Learning Specialist - Early Learning Center

Avenues•New York, NY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Avenues seeks an English Learning Specialist to join the Early Learning Center (ELC) team of inspiring educators. This role partners with teachers and families to support our youngest learners, from Small World through Kindergarten (ages 1–6), within our dual-language program. This position serves more than 400 students and supports over 75 faculty and staff across the Early Learning Center division. The Learning Specialist plays a key role in strengthening instructional practice, supporting early identification of learning needs, and building teacher capacity across classrooms.

Requirements

Masters degree required
Minimum of 5 years of teaching experience, including early literacy instruction (phonics, reading, and writing workshop)
Deep understanding of the developmental progression of reading and writing in young children
Understand and support early literacy in bilingual learners
Deep expertise in early math and literacy development and curriculum
Expertise in literacy assessment and data-informed instructional practices
Demonstrated ability to coach teachers and support instructional growth
Cultural competency to understand and work across different cultures
Strong communication skills with both educators and families
Highly organized, with strong data management capabilities
A collaborative spirit, with the ability to listen deeply and work toward shared goals
Adaptability, resourcefulness, and a commitment to continuous growth
Ability to work with and guide families in support of their children’s learning needs
Professional fluency in English

Nice To Haves

certification in Literacy or Special Education preferred
Experience in a special education classroom preferred

Responsibilities

Deliver targeted literacy instruction through push-in and small group settings, with a focus on phonics, reading, and writing
Support and extend Tier 1 classroom instruction using research-based methodologies, including Orton-Gillingham and workshop models
Demonstrate strong knowledge of early childhood literacy, including Readers and Writers Workshop and foundational phonics instruction
Model effective instructional practices through demonstration lessons to support teacher development
Differentiate instruction to meet diverse learning profiles and developmental trajectories
Administer, analyze, and interpret formal and informal assessments (e.g., running records, decoding and encoding measures)
Use assessment data to inform instruction, intervention, and student progress monitoring
Maintain clear, organized systems for data collection, documentation, and reporting
Partner with teachers to design and refine units of study aligned with literacy and math benchmarks and learning goals
Provide ongoing coaching to teachers, including feedback, modeling, and instructional planning
Effectively discuss student progress, learning goals, and areas for growth with families
Demonstrate knowledge of strategies and resources that support literacy development at home
Maintain familiarity with outside evaluations and a range of learning differences, including learning disabilities, to support informed conversations with families
Partner with families to ensure continuity between school and home, reinforcing learning through aligned strategies and recommendations
Work in close collaboration with classroom teachers across languages, meet with Lower Division Learning Specialists, and members of the ELC Student Success Team to ensure cohesive, cross-divisional support