Upper School Learning Specialist

Isidore Newman School, founded in 1903, is a nationally recognized, Pre-k through twelve, college preparatory, day school with over 900 students. Located in Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana on an eleven acre campus, Newman enjoys a national reputation for excellence and achievement in academics, athletics, and the arts. Upon graduation Newman students matriculate to selective colleges and universities around the country.

Students, teachers, and coaches at Newman believe strongly in the School and work collaboratively, always striving for excellence in a challenging and supportive academic environment. Across the school and across constituencies there is a focus on building strong relationships and delivering rigorous programs. The core values of the School -honesty, kindness, respect, and responsibility - are visibly integrated into every aspect of school life. A community of high achieving and motivated students and teachers focused on intellectual inquiry and engagement, Newman is committed to best practice in elementary and secondary education. A leading and forward-thinking independent school, Newman is deeply rooted in both tradition and innovation.

Isidore Newman School seeks a talented and dynamic upper school learning specialist for the 2021-2022 academic year. The Upper School Learning Specialist is a member of Newman’s Academic Resource Lab (ARL), a cross-divisional department that includes other learning specialists and works with counselors, a school nurse, and athletic trainers. The mission of the ARL at Isidore Newman is to identify and reduce barriers to learning, within a framework that emphasizes personalization as a means of supporting students' working to their highest potential. The learning specialists (in general) at Newman focus on building intrinsic motivation for learning and the amelioration of learning difficulties. The ultimate goal is to empower all students at Newman to take charge of their own education. The Upper School Learning Specialist reports to the Head of Upper School.  The successful candidate will possess excellent speaking, writing, and interpersonal skills; be successful in working with teams; possess significant knowledge of learning disabilities and strategies of support; the ability to interpret test results of IQ, achievement and diagnostic tests, knowledge of legal standards in compliance with state and federal statutes and regulations, and genuinely love to work with students and educators at the upper school level.

The most important qualifications include:

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in special education, counseling, psychology or a related field. Master’s degree preferred
• Training and/or established expertise in the area of learning disabilities and attentional difficulties
• Practical knowledge of how to work with a wide range of different learners in grades 9-12
• Demonstrated patience, perseverance, and kindness in working with students, parents, faculty, and staff as well as a highly collaborative professional style
• Proven record keeping skills and knowledge of legal standards in compliance with state and federal statutes and regulations
• Understand competing responsibilities to uphold confidentiality in relation to private materials and conversations while providing colleagues and families with the information they need to help the student
• Must meet and maintain any and all federal, state and local requirements to work in an educational setting

Significant responsibilities include:

• Foster and maintain strong relationships and collaborative communication with students, parents, faculty, and administrators
• Review psycho-educational assessments with an emphasis toward developing and supervising individual academic accommodation plans that increase a student's understanding of and advocacy for his or her learning challenges
• Works with the SSD Coordinator, partnering on the application process for accommodations with the College Board and/or ACT and administering school-based accommodations as necessary throughout the year
• Assist with requiring and maintain documentation that meets College Board requirements and work with families to advocate for accommodations on standardized tests when appropriate
• Work with students with documented learning disabilities both individually and in small groups in order for them to develop leaning strategies for academic success
• Working closely with the faculty and administration, serves as an advocate and liaison for students and their families in matters concerning their diagnosis
• Assists teachers in working with students with different learning needs and providing a student-centered environment that supports Newman’s rigorous academic program
• Cultivate professional relationships and provide referrals for diagnostic testing resources and community support services for families
• Curate a list of academic (subject matter) tutors, organizational/homework tutors, and other tutoring specialists and provide referrals when needed
• Other division-specific ARL services to students, faculty and parents as needed

Interested applicants should submit cover letter, updated resume, educational philosophy statement and names of three references via the school’s website:  https://newmanschool.applicantpro.com/jobs/