Learning Specialist

Merion Mercy Academy, an independent Catholic college preparatory school for girls in grades 9-12 outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, seeks a dynamic and student-centered educator to serve as a Learning Specialist. This is a full time position during the academic year.

Reporting to the Dean of Academics, the Learning Specialist will help students identify learning differences and develop the skills, dispositions, and strategies necessary to thrive at Merion Mercy. The Learning Specialist will partner with faculty to develop differentiated strategies for students and ensure that classroom and testing accommodations are being implemented.

As a specialist in Universal Design for Learning, the Learning Specialist will assist students across all curricular areas in developing metacognitive, organizational, time management, and analytical thinking skills. A special focus will be building relationships with the ninth-grade class and international students so they are connected to resources, develop agency, and achieve success. In collaboration with the Student Support Team, the Learning Specialist will also assist in developing and monitoring personalized learning plans for students as needed.

The Learning Specialist must be a student-centered educator who embraces Mercy values, possesses strong interpersonal skills, and espouses a growth mindset. The ideal candidate embraces the role of social-emotional learning in creating the foundation for academic success and health and wellness in girls.

Responsibilities:

• Recommend in-school and community resources for identified students and work with professionals outside the school to support students
• Meet with students receiving accommodations for regular coaching and academic planning
• Coordinate the use of external tutors and learning specialists
• Collaborate with teachers to support students with educational testing
• Collaborate with the MCIU to coordinate screenings and facilitate support
• Provide assistance to families as they navigate the evaluation process
• Participate in weekly student support team meetings to assess student progress and review concerns
• Remain current with best practices in the field of student support services and diverse learners
• Proctor extended time tests for students who qualify for extended time testing
• Apply to College Board/ACT for accommodations for students
• Coordinate work for students with extended absences due to medical considerations.
• Review students’ cumulative folders, standardized test scores, teacher comments, and observations to assist the School in supporting students
• Work with faculty in instructional design (UDL) to support differentiation in learning activities and assessments of learning
• Support Admissions by reviewing incoming student accommodations
• Offer occasional educational programs for faculty and parents
• Other work as assigned

Requirements:

● Master’s degree (courses and/or concentrations in special education preferred)

● Demonstrated expertise in providing instructional support for diverse learners at the high school level (independent school experience preferred)

● Proven success as a leader in program development

● Outstanding interpersonal and organizational skills and ability to maintain confidentiality

● Deep respect for teenage girls and their unique needs

Founded in 1884 by the Sisters of Mercy and located on a beautiful 12-acre campus on Philadelphia’s Main Line, Merion Mercy currently enrolls close to 400 students from diverse geographic areas and socioeconomic groups. Merion Mercy’s academic program consistently challenges each student to prepare for college and a lifetime of service, thus developing competent and compassionate women for the future. Merion Mercy’s faculty and staff are committed to providing a holistic education that not only stresses academic and personal excellence but also encourages all students to “Live Mercy and Seek Justice,” an educational philosophy that builds a true sense of sisterhood that extends beyond the classroom.

Interested candidates should send a resume, cover letter, and statement of educational philosophy along with three professional references to Anne Gregg, Executive Assistant to the Head of School, agregg@merion-mercy.com.

Merion Mercy Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its hiring practices.