5-8 Learning Specialist (Long Term Sub)

Overview of School 

Park Day School offers an outstanding co-educational TK-8 program to approximately 340 students. The school community embraces the ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity of Oakland, is rooted in the tenets of progressive education, and reinforces collaborative, interdisciplinary learning in context. Our student-centered approach cultivates deep thinkers and compassionate and courageous citizens who shape a more equitable and sustainable world. Park Day’s community outreach program collaborates with public schools and community groups to create meaningful service-learning opportunities for our students. Our historical and park-like four-acre campus is located in the vibrant Temescal neighborhood of Oakland, CA.

Overview of the Position

Reporting to the Middle School Head, the school seeks a professional who collaborates with the K-4 learning specialist, K-8 school counselor, and administrative team to provide support and services to children and families of a diverse range of learners. Fall Semester, August 12, 2026-January 22, 2027

The 5-8 Learning Specialist 

This person will join a growth-oriented and collaborative learning community committed to the school’s mission and core values. The hiring process will include a screening interview, a half-day school visit, and an interview with the full hiring committee for finalists.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Ongoing observation, assessment, and consultation with the teaching staff to gain knowledge of individual students’ learning profiles.
• Provide curricular support and case management for individual students with identified needs, including periodic assessment, coordination of student team meetings with families, and communication with outside specialists.
  Draft, distribute, and provide follow-through on Student Support Plans.
• Participate in the screening and evaluation of students for admissions.
• Provide informal and limited formal assessment and guidance regarding referrals for appropriate outside evaluation and learning support services.
• Maintain ongoing communication with the Head of Middle School and with the K-8 Park Day learning specialist team, as well as any outside specialists supporting individual students.
• Maintain comprehensive student records.
• Provide push-in and pull-out (individual and small group) direct services to Middle School students, as deemed appropriate.

The qualified candidate will: 

• A Certificate in Educational Therapy and/or a Master’s in Special Education.
• Experience as a middle school classroom teacher.
• Experience as a learning specialist with middle school students in a school setting
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Warm rapport with students, families, and colleagues.
• Experience with informal and formal assessment instruments and a teaching approach informed by training in a specific early literacy (Wilson, Slingerland, Lindamood-Bell, Reading Revolution, etc.), multisensory methods, and universal design for learning.
• Familiar with progressive classroom theory and practices.
• Be culturally competent and committed to social justice, equity, and diversity.
• Use a supportive, warm, and clear tone with students.
• Sense of humor

Compensation:

Salary and benefits will be based on qualifications and experience. Benefits offered include employer-paid medical with Kaiser or Sutter, dental insurance, a generous retirement plan, and more.

How to Apply

Complete the job application and attach the cover letter and resume here

Park Day School believes strongly in the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.  We seek to identify and hire a greater number of faculty of color to serve as role models for all students. We strive to foster a diverse campus community, which recognizes the value of all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, gender and gender expression, sexual orientation, family-care status, marital status, veteran status, disability or socio-economic background.

Tagged as: Middle School