Position Title: Lower School Learning Specialist

Date Modified: April 2026

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Responsible To: Director of the Learning Center and Head of Lower School

Position Summary:

The Haverford School, an independent boys' school, seeks a dynamic and collaborative Lower School Learning Specialist to support students with diverse learning profiles in grades K–5. The Learning Specialist plays a key role in fostering student growth by providing targeted, research-based instruction, partnering with teachers and families, and helping students develop the academic and self-advocacy skills needed to thrive in a rigorous classroom environment. This position reports to the Director of the Learning Center and the Head of Lower School.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide small-group and individualized instruction with an emphasis on early literacy, executive functioning, and foundational academic skills.
2. Apply a strong knowledge base in the Science of Reading to support the development of phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, and comprehension.
3. Collaborate closely with classroom teachers to implement effective strategies that support access to the curriculum.
4. Monitor and document student growth, using data to inform instruction and adjust supports as needed.
5. Partner with families and school-based support teams to communicate student progress.
6. Participates in grade-level meetings with the Lower School Support Team.
7. Support students in building confidence, independence, and self-advocacy skills.
8. Contribute to a cohesive, school-wide approach to student support services.
9. They must be familiar with current education guidelines, policies, and regulations.
10. Require strong interpersonal and communication skills.
11. Possess an understanding of character, culture, and community, and the implementation of those principles in independent schools.
12. Other duties, as assigned.

Minimum Acceptable Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education or a related field
2. At least 3 years of teaching experience
3. Demonstrated knowledge of learning differences and evidence-based instructional practices
4. Strong understanding of the Science of Reading and structured literacy approaches
5. Record of successful delivery of curriculum content
6. Ability to use data to monitor learning and guide instruction
7. Evidence of deep understanding of the science of reading as it relates to reading development and instruction.
8. Evidence of an understanding of math research as it relates to the development of math and classroom instruction.
9. Proven ability to establish and maintain positive and productive working relationships with individuals from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds
10. Effective communicator, both verbally and in writing, with colleagues and parents
11. Sense of humor, enthusiastic and happy; high ethical professional standards, and

multicultural perspective

1. Adequate computer literacy and familiarity with e-mail, Google and Microsoft Office products
2. Enthusiastic interest in teaching, motivating, coaching and mentoring lower school students
3. Willingness to be observed/and to use professional feedback
4. Adequate computer literacy and familiarity with e-mail, Google and Microsoft Office products
5. Enthusiastic interest in teaching, motivating, coaching and mentoring lower school students
6. Ability to attend meetings before and after the normal school day schedule and sometimes in the evening

Preferred Qualifications

1. Master's Degree in Special Education preferred

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

1. Works in an environment dealing with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and a varied and diverse array of contacts
2. May work at a desk and computer for an extended period of time
3. Occasionally lift up to 20 lbs.
4. Work primarily in a traditional climate-controlled office environment and intermittently in outside weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold.