Middle School Learning Specialist Long-Term Substitute

• Type: Full-Time, Temporary
• Supervisor: Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Location: Chicago, IL, on-site
• Starting Date: End of October 2026
• Ending Date: Estimated Mid-February 2027

Cook is a vibrant and inclusive learning community where curiosity, connection, and compassion are at the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to developing creative, collaborative problem solvers who tackle global challenges from multiple perspectives. Our dedicated faculty and staff help students from preschool through 8th grade become empowered learners and leaders.

All Cook employees are trained and supported in incorporating wellness and belonging into their work with students and adults. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and social-emotional learning (SEL) are the cornerstones upon which we build a curriculum and community. At Cook, we commit to all community members being active learners, from our preschool students to us as adults.

We invite you to consider how Cook will benefit from having you, along with your experiences in educating and learning, as a part of our community.

Catherine Cook School seeks a creative and collaborative Long Term Substitute Middle School Learning Specialist. This educator will provide individualized and small‑group academic support across subject areas in grades 5 and 6, 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.

• Connecting with and caring for students and colleagues through weekly duties and administrative tasks

• Growing as a lifelong 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.

The candidate will collaborate closely with colleagues to interpret assessment data, implement accommodations, and design instruction that honors diverse learning profiles. They will 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…