Lower School Learning Specialist

The School

Founded in San Francisco in 2010, Alta Vista School implements an inquiry-based STEAM program serving approximately 300 students across two campuses.

Alta Vista School encourages students to go beyond a strong academic foundation to pursue their passions with the help of our community. Faculty, administrators, and families believe experiences and hands-on activities are the best practice for meaningful learning. Alta Vista educators benefit from small class sizes and are intentional in their instruction. Teachers serve as guides for students as they explore, observe, predict, measure, and analyze for themselves in an inquiry-based journey of discovery and knowledge-making. Likewise, AVS teachers are serious about play. We love learning alongside our students, believing that children learn better in joyous, authentic settings. Most important to the AVS approach is a foundation rooted in the scientific method and a belief that science and technology, guided by the arts, can be leveraged to benefit all. At AVS, students learn to embrace technology and to apply principles of design-thinking as powerful tools for innovation. Technology is thoughtfully integrated into each classroom.

Full-time opportunity starting in August of 2024. Alta Vista Lower School is seeking a learning specialist to provide leadership, coaching for staff in understanding and supporting diverse learners, intervention, collaboration, and innovation in building differentiated classroom experiences across our campuses. This role requires an experienced, energetic, and learner-centric educator with a passion for developing and supporting the program. Strong communication skills and professional ethics are essential.
 

Core Alta Vista Responsibilities and Skills Include:

• Collaborate with the Head of Lower School and Student Support Team to implement a comprehensive intervention model.
• Work closely with the Dean of Students to meet with teachers on a regular basis to develop collaborative, proactive, and responsive plans and ensure their implementation.
• Communicate effectively and regularly with parents to cultivate a strong home-school partnership.
• Provide service directly to students individually, in small groups, and within the classrooms, including coaching students in executive functioning skills.
• Analyze neuro-psych assessments and work with various teams (administrators, teachers, grade-level) to design support plans accordingly.
• Design and maintain dynamic student learning support plans when needed and guide teachers and parents to interpret and implement these plans.
• In-depth knowledge of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) curricula, assessment tools, and best teaching practices to support, implement, and evaluate differentiated instruction.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Educational Therapist certification or coursework, a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in Special Education or a related field
• Experience working in independent school environments preferred
• A minimum of five years successful learning specialist experience
• Strong communication skills and attention to detail
• Experience reviewing psychoeducational testing, developing related student accommodation plans, and tracking progress over time
• Experience working with elementary age students and parents preferred
• Commitment to ensuring that recommended student supports/accommodations are accessible and equitable for all students

Salary:

$80,000 - $130,000, based on experience

If interested, please send a resume and cover letter, detailing your educational philosophy and why you believe you would be a good fit at Alta Vista, to lshiring.committee@altavistaschool.org.


We are committed to being a safe and welcoming place for all families, students, and faculty. Our school does not discriminate against employees on the basis of race, color, religious creed, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, or disability.