Middle School Learning Specialist Long-Term Substitute

Catherine Cook School • Chicago, IL

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Catherine Cook School seeks a creative and collaborative Long Term Substitute Middle School Learning Specialist. This educator will provide individualized and small‑group academic support across subject areas in grades 5 and 6, partner with teachers to implement accommodations and differentiated instructional practices, and contribute to a coordinated approach to student well-being as part of the DEI/Wellness Team. The ideal candidate is a compassionate and intellectually curious educator who believes that young adolescents thrive when they feel understood, supported, and challenged. They see learning differences as natural variations in how students process the world. They design environments where every learner can access rigorous ideas, take academic risks, and develop confidence in their own abilities. The candidate will collaborate closely with colleagues to interpret assessment data, implement accommodations, and design instruction that honors diverse learning profiles. They will value growth over perfection, process over product, and relationships over routines. The ideal candidate approaches teaching as the craft of creating meaningful learning experiences that help students understand themselves as learners, advocate for their needs, and participate fully in the academic and social life of the community.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Learning Disabilities, Specialist Education, or a related field.
• Experience working within the field of learning disabilities or special education.
• Background in Language Arts instruction within educational or specialized learning settings.
• Experience building supportive relationships with students in grades 5-8.
• Experience with teaching and supporting students in literacy.
• Experience remediating grade-level curriculum for grades 5-6 in the areas of reading and written language.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with students, parents/guardians, faculty, and staff are essential.
• Ability to demonstrate core qualifications through a combination of both non-traditional and traditional personal and professional experiences.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized and small‑group academic support across subject areas in grades 5 and 6.
• Partner with teachers to implement accommodations and differentiated instructional practices.
• Contribute to a coordinated approach to student well-being as part of the DEI/Wellness Team.
• Analyze and interpret psycho-educational evaluations to create individual learning plans that include evidence-based interventions.
• Communicate student learning needs to faculty and families.
• Screen, observe, and evaluate students for learning and/or attention supports.
• Provide individualized and small group instruction in literacy to identified students.
• Assist teachers with differentiating instruction support or practices.
• Participate in meetings regarding students of academic concern and assist in determining recommendations for student success.
• Serve as a liaison between the home, school, and outside professionals, inclusive of managing a specific caseload and/or serving as a Case Load Manager for the Student Services Support (SSS) Team.
• Train students in self-advocacy and executive function skills.
• Lead and teach MS Learning Lab Class.
• Provide push-in learning support to fifth and sixth grade students with identified learning needs.
• Connect with and care for students and colleagues through weekly duties and administrative tasks.
• Grow as a lifelong learner through active participation in meetings and professional development opportunities.
• Apply skills as supported by training and protocols for proactive and responsive community building.
• Proactively and reflectively communicate through various platforms the vision, goals, and progress of your work with both internal and external collaborators.
• Grow our culture of belonging and wellness through active participation in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and social-emotional learning (SEL) efforts.
• Serve as an Ambassador for our Enrollment Management and Development efforts.
• Employ Google and Outlook Applications for individual and team collaboration and communication.

Benefits

• Paid leave will accrue in accordance with the Chicago Paid Leave Ordinance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level