Middle School Learning Specialist and Language Arts Teacher

• Full-Time, 10-month
• Supervisor:
  Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Location:
  
  Chicago, IL, on-site
• Starting Date:
  August 2026

Catherine Cook School seeks a creative and collaborative Middle School (grades 5–8) Learning Specialist who is also a Language Arts Teacher (grade
7). This educator will provide individualized and small‑group academic support across subject areas, partner with teachers to implement accommodations and differentiated instructional practices, and contribute to a coordinated approach to student well‑being as part of the DEI/Wellness Team.

In addition to these responsibilities, the teacher will lead a 7th Grade Language Arts class, designing engaging learning experiences that strengthen students’ reading, writing, and critical‑thinking skills. Through this combined role, the educator will help ensure that all learners can access the curriculum, develop confidence, and fully participate in the life of the Cook community.

• Connecting with and caring for students and colleagues through weekly duties and administrative tasks
• Growing as a life‑long learner through active participation in meetings and professional development opportunities
• Applying skills as supported by training and protocols for proactive and responsive community building
• Proactively and reflectively communicating through various platforms the vision, goals, and progress of your work with both internal and external collaborators
• Growing our culture of belonging and wellness through active participation in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and social‑emotional learning (SEL) efforts
• Serving as an Ambassador for our Enrollment Management and Development efforts
• Employing Google and Outlook Applications for individual and team collaboration and communication

The ideal candidate is a compassionate and intellectually curious educator who believes that young adolescents thrive when they feel understood, supported, and challenged. They see learning differences as natural variations in how students process the world. They design environments where every learner can access rigorous ideas, take academic risks, and develop confidence in their own abilities.

Grounded in research‑based learning support practices and a commitment to responsive teaching, this educator approaches their work as both a specialist and a classroom teacher. They collaborate closely with colleagues to interpret assessment data, implement accommodations, and design instruction that honors diverse learning profiles. In the Language Arts classroom, they cultivate spaces where students read deeply, write with purpose, and engage with texts that broaden their perspectives and strengthen their sense of identity.

They value growth over perfection, process over product, and relationships over routines. The ideal candidate approaches teaching as the craft of creating meaningful learning experiences that help students understand themselves as learners, advocate for their needs, and participate fully in the academic and social life of the community.

• Analyzing and interpreting psycho‑educational evaluations to create individual learning plans that include evidence‑based interventions
• Communicating student learning needs to faculty and families
• Screening, observing, and evaluating students for learning and/or attention supports
• Providing individualized and small group instruction in literacy to identified students
• Assisting teachers with differentiating instruction support or practices
• Participating in meetings regarding students of academic concern and assisting in determining what recommendations should be made to help students succeed
• Serving as a liaison between the home, school, and outside professionals, inclusive of managing a specific case load and/or serving as a Case Load Manager for the Student Services Support (SSS) Team
• Training students in self‑advocacy and executive function skills

• De…