts and submit monthly activity reports to the Dean of Student Success and Disability Services Coordinator.
• Maintain written communication with students between meetings as needed.
• Update and maintain student face sheets annually, creating new documents when necessary.
• Prepare scheduled and as-needed communications to parents and families, with a minimum of one to three communications per semester.

• Other Responsibilities
• Serve as a student advocate and assist students with navigating accommodation processes as appropriate.
• Conduct weekly one-on-one meetings and facilitate Open Learning sessions.
• Listen actively to student concerns and provide appropriate support and guidance.
• Demonstrate genuine care for student well-being, belonging, and success.
• Encourage student engagement through campus activities, clubs, events, and community involvement.
• Stay current with emerging best practices in student support, coaching, and learning services, sharing knowledge and strategies with colleagues.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Master's degree in education, counseling, learning disabilities, or a closely related field relevant to the work of the Center for Student Success required.
• Experience: Minimum of three years of experience in academic support, advising, coaching, counseling, teaching, disability services, or a related educational field. Demonstrated content knowledge and pedagogical expertise required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced graduate study in education, counseling, learning disabilities, or a related field preferred.
• Experience working with students with learning differences in a secondary or postsecondary educational setting preferred.
• Experience providing academic support, coaching, advising, or instruction to students in a postsecondary educational setting preferred.
• Experience using Maxient or similar student success and case management software preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Comprehensive understanding of the mission of Beacon College and its undergraduate support model, as well as demonstrated knowledge of contemporary research and developments in the field of learning disabilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and other educational technology platforms.
• Effective time management skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple responsibilities.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, decision-making, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Demonstrates professionalism, patience, and discretion when working with students, faculty, staff, families, and other members of the college community.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends for events and special projects is required.
• Strong service orientation with a demonstrated ability to effectively meet the needs of and work collaboratively with a diverse population of students, staff, faculty, and public.

Environment: This role operates in a professional office environment with regular interaction across campus and digital platforms. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Additional Information: This description is intended to outline the general scope of responsibilities and is not an exhaustive list of duties. Beacon College is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community.