Middle School Learning Specialist

New Garden Friends School, a PK-12 Friends School in Greensboro, N.C., seeks a full-time Middle School Learning Specialist for the 2025-2026 school year. The Learning Specialist will support students' academic progress and achievement in our classrooms and through the Polaris Learning Labs.

NGFS Mission:

Guided by Quaker values, New Garden Friends School is committed to being an inclusive educational community that honors and develops each person's gifts.

The Position:

In partnership with the Head of Middle School, School Counselor, and teaching staff, the Learning Specialist supports student learning in a dynamic, student-focused, social, and emotionally responsive learning environment in which teaching for understanding, integrity, and compassion are the guides.

The Learning Specialist uses a variety of research-based practices to equip students with executive functioning skills, as well as assist students with diagnosed or demonstrated needs for support. Additionally, the Learning Specialist facilitates individual and small group faculty workshops in and out of the classroom to model, partner, and support faculty to differentiate instruction for all students, integrate metacognitive strategies for learning, and design and practice student-centered learning approaches.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of three years’ successful experience as a Learning Specialist.

• Experience interpreting educational testing, designing accommodations, and administering or coordinating school-based programs.

• Up-to-date knowledge of research on learning and the brain, tools, and approaches to assist students with learning differences.

• Effective communication skills that promote positive relationships with students, families, and colleagues.

• Strong work ethic, exemplary character, and a deep commitment to confidentiality.

• Commitment to a strengths-based approach to learning differences.

• Commitment to diverse and inclusive classrooms. 

• Knowledge of and ability to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all students. 

• Patience, a sense of humor, and a strong belief that there is inherent good in all.

• A commitment to the traditions and philosophy of a Quaker educational community, including Quaker values.

• Willingness to be flexible to meet the needs of students and families.  

• A high degree of organization, efficiency, and initiative.

• Commitment to New Garden Friend School’s mission.

Primary Responsibilities include:

• Work in partnership with the Head of Middle and Upper School,  Academic Dean, and teachers to support student learning for students with evaluations and academic challenges.

• Collaborate with the administrative and academic team to create and/or recommend teacher professional development opportunities.

• Meet and collaborate with parents and students before the academic year to discuss their child’s learning needs and develop individualized support plans, accommodations, and modifications.

• Develop and update student “learning plans” and recommendations for student accommodations and modifications each fall.

• Facilitate learning and support for faculty to enable teachers to differentiate instruction, integrate metacognitive strategies, teach toward mastery, and use student-centered methodologies across all subject areas and grade levels.

• Analyze and summarize psychoeducational evaluations to develop a learning profile designed to best serve a student’s academic and social-emotional needs.

• Ensure that families and teachers have a clear understanding of the learning profile and what steps and/or accommodations will be provided to support the student.

• Provide targeted support to students in the Academic Skills for Success and Guided Study Hall classes.

• Provide academic support to students with evaluations through skill-building, metacognitive learning strategies, and direct curricular teaching.

• Monitor and document the progress of all students receiving support.

• Identify students who may benefit from psychoeducational testing and meet with parents and teachers to discuss observations and next steps.

• When appropriate, assist teachers and families in development of behavior modification plans.

• Assist teachers, students, and families in the development of an appropriate, responsive plan for coming back to school after an extended absence.

• Collaborate with tutors to ensure students are adequately supported in and out of school.

• Promote equity and inclusion for students in all classrooms.

• Coordinate with the Lower School Learning Specialist to ensure that students’ learning support needs can be appropriately met upon entering middle school.

• Collaborate with Admissions to assess Middle School applicants and ensure each newly-admitted student requiring resources is appropriately supported.

Required Education:

• A Bachelor’s of Arts in special/exceptional education, specific learning differences, reading, or a learning differences related field (MA in related field preferred).

To apply, please fill out this google form (https://forms.gle/tJYxySBRZA5uu3P87) being sure to follow the directions at the end to submit required documents. If you have trouble with the form or have any questions, please email [email protected].

Please, no phone calls or regular mail.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. 

New Garden Friends School is committed to promoting and supporting a workplace and educational environment where healthy and respectful conduct is the cultural norm.  In support of this commitment, New Garden Friends School prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, national ancestry, sex, status as a parent during pregnancy and immediately after the birth of a child, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, military service, veteran status, mental or physical disability, or genetic information in its programs, activities, employment, and admission. Retaliation for raising concerns related to discrimination on one of these bases is also prohibited. NGFS does not discriminate on the basis of age in employment.