
Accredited by NEASC
Learning Specialist
Faculty / Full-Time
Dexter Southfield School, Brookline, MA
About Dexter Southfield
Dexter Southfield is an independent school where boys and girls in Pre-K through Class 12 develop their individual talents and build an ethical foundation for life. Students learn to lead and serve with character, confidence, and compassion. Our 36-acre campus is located on the Brookline-Boston line, just minutes from the city’s best museums, libraries, hospitals, performing arts venues, colleges, and universities, all serving as an extension of our classrooms. At Dexter Southfield, we approach everything we do with enthusiasm and commitment, living by our School’s motto: “Our Best Today, Better Tomorrow.”
Essential Job Functions:
- Foster a culture of high expectations to allow every student to achieve positive results in a supportive, academically rigorous learning environment
- Help students gain self-awareness of their learning style, needs, and strategies for academic success
- Provide 1:1 academic coaching for students with a specific focus on executive functioning skills (e.g., time management, organization, study skills, notetaking, test-taking skills, and goal setting)
- Write comments that give an accurate reflection of a student’s work and progress, as needed
- Lead team meetings to share information regarding learning styles, diagnoses, test scores, and meaning, recommended classroom/teaching strategies, and accommodations
- Conduct file review and maintenance; read and review psycho-educational and learning evaluations
- Collaborate with other faculty to discuss strategies and resources and facilitate academic transitions
- Serve as a study skills instructor, introducing key steps to successful academic success
- Coordinate timely and ongoing communication and feedback to faculty and parent
- Identify unique student needs and collaborate with teachers and learning specialists to effectively address those needs and employ differentiated instruction
- Create a learning environment that promotes character, respect, and goodwill
- Demonstrate a commitment to training and professional development to remain current with educational standards, emerging technology, classroom resources, and pedagogy
- Actively participate in faculty meetings, in-service programs, and training workshops
- Other duties as assigned
Skills and Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in a related field, with a preference for special education or speech-language pathology
- Success Demonstrated experience working with independent educational plans
- Professional membership in subject-related organizations and/or licensure is highly desired
- At least three years of full-time experience working in a rigorous academic setting
- Familiarity with Orton-Gillingham method of instruction; certificate highly desired
- Proficiency in developing, delivering, and assessing comprehensive lesson plans and instruction
- Effective communication skills (oral and written) to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and parents
- Demonstrated knowledge in teaching principles, theories, methods, behavior management techniques, and conflict resolution strategies
- Understanding of the unique academic, social, and behavioral characteristics of this age group
- Ability to create and contribute to an engaging and inclusive learning environment and workplace
- History of continued education or professional development
- Ability to be flexible, effectively manage stress, and adapt to changing work priorities and assignments
- Willingness to work as a team play and individual contributor
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask and meet deadlines with maximum precision and minimal supervision
- Excellent communication skills (oral, written, non-verbal) to build trust among constituencies
- Commitment to actively promote and contribute to an engaging and inclusive workplace
- Ability to be flexible, effectively manage stress, and adapt to changing work priorities in a fast-paced work environment
Requirements:
This job requires one to lift, carry, push, and/or pull materials and equipment weighing up to 20 pounds as well as the ability to stand, sit, walk, and effectively use of extremities to reach, hold, touch, push, pull, lift, and carry. Incumbents must also effectively communicate (oral, written, non-verbal) with others. This job typically requires 35% sitting, 35% walking, and 30% standing and is performed under minimal temperature variations in a generally hazard-free environment. Depending on classroom assignment, this role may require one to relocate classrooms throughout the day and require ascending and descending stairs. Incumbents will occasionally be required to work extended hours after school, evenings, and weekends.
Dexter Southfield’s 36-acre campus is composed of several buildings, playing fields, and outdoor learning spaces, which are accessible via internal and external walkways, stairs, nature paths, hills, and uneven terrain. This position requires one to transfer between these areas in all weather conditions.
All employees of Dexter Southfield are required to verify employment eligibility and successfully complete CORI, SORI, and fingerprint-based background checks as a condition of employment.
Dexter Southfield School
Brookline, MA
Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School, High School
Day
All Gender, Boys, Girls
