Learning Specialist

Are you an experienced, imaginative, and collaborative educator who believes in progressive education? Do you enjoy creating meaningful learning experiences, and being part of a diverse, supportive and talented community? If so, please consider joining our team at Tessellations. We are currently accepting applications for a full-time Learning Specialist to begin Winter 2025. Competitive salary and full benefits available.

Tessellations is a modern, innovative Pre-K-12 non-profit school for gifted learners based in Cupertino, CA. Our mission is to provide challenging experiential education that recognizes and nurtures the individual strengths of gifted learners, empowering them to confidently express who they are, pursue a meaningful life, and advance an equitable and sustainable world..

At Tessellations, community is a core value. A strong community was instrumental in launching our school during the pandemic and has facilitated our rapid growth and success since then. Our team consists of passionate, qualified and dedicated staff from diverse backgrounds and includes a nationally renowned gifted expert. We believe that it is time to open a new chapter in high school education by forging a model that fosters a cultural ecosystem within the school that promotes innovative thinking and intellectual risk taking. Moving on from an antiquated model born during the industrial revolution, we favor durable skills over compliance and memorization, and collaboration over competition. We believe that assessments should function as guidance rather than judgment.

Primary Responsibilities

• Teacher Support and Instructional Practices: Collaborate with teachers to identify and implement evidence-based accommodations, educational strategies, and classroom management techniques that support diverse learners, providing professional development to build faculty instructional capacity and to meet the needs of asynchronous gifted learners, coaching, and resources to enhance teaching, learning, and accommodations in the classroom.
• Academic Support: Provide leadership, guidance, and expertise to support students’ academic and learning needs through targeted interventions, resources, and programs tailored to the needs of students, classrooms, and school-wide learning initiatives.
• Case Management: Assess the academic needs of individual students. Work with administration, school counselor, teachers, students, and parents; collect data, obtain relevant information, and manage documents on academic, emotional, physical, and other issues which necessitate interventions; convene meetings with involved persons and professionals; create the accommodation plan; and assure all involved understand the plan and can implement it.
• Develop Individualized Plans and Provide Intervention: Work directly with individuals and small groups of students who need modifications, accommodations, or individual academic interventions. This may include executive functioning and/or academic skills.
• School-Wide Initiatives: Organize, lead, and support teachers with school-wide initiatives to foster executive functioning skills, educational growth, and independence. Offer and/or organize family education nights as needed.
• Collaborative Partnership: Partner with School Counselor and Gifted Specialists to provide support, education, and continuity of services for students and families. Be a team player and leader in supporting students and teachers on their educational journey.
• Data Management: Schedule and attend parent/guardian-teacher meetings as needed to support student learning.  Maintain detailed and organized notes of communications and relevant student support information.
• Manage and coordinate in partnership with the School Counselor the Student Support Team
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Special Education or similar field.
• Experience working with students with learning difficulties and developing and implementing academic support programs.
• Experience supporting students with complex learning needs related to literacy, math, executive functioning and processing struggles.
• Understanding of classroom management, accommodations, and teacher support needs.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organization and record keeping skills.
• Social-emotional teaching experience.
• Familiarity with and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion practices.
• Enthusiastic life-long learner.
• Openness and flexibility in designing improved learning experiences.
• Values collegial collaboration and individual improvement.
• Proficiency with technology (GSuite in particular).
• Passing a criminal background check upon hire.

Bonus Points

• MA (ideally in Special Education).
• Experience teaching gifted learners.
• Experience teaching twice-exceptional learners.
• Experience as an Educational Therapist.

Compensation

Salary range: $85,000 – $115,000

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, 401(k), flexible spending account, paid time off, holidays, and school breaks.

To Apply
Please submit a cover letter and resume to careers@tessellations.school. For more information about our school, visit http://www.tessellations.school.

Tessellations is an Equal Opportunity Employer — we do not discriminate against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, or reproductive health decision making.