26-27 Lower School Learning Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

The Quad Preparatory School

Lower School Learning Specialist

Anticipated Opening for the 2026-27 School Year

Classification: Exempt

Reports to: Lower School Senior Learning Specialist

Annual Salary Range: $68,000-$96,000

At Quad Prep, we are on a mission — to transform the lives of neurodiverse, twice-exceptional people by redefining the experience of school. Through the collective, collaborative, and empathic work of our teachers and clinicians, we are empowering our students to engage with the exciting and wonderful diversity of this world. 

As we enter our 14th year, we are excited to welcome fellow innovators and collaborative colleagues to our team to be a part of this inspiring and impactful mission. At Quad Prep, a New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) Accredited School, we are eager to create challenging and engaging learning experiences for our students, to seek diverse perspectives, and to work together to continuously refine and redefine best practices in neurodiverse education. The Quad Preparatory School actively seeks to advance diversity through its programs and hiring.

Why work at Quad Prep?

• ACCREDITED SCHOOL: Quad Prep was recognized as an outstanding school when it received accreditation through NYSAIS.
• COMMUNITY: We are committed to building a joyful and inclusive culture where everybody is celebrated for who they are.   
• COLLEAGUES: Our colleagues are inspiring, consummate innovators and are at their happiest collaborating to create personalized solutions for each student.  
• STUDENTS We guarantee that you will learn something eye-opening every single day from our students — and have a lot of joy and laughter along the way!
• DEEP PROFESSIONAL LEARNING: Quad Prep supports mission-driven educators and clinicians to grow their professional skills and influence in the neurodiversity educational space. Close collaboration with colleagues, coaching from supportive leaders, and thoughtful, in-depth professional learning programs keep us growing.
• GENEROUS AND COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS
  • Health: Medical, Dental, Vision
  • Student Loan repayment 
  • Retirement Plan contribution
  • Group Life Plan
  • Disability Insurance
  • Generous Parental Leave
• WORK LIFE BALANCE:  In addition to a ten-month school year during which our staff are offered on average 33 days off (approximately 7 weeks) for scheduled holidays and school breaks, we provide generous preparation periods throughout each week, limiting the number of after work hours you will need to work —  so that you can live the life you wish for — inside and outside of our school. Additionally, our students are dismissed midday each Friday in order for you to meet with your team and division, as well as plan, and prep.
• EXTRAS You can build a private practice or tutor non-Quad Prep students onsite during after school hours at low-cost reduced rates, available only to our Quad Prep staff.

Who We Are

(If Quad Prep is for you, you'll read what's below and feel, "That's me!")

At Quad Prep, we are guided by values that we hold dear and we have developed an innovative set of practices to meet our mission. We are:

Groundbreaking: We ignite our students’ talents and are passionate about their futures. You are:

• Passionate about our work and our mission
• Creative and excited about reaching each and every learner in new ways
• Excited to help create new, evidence-based best practices in this rapidly evolving field
• Able to set high expectations of both students and yourself and discover ways to meet them

Collaborative:  We function with an exceedingly deep degree of collaboration. You:

• Communicate effectively with colleagues
• Seek to understand yourself and others in order to welcome new perspectives 
• Are generous of spirit and willing to give and receive feedback and input freely
• Are kind, welcoming, and inclusive

Trustworthy:  We are steadfast and are accountable to our students and each other. You:

• Can be counted on to do what you say you will do
• Have a high level of ownership for personal and team results
• Can purposefully develop skills to find success in your work and our learning community
• Ask for support when you need it
• Project an unflappable, firm, and kind presence to our students

Constantly Learning and Growing:  We value continued growth and learning. You:

• Seek opportunities to learn and grow in your professional practice
• Support colleagues by sharing best practices and nurturing their learning
• Help the organization grow and improve by developing and sharing new ideas and approaches

Resourceful:  At Quad Prep, we dig deep to meet our mission. You: 

• Are highly effective and dedicated 
• Show initiative
• Display good judgment and sensibility
• Excellent at supporting students inside and outside the classroom

Flexible:  At Quad Prep, we never give up on each other and are driven by the ethos of “not if, but how.”   You are:

• Open to new ideas
• Nimble in fluid, changing environments
• Excited by growth, change, and innovation

WHAT YOU’LL DO

The Quad Preparatory School is looking for a Lower School (grades K-5) Learning Specialist to provide students with personalized support in one or more academic content areas or developmental academic skills beyond the personalized support available in the Quad Prep classroom setting. Students who attend sessions with our learning specialists generally require support in math skills, foundational literacy skills, reading comprehension, and/or written expression. The learning specialist most often provides intervention in one-to-one sessions or in a dyad. The child-centered approach at Quad Prep is highly collaborative, a trait that the learning specialist must uphold to provide personalized support to each student. While most students who work with our learning specialists are performing below grade-level, learning specialists do, on occasion, work with students who are far exceeding grade-level expectations.

Expectations:

• Provide personalized educational support for students whose needs cannot be met in the regular classroom setting.
• Follow the guidance of the clinical, psychosocial, and classroom-based academic staff in working with each student in accordance with each child’s academic and social-emotional education plan.
• Support students in all of their goals for both academic and social-emotional development. 
• Contribute to planning cross-curricular inquiry-based projects with a collaborative, integrated team of educators and therapists. 
• Implement curriculum and instructional activities driven by student learning styles and multiple assessment alternatives and maintain portfolios of student work to illustrate and record progress and achievement.
• Propose strategies and programs that serve the needs of each student who is showing difficulty with reading, writing, language skills, and/or math skills.
• Support teachers in methods of using new/specific resources in the classroom; propose strategies and programs that serve students with learning differences; collaborate with teachers to monitor learning progress and provide teachers with strategies to support students outside of scheduled sessions.
• Determine when a student needs more or less time with intense instruction and recommend next steps.
• Maintain records of all strategies and programs used for students.
• Conduct regular assessments to document the growth of students in areas needing support, and to support teachers in periodic benchmark assessments schoolwide.
• Empower students to take charge of their learning by providing all necessary scaffolding, modeling, materials, and resources, and consistently maintaining a high level of expectation for student success.
• Collaborate with other academic staff and psychosocial staff members to plan, integrate, and facilitate cross-curricular, inquiry-based projects. 
• Communicate with parents and guardians to provide feedback on pupils’ academic and social-emotional progress through parent-teacher conferences, written reports, phone calls, and emails. 
• Follow the professional code and policies of the school and conduct oneself in a way that promotes the mission of the school. 
• Utilize Google Suite, in particular Google Drive, Docs, and Sheets. 
• Attend all faculty and staff meetings, professional development sessions, and required special events (e.g., open houses, Curriculum Night, Carnivale). 
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Competencies:

1. Love for working with children
2. Desire and ability to work with students with special needs
3. Lesson planning and the ability to provide engaging and personalized instruction
4. Knowledge of various clinical and academic interventions
5. Ability to connect with children in grades K-5
6. Effective oral and written communication skills
7. A solid understanding of elementary school-age academic, social, and emotional development
8. Attention to detail
9. Maintaining confidentiality and privacy
10. Ethical conduct
11. Time management and the ability to multitask
12. Teamwork and collaboration
13. Patience and flexibility

Required Education and Experience:

• Masters in education, special education, or a related field.
• Minimum two years of paid experience working with children in grades K-5.
• Minimum two years of paid experience working with children with special learning needs.
• Training with Orton Gillingham Methodology or Program that falls under that umbrella .

Preferred Education and Experience: 

• At least three years experience as a learning specialist or special education teacher in an elementary setting.
• Experience with multisensory math
• Master’s degree in education or special education Experience working with twice-exceptional youth.
• Orton-Gillingham certification.
• Certification/Extensive training in specific learning intervention approaches beyond Orton-Gillingham.
• Training with SRSD, Writing Revolution, and/or Project Read.

Work Environment: 

This job operates in a school setting. The school is located on the 4th floor of the building with an elevator. This role requires regular walking to various locations around the school and occasionally traveling to the Upper School campus approximately two blocks away. 

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and listen. This position is active and involves continuous standing, walking, and climbing stairs. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move items under 20 pounds. Typing is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work: 

This is a full-time exempt position in an educational facility that is open eight hours a day. Teachers, psychosocial teachers, and staff clinicians work ten months out of the year according to the academic calendar (late August to late June). Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required, anticipate at least three of these events throughout the year. In general, though, hours are Monday-Friday 8am - 4pm. 

Compensation and Benefits: 

Compensation is dependent upon experience and degree obtained. 

At Quad Prep full-time (or over 30 hours per week) employees will have access to a full range of benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), pre-tax transit, and dependent care (DC FSA) accounts; a 401K match, and student loan repayment contributions (after one year of employment); and a range of professional development opportunities, including our First Year Support Program for all new facility and staff; our Leadership Development Institute for those wishing to gain supervisory experience; and a full tuition waiver for candidates wishing to participate in our annual Certificate Program in Meeting the Needs of Twice-Exceptional Students.

All staff will engage with colleagues in our ongoing staff wellness groups, relax at our social events, and collaborate in meaningful work as a valued member of our voluntary groups, including our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging; our Staff Ambassador Program; and our Peer Mentorship Program.

Want to learn more about Quad Prep? Connect with us!

***Note that currently, all employees are requested to be fully vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19. In the event of an outbreak of COVID-19 or any other communicable or infectious disease, or any public-health condition designated by the New York State Commissioner of Health, that in the School's sole discretion requires operational changes, the School reserves the right to establish and modify health and safety protocols, including requiring vaccination and/or vaccine boosters, testing, or other health requirements and requests for proof of compliance. ***

ADA/AAP/EEO Statement: The Quad Preparatory School is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. We take steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact our People and Culture department at View email address on ziprecruiter.com.

The Quad Preparatory School is based on an inclusive philosophy that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital status, creed, sexual orientation, familial status, citizenship, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by law in its hiring procedures and policies.

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