SEEKING LEARNING SPECIALIST IN CHILDREN'S LEARNING PROGRAM AT KOLOT CHAYEINU (PART-TIME)
About Kolot Chayeinu:
Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives is a 30-years-strong, fast-growing, progressive Jewish congregation in Brooklyn, NY with over 400 households. Kolot is a place of inclusive ritual, supportive community, dynamic educational programming, and the relentless pursuit of social justice. Read Kolot’s Mission Statement here. In the Children’s Learning Program (CLP), we provide joyful Jewish learning from early childhood through 8th grade.
We are seeking a part-time Middle School Learning Specialist to support our growing Children’s Learning Program for the 2024-25 school year.
Job Description and Responsibilities:
Kolot is committed to serving and supporting all children in CLP across social, emotional and learning needs. This position will work with a dedicated team of educators, staff and parents who are passionate about education, Judaism and inclusion. The Learning Specialist would work in our middle school program, grades 6th-8th and would be our second Learning Specialist at CLP, with our other Learning Specialist working in our elementary program. This position will begin by supporting students with IEPs in grades 6th-8th for the 2023-24 school year, with the possibility of expanding in future years to include students with differentiated learning styles.
This position will ideally begin at the end of August or by mid-September, and will work through mid-June.
6th and 7th grade classes are held on Thursday afternoons, 4:15-6:15pm and 8th grade is held every other Tuesday evening, 6:30-8pm. The Learning Specialist will need to be available during these times for at least half of the school year (about twice a month) to observe students, and will perform the rest of their responsibilities remotely.
The Middle School Learning Specialist will report to the Principal of CLP, and work closely with part-time CLP educators and parents and the other Learning Specialist. This upcoming school year, we anticipate that this position will work closely with 3-5 families in the areas outlined below.
Responsibilities:
- Conduct intake interviews with all parents of children with IEPs in the middle school program prior to the start of school in early October. Create “CLP IEPs,” distribute and discuss with the child's parents, CLP teacher, and Principal of CLP.
- Make recommendations to teachers about strategies for individual students and the class in the beginning of the school year, and follow up to support teachers with implementation as needed throughout the year.
- Observe students in classes as needed.
- Provide ongoing direct support to children with special needs/learning differences as well as to their families.
- Serve as a proactive liaison between families, Kolot teachers and Principal regarding children with special needs.
- Meet or check in periodically with the CLP Principal to discuss progress and make recommendations about how CLP can best support its students.
- Lead 1-2 professional developments for teachers about differentiated learning strategies and attend another three as a participant. (Please note: professional developments occur on Monday evenings, 6:30-8pm. It’s preferable for the Learning Specialist to attend these professional development sessions, but not required.)
Goals:
Help create inclusive learning at CLP.
Provide training in classroom/behavior management and differentiated instruction.
Provide the support needed by all students to participate successfully in CLP, and ultimately in Jewish ritual life in a way that is meaningful to them and their families, with a focus on direct support of 3-5 families
Qualifications:
Degree in Special Education
Experience reading IEPs
Experience working with educators and supporting them with implementing differentiated learning strategies.
Jewish knowledge is preferred, but not necessary.
Salary:
The annual salary for this position is $3,600. While each week will vary, it is expected that the Middle School Learning Specialist will observe students around four hours each month and work an additional four hours a month remotely. If the Learning Specialist is able to participate in the four professional developments noted above, the salary will increase by $300.
Please email a cover letter, CV and two references addressed to Director of Lifelong Learning Jessica Moore at [email protected] with “Learning Specialist Application” in the subject heading. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.