2026-2027 Middle School Learning Specialist

Description

Exciting Opportunity at Francis Parker School in San Diego, California 

Francis Parker School (Parker) is seeking an enthusiastic, dedicated, and passionate educator who shares its core values: Students First, Academic Excellence, Global Perspective, Strength of Character, Inclusive Community, and No Limit to Better. Collegial and collaborative, Parker faculty create a learning environment that is dynamic and engaging. Parker faculty are content and pedagogical experts who invest in professional growth generously supported by the School. Importantly, Parker’s unswerving commitment to being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community creates a culture of respect for all.  

If Parker’s values and school culture resonate with you, we encourage you to consider this opportunity.

About Parker:

Parker is a coeducational independent day school in San Diego, California with 1,330 students in Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12. Founded in 1912, the school’s mission is “to create and inspire a diverse community of independent thinkers whose academic excellence, global perspective, and strength of character prepare them to make a meaningful difference in the world.” Parker has two campuses: one in Mission Hills (Lower School, Junior Kindergarten - Grade 5) and a second in Linda Vista (Middle and Upper School, Grades 6 - 12).

Job Description:

Francis Parker School seeks an enthusiastic, dedicated, and passionate Learning Specialist to serve our Middle School population.

The Middle School, which includes grades 6-8 and enrolls 300+ students, is a lively and dynamic place.  True to the vision of the school’s namesake, Colonel Francis W. Parker, the Middle School emphasizes the importance of learning through doing.  A rigorous curriculum guided by a passionate and caring faculty nurtures in students a lifelong love of learning.

The role of the Learning Specialist is to support students with different learning styles by providing intervention and remediation; support teachers in their efforts to advance students with different learning needs within the classroom; work with parents, students, and outside professionals in order to better support special needs students. The teacher’s broad area of responsibility is to ensure that each student may learn and flourish academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually in a nurturing and responsive classroom and school environment.

Each student, guided by the Learning Specialist, is expected to achieve at a high academic and personal level, according to his/her potential. The Learning Specialist reports to the Head of Student Success and Wellness.

Requirements

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

• Develops solid knowledge of the Curriculum Maps, Scope and Sequence and all other grade-level curriculum in each content area taught, including the essential information, concepts and skills so as to better support students and assist classroom teachers.
• Differentiates instruction as needed (in content, process, product, and environment).
• In cooperation with the Head of Student Success and Wellness, creates an individualized learning profile (LP) for each student requiring specialized instructional support.
• Serves as case manager and oversees the implementation of each student’s LP, collaborating with classroom teachers, counselors, and other faculty
• Holds annual meetings for all students with LPs
• Provides individual and small group instruction.
• Teaches the 6th, 7th and 8th grade TEAM courses
• Provides support to students identified by the grade level teams who are struggling academically 
• Assists teachers in classrooms to help adjust and enrich curricular approaches and improve pedagogy.
• Works collaboratively with Deans, Department Chairs and the Upper and Lower School learning specialists.
• Works in conjunction with the 6-12 Division Head and Head of Student Success and Wellness to recommend tutors, psycho-educational evaluators, etc.
• Consults with outside specialists attending to students’ needs.
• Coordinates scheduling for student observations, evaluations, meetings, and other required activities with outside providers when approved by the 6-12 Division Head and Head of Student Success and Wellness
• Seeks out new and innovative curricula, texts, and technological applications for implementation in our classrooms 
• When necessary, meets with the appropriate teacher(s) and department heads to ensure the easy and comfortable assimilation of all new students.
• Remains current with accepted and appropriate instructional theory, practice, and research. Including engaging in regular and strategic professional development to advance the role of the Learning Specialist (including local and national seminars and conferences).
• Provides skillful classroom management practices (routines and procedures) to ensure a safe, orderly, positive, enjoyable, and productive learning environment.
• Uses formative and summative assessment and documents student progress and achievement; assesses and analyzes student strengths and needs; designs and implements appropriate instruction to facilitate learning and growth.
• Establishes and maintains frequent communication with parents about their child’s academic, social, and emotional progress and needs. This includes discussing grades, phone calls, Learning Management Systems, email blasts, etc. 
• Makes recommendations for home interventions.
• In consultation with the 6-12 Division Head and Head of Student Success and Wellness, creates and implements a protocol for determining who will receive additional support.
• Provides Professional Development for faculty 
• Attends and participates in faculty meetings, committee meetings, school functions, and professional development activities during and after school hours as needed, appropriate and assigned.
• Upholds the philosophy, principles, policies, and procedures of Francis Parker School.
• Represents Francis Parker School positively in the school community and the wider community.
• Adheres to strict student confidentiality.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with record keeping and documentation of service provision.
• Performs other tasks as deemed necessary and appropriate by the 6-12 Division Head and Middle School Dean of Students.

Qualifications:

• Ideal candidate will have significant experience within a thriving Learning Specialist Program and/or experience building a Learning Specialist program.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution
• Coursework and experience in special education, educational therapy, or reading specialist
• Experience interpreting psychoeducational evaluations and translating results into accommodations and interventions that reflect empirically based best practices 
• Knowledge of relevant technology
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to implement formal and informal assessments
• Passion for teaching

Salary and Benefits:

Parker is committed to attracting and retaining the highest quality faculty and staff through a substantial compensation plan, including competitive salary, TIAA retirement benefits, and full medical/dental coverage. Individual salary is negotiable depending on years of experience and educational background.

Salary Range: $82,000 - $120,000 per year 

The actual salary will be determined by the candidate’s educational degree and their years of full-time teaching experience.  The starting salary listed reflects this position’s minimum experience and educational requirements; the ending salary listed represents the top of the salary structure for this position. Most candidates can expect to enter the lower to middle section of this salary range, depending on their specific experience and education.

Non-Discrimination:

Parker values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds. All employment decisions are made without regard to unlawful considerations of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, creed, age, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.   

Application Process: 

To be considered, interested candidates must submit the following:

· Online employment application

· Cover Letter

· Resume

· Transcripts

Your application will be considered incomplete if you do not include all required information, including completion of the Employment History, Education, and References sections of the online application, required attachments, and responses to all application questions.