Job Summary

The Upper School Learning Specialist at the Washington International School, in liaison with members of the WIS community, provides academic support for students with diverse learning needs in order to help them become independent, responsible, productive, and successful individuals.

Duties and Responsibilities

The US Learning Specialist supports students with diverse learning needs and assists teachers in the implementation of appropriate methodologies, by:

• Providing appropriate remediation, with academic support and guidance, for those students referred to SST.
• Conducting classroom observations in order to develop classroom-based strategies to support students.
• Planning, implementing, and evaluating a range of educational programs to meet the needs of students with unique learning styles.
• Assisting in developing intervention strategies for each referred student.
• Reviewing and making recommendations regarding learner support.
• Executing distance education when directed and needed to include alternative teaching and learning delivery methods: developing online courses reflecting best practices, providing student support to include alternative assignments and assessments, collaborating with colleagues, supervisors, and students online to build a connected and positive learning environment.
• Overseeing and coordinating after-school student learning support through the structured study hall and learning lab.
• Providing short-term interventions for students and teachers to implement in class.
• Ensuring that the referral procedures for Learner Support are in place and followed in a timely manner.
• Maintaining an extensive referral list of testers and tutors and serving as an on-going liaison between the school and external professionals/services.
• Coordinating and providing support for students through in-class support, direct teaching, or after-school help.

The US Learning Specialist communicates with students, parents and colleagues in a clear, effective, and timely manner and acts as an advocate for students and a liaison for external professional resources, by:

• Developing positive relationships with all members of the WIS community and communicating in a collegial, collaborative and professional manner.
• Producing timely, high quality reports summarizing outside testing reports, accommodations, and intervention strategies for all tested students.
• Maintaining current records for students and disseminating information in a timely manner.
• Maintaining a schedule of classroom observations which is shared with division supervisors.
• Meeting regularly with the Student Support Team (SST), parents, and faculty regarding referred students or students who may need academic assistance.
• Coordinating, implementing, and overseeing application of accommodations for any testing, including standardized tests, class tests and final exams.
• Attending division faculty meetings, progress meetings, and grade-level meetings.
• Ensuring the referral procedures for Learner Support are in place and acted upon in a timely manner.
• Serving as an advocate for referred students and regularly liaising with all appropriate people to support student learning.
• Monitoring and assessing student learning and progress through analysis of anecdotal and empirical data.
• Determining effectiveness of interventions and use of data to inform future instruction and support.
• Collaborating with faculty, parents and the Student Support Team (SST) to assist students in achieving their full potential.
• Overseeing and managing organized records of students serviced by the SST, including maintaining communication with all stakeholders.

The US Learning Specialist engages in Professional Development, in order to:

• Remain current on best practices.
• Provide faculty with informed updates and quality professional development regarding current information and/or materials on learning difficulties, inclusive practices, and remediation.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, from an accredited university or college and/or combination of experience and training in relevant subjects.  An advanced degree is preferred.
• At least three (3) years of relevant teaching or related experience.  Experience working at a PYP, MYP, or IB school preferred.
• At least three (3) years of experience working with students of diverse learning needs.

About Washington International School

Founded in 1966, Washington International School is a private, non-profit, Preschool-12 school profoundly committed to its mission: to be an exemplary learning community—enriched by differences, informed through inquiry, global in reach. Serving its full community of 900 plus students on two campuses, the school is multinational, multicultural, and multilingual. The school’s challenging international program draws on classroom-based research on pedagogical practices and curriculum design from renowned organizations such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Project Zero, based in the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. From Preschool through Grade 5 students follow the inquiry-based IB Primary Years Program; in Grades 6-10 they continue with a multidisciplinary and inquiry-based approach designed to enhance understanding and develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the prestigious IB Diploma Program (DP). All students in Grades 11 and 12 are enrolled in the DP, which prepares them to take exams to receive the International Baccalaureate Diploma in addition to a WIS diploma. IB Diploma results are well above the worldwide pass rate, and WIS gra...duates attend highly selective colleges and universities in both the United States (about two-thirds in a typical year) and abroad. Commitment to the intensive study of a second language is a core principle, with Pre-School, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes taught entirely in French or Spanish. All instruction in Grades 1-5 is “dual language” in English and either French or Spanish. Chinese is an option beginning in Grade 6. Typically, one half to three-quarters of WIS graduates earn the Bilingual IB Diploma, demonstrating fluency in two languages. The entire school community – alumni, parents, students, teachers, administrators and staff – are ardent advocates for international education. WIS has played a prominent role in setting a standard for a global perspective that many schools now emulate. The school culture is highly egalitarian, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and understanding differing points of view. There is no typical WIS family: some households consist only of U.S. passport holders, others are all non-U.S. passport holders and many are a mix of nationalities. In addition to this global diversity, WIS also strives to achieve economic diversity: 14% of the students receive financial assistance.

Show more

Show less

Connections working at Washington International School