Middle School PEAKS Coach (Learning Specialist)

Building close and healthy relationships with each student is the underpinning of the PEAKS Coaches’ role. Strong relationships allow the coaches to observe, listen and ask questions in a way that helps them understand each student’s experience.  Coaches use knowledge of students’ strengths and challenges to facilitate the development of personal competencies and to encourage students to use this information towards a commitment to action.

PEAKS® helps to facilitate the Cardigan Mountain School community to achieve its full potential by integrating and supporting habits of learning.

PEAKS is a unique department where students identify their individual strengths and challenges, and learn to advocate for themselves. PEAKS is also a course taken by every student.

Responsibilities

The following tasks are assigned to this position:

Teaching the PEAKS Core Course

• Teach a full course load of the PEAKS core course.
• The curriculum focuses on Habits of Learning and uses project-based activities in topics such as technology, wellness and other core content.
• Help create, update, and edit the PEAKS curriculum and course descriptions.

Team Facilitator

• Observe content area classes when possible providing feedback to teachers on how to vary teaching methodologies and use different strategies to help students learn.
• Supports the Cardigan community as a professional development resource and sounding board for ideas.
• Support and serve content area teachers as well as be available daily to handle issues that may arise with the students on your PEAKS team.
• Maintain dialogue with PEAKS Department chair, advisors, and other teachers to assure progress of your students.
• Assist in the sectioning and placement of students as they move on to the next grade at CMS with the Dean of Academics.

Academic Coach

• Create and maintain a portfolio on each of your PEAKS students outlining their learning strengths, challenges and how they learn best.
• Serve as the secondary advisor to students on your PEAKS team, focusing on academics.
• Identify and meet with students for academic support in the afternoons and evenings (formally and informally).
• Work with the PEAKS Department Chair and Dean of Academics to outline possible student accommodations and communicate these to teachers and parents when necessary.
• Attend professional development opportunities to further your education and help identify opportunities for other faculty members with the PEAKS Department Chair.
• Communicate with parents/teachers/other PEAKS Coaches regarding student progress.

Other Skills and Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to work with a teaching team.
• An interest in participating in a residential program.