Jobs

Walnut Hill School for the Arts seeks a Learning Specialist to join the Student Life Office to best support the needs of students and faculty starting in mid-August. Working closely with other members of the Student Life and Teaching & Learning teams, this position will help implement student learning support services, serve as a resource for students and faculty, and provide direct services to students, both individually and in groups as appropriate. This is a full-time 10-month position reporting to the Dean of Students and working closely with the Associate Director of Student Life – Student Support and the Dean of Innovative & Inclusive Pedagogy. All Walnut Hill faculty and staff are active and engaged members of the school community who are committed to collaborating and growing in their field.

Responsibilities:

Faculty & Staff Support/Training: The Learning Specialist will work collaboratively with academic and arts faculty as well as Student Life Staff, Nurses, Counselors, and Advisors to:

• Provide learning support, ideas, and feedback in classrooms and studios based on observation, and student and faculty needs and requests;
• Serve as an expert on student learning styles and diagnoses for faculty and staff; offer various resources, assistance, advice, and training to enable faculty and staff to better meet the needs of all learners;
• Train faculty and staff on best practices to improve student learning and student assessment
• Deliver education and training on specific student accommodations and how they may appear in various settings;
• Provide strategies to engage students with specific learning profiles in both classroom and non-classroom settings;
• Assist faculty with providing necessary and appropriate feedback to students;
• Explore with Arts Department Heads the process of building a successful accommodation structure that directly correlates with each of Walnut Hill’s five artistic disciplines
• Develop and maintain communication and documentation protocols related to learning support;
• Provide written student accommodation plans to faculty as needed and appropriate;
• Make regular assessments of and report on student achievement and progress;
• Coordinate the use of external tutors and learning specialists; coordinate with Student Life team to provide billing information to the business office;

Student Support Services: The Learning Specialist will work collaboratively with students and families to:

• Review, evaluate, and interpret testing results, IEPs, and other accommodation plans;
• Provide direct learning support to students individually and in groups; serve as a resource for students;
• Improve understanding of learning accommodations and what implementation looks like at Walnut Hill;
• Implement student support services; including:
  • Executive functioning skill improvement and/development;
  • Provide one night of study hall supervision/week;
• Foster student self-advocacy around learning and engagement;
• Support students and families through academic or artistic challenges related to learning needs;
• Work with students on the development of reading, written expression, and mathematics skills;
• Collaborate with the College Counseling Office regarding accommodations for standardized testing;
• Communicate with the College Board and submit accommodation requests for students; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Teaching & Department Duties:

• Teach 1-2 sections in World Languages, Humanities, Math & Science, or Arts depending on skill set and department needs; utilize best practices in teaching within the specific discipline;
• Prepare lessons and develop curriculum that reflects the diverse educational and cultural backgrounds of the student body; teach, lead, and guide students and promote an open and safe classroom space;
• Collaborate with the various Class Deans on grade-level educational experiences, including teaching in the First Year Foundations Class;
• Utilize the learning management system (LMS) to facilitate communication across the school community; take and record attendance, and maintain Class Pages for each academic class; maintain grades, comments, and progress reports as required and as needed;
• Keep records of correspondence with parents, progress of advisees, records of teaching practice and student work and utilize the LMS appropriately to communicate student issues; and
• Utilize technology and other educational tools to support student learning.

Collaboration & Community Engagement

• Support the Student Life program including serving as a student advisor, club advisor, chaperoning school events, weekend duty (4 x per year), and/or participating in other opportunities for community involvement that arise throughout the School year;
• Participate in the School’s restorative practices; actively learn about and practice anti-racist work;
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across all departments to foster a positive working and educational environment that supports the School’s mission, vision, and core values;
• Attend and participate in all department meetings, assemblies, Professional Development days, training and orientation programs, benefit meetings, mandatory seminars, team-building exercises, and safety trainings;
• Attend and/or engage in student arts productions, shows, exhibitions, and performances; and
• Pursue professional development opportunities in and out of school; display willingness and ability to grow, learn, explore new approaches, and practice self-reflection.

Skills & Qualifications

• 3-5 years of Learning Support or relevant teaching experience required; experience working with high school students preferred;
• BA degree in related field or equivalent experience required; MA degree a plus;
• Possess knowledge about a range of learning differences, social-emotional well-being, test anxiety, and general executive functioning challenges and their impact;
• Knowledge and ability to read and understand test results, accommodations, evaluations, and 504 plans, and IEPs; familiarity with legal responsibilities of independent schools related to IEP and 504 plans;
• Demonstrated experience with planning and implementing individualized lessons to target direct skills and deficits for students with learning challenges;
• Ability to create individualized learning plans and classroom/studio accommodations based on student evaluations;
• Comfortable with providing family education and serving as a resource for families;
• Capacity to relate to, establish rapport with, and motivate students to succeed, self-advocate, and take advantage of resources and support;
• Wide repertoire of teaching skills including developing in-person and online curriculum;
• Comfort with technology and willingness to adopt new technologies as needed; strong computer skills and proficiency with Google platform and Microsoft Office Suite;
• Innovative teaching practices and a focus on skills-centered learning;
• Strong collaboration and team-oriented working and leadership skills;
• Possess cultural competence in working with diverse populations;
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive community;
• Ability to speak authentically about the imperative for diversity, equity, and inclusion and comfort with cross-cultural dialogue;
• Share an educational and artistic vision that aligns with the core principles of Walnut Hill;
• Ability to balance a pursuit of academic, artistic, and institutional excellence with compassion and nurture for each individual; and
• Positive attitude and a passion for teaching and learning.

About us:

Walnut Hill School for the Arts, located in Natick, Massachusetts and 20 minutes from Boston, is an independent boarding and day high school offering a transformational educational experience designed for student artists in grades 9–post graduate. Walnut Hill combines a comprehensive college-preparatory academic curriculum with intensive, pre-professional artistic training in theater, dance, music, visual art, and writing, film & media arts. Walnut Hill is committed to creating and enhancing an inclusive environment, and welcoming and celebrating a wide range of cultural, artistic, and educational backgrounds that compliments and supports our diverse community.

Commitment to the School’s Core Values, of Community, Growth, Excellence, Creativity, and Respect are imperative to the success of all Walnut Hill faculty, staff, and administration members. All Walnut Hill faculty/staff are active and engaged members of the school community who are committed to collaborating and growing in their field, participating in school events, supporting students in their arts, supporting other faculty/staff members, and who have the ability to self-reflect on their own practice. 

Physical Demands

Physical demands include dexterity for tools, equipment, and office machine and supply operation including but not limited to writing, typing, using electronic devices, computer, phone, calculator, copy/fax machine, and printers. Stooping, bending, traveling to/from locations on campus, ascending/descending stairs, reaching, and sitting or standing for extended periods of time are common.

To Apply: Submit resume and cover letter through the Walnut Hill School for the Arts online Career Center.

Note: All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of state and federal background checks. Walnut Hill does not provide visa sponsorship.