25-26 Learning Specialist & Student Support Coordinator

Founded in 2019 by two longtime educators, Brooklyn Independent was created to reimagine the

middle school experience for students, families and staff. We’re built to disrupt the NYC

education system by offering a much-needed alternative for families searching for an elevated,

personalized, diverse education experience for their children. We know kids and families deserve

more than what is often offered in the public school system but understand that private school

can be unapproachable. At BKI we fill that gap – not with the rigor or traditional structure that has

become the norm – but with care. We take an approach to learning that engages each

individual student’s curiosity, creativity, and humanity because we care to do things

differently.

The Role

BKI is looking to expand its reach in serving a diverse population of learning needs. We are

looking for a Learning Specialist & Student Support Coordinator to provide excellent services to

our diverse range of learners. We are looking for an educator that is skilled in special education

practices, advocacy and compliance and aligns with our philosophy that student support must

expand beyond the confines of labels and classifications.

This role could include but is not limited to:

• Providing pull-out/push-in intervention for Reading & Writing and/or Math (two-hours 4x a week)
• Planning for and facilitating intervention during electives based on student need of caseload and/or grade level band assignment
• Teaching the pull-out/push-in classes designated by the supervisor
• Manage data and communication around for students with IESPs or students that are deemed in need of academic support
• Participating in meetings that include: leadership team meetings, student support meetings, grade level meetings, whole staff professional development and individual coaching
• Support teachers and/or grade levels in addressing student behavior and/or academic needs
• Leading professional development for team, group of teachers and individual staff based on needs
• Collaborating with teachers to plan for differentiation of learning activities, projects and assessments.
• Managing a caseload of between 15-20 students
• Advocating for student rights and services
• Educating and coordinating with families

Every staff member at BKI plays an integral role in shaping our community and culture. We

believe that experiences beyond our core subjects are just as crucial as humanities, math and

science. As a Learning Specialist & Student Support Coordinator at BKI, you will support our

culture work in some of the following ways:

• Running a morning and afternoon advisory
• Facilitating community building during circle
• Contributing to our Friday Field Learning
• Other potential duties to support our community such as lunch/recess duty, coverage, etc.

Who You Are

Our ideal candidate for our Learning Specialist & Student Support Coordinator role has an

unwavering commitment to equity work in the education space.

Beyond that, they are a:

Self-Starter: You are always thinking of ways to make your community better and you take

initiative to get your ideas off the ground. That might mean making a process smoother or

starting something completely new. You get excited about the work of building and feel confident

in taking an idea from start to end.

Research Nerd: You know that there are many different philosophies and approaches in

education and you take pride in knowing as many of them as possible. When a new problem or

need arises in your community, you don’t shy away from doing some digging to leverage the

expertise of people in the field and sharing your learning with your community.

Relationship Enthusiast: Relationships are an integral part of your professional life. You build

community in your classroom, on your team and with families. People might say that this comes

naturally to you, but you understand that this is very intentional work that is more than just being

a “people person.” You acknowledge, value, and celebrate the identities and contributions of your

community in all their forms.

Seeker of Solutions: You always seek to improve personally and professionally. When faced with

a problem or challenge, you analyze the situation and ask thoughtful questions to lead you to the

strongest solution. You couple this desire for improvement with a relentless optimism and ensure

tackling problems doesn’t deter you from seeing the amazing gifts of your community.

Master Communicator: You are (or are working to be) a master communicator. You know the

importance of listening, asking questions and leading with vulnerability. You prioritize direct,

compassionate communication over the absence of tension and seek to channel conflict in

positive ways that leads to greater healing and wholeness for the community.

Strong Teammate: You recognize the interdependence of a team and realize that trust is

demonstrating commitment, openness to feedback and accountability to each of your

teammates. You are nimble enough to handle a startup school environment and can take

initiative when needed. When the need to be flexible or adapt arises, it does not interfere with

your ability to be successful and stay positive.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree and certification in special education (grades 1 - 6 or 7-12)
• Three or more years of teaching experience, preference given to candidates with middle school experience
• Experience as a math teacher in middle school or beyond preferred
• Experience with managing cases across multiple grades
• Experience collaborating with teachers around serving a diverse population of learners
• Preferred experience with IESP management
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Skilled in G-Suite/Microsoft Office and comfortable with learning new educational technology platforms, apps and software
• Data driven educator with experience assessing student learning and developing plans to address student needs on a daily, weekly and quarterly basis
• Committed to family partnership through frequent phone calls, emails, texts and educator-led meetings
• Understanding of differentiation and leveled supports both academically and behaviorally; comfort with designing and implementing individual student plans
• Commitment to professional growth and active participation in professional development/1:1 coaching focused on academic achievement, social emotional development, and social justice

Interview Process

We want our candidates to KNOW us when they join the team. That is why our interview process

is more extensive but it means we can both say “YES!” with confidence:

• Phone screening (30 minutes)
• Video and/or Performance Task (30 - 60 minutes)
• In-Person Interview and Demo (3 hours in-person)
• Demo Lesson
• Observation of Classes
• Interview
• Student and/or Teacher Conversations
• Interview Follow Up and References (30 minutes)
• Board Member and/or Family Committee Chat (30 minutes)

Compensation

The starting compensation for this role is between $60,000 to $100,000. The starting pay will

depend on various factors that may include but are not limited to professional experience,

education, training and certifications.

Equity Statement

Brooklyn Independent is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a culturally

diverse faculty and staff. BKI does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for

employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin,

disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran, or military status. We are committed to the

inclusion of all qualified individuals in the hiring process. If you require reasonable

accommodation(s) to participate in the application or interview process, please contact us at

admissions@bkindependent.org.

How to apply

Please complete a short questionnaire and submit a resume at our website -

https://www.bkindependent.org/careers