Learning Support Specialist

About the School

At Westridge, a forward-thinking independent girls’ school for grades 4-12 located in Pasadena, California, students have the space to develop the skills and confidence needed to draft their own extraordinary story. Since 1913, Westridge has been a leader in girls’ education, providing an unrivaled learning environment focused on girls’ academic and personal development. Westridge balances challenging academics and a focus on leadership with a priority on social-emotional wellbeing.

Westridge students develop a strong sense of self and a thoughtful consideration of their responsibilities to others and the world. Throughout its long history, Westridge has remained committed to its pioneering legacy so that each girl rises to her full potential and that women collectively rise to gender equity in the fullest sense.

The Learning Support Specialist strengthens the Westridge community by implementing research-informed, inclusive practices that support the diverse learning needs of students in the classroom. They provide specialized support for students in grades 4-12 who benefit from additional guidance or who have approved accommodations connected to their Student Support Plans or documented learning needs. While this role may include limited one-to-one support, it does not involve ongoing provision of services.

Reporting to the Director of Counseling and Student Support, the Learning Support Specialist is an integral member of the Student Support Team and collaborates closely with faculty, division directors, advisors, and other school personnel. They also partner with parents and caregivers, communicate with outside professionals such as tutors and therapists, and coordinate accommodation requests for upper school students with the College Board and ACT.

• Create clear, student-centered Student Support Plans that outline areas of disability/functional limitation, strengths, recommended supports, and classroom accommodations.
• Communicate evaluation results and Student Support Plans to advisors and teachers in ways that support shared understanding of student needs, accommodations, and collaborative planning.
• Check in regularly with faculty to monitor the effectiveness of accommodations and offer suggestions that promote student access, engagement, and growth.
• Provide academic and learning support that fosters student confidence, self-advocacy, independence, and personal growth.
• Support students returning from leave by helping them plan and navigate their academic responsibilities, while fostering clear, collaborative communication between the student and their teachers.

• Collaborate with faculty to identify and implement inclusive, effective classroom practices that support all learners, recognizing and valuing a wide range of learning approaches, including Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
• Partner with faculty to develop and implement clear protocols and school-approved accommodations for students with documented learning needs.
• Provide professional learning for faculty on learning variability, equitable instructional strategies, and the implementation of accommodations that promote student access and engagement.

• Meet with incoming and transitioning families who have existing documentation to understand each student’s learning profile and support needs.
• Receive, interpret, and process psycho educational and neuropsychological evaluations with a focus on identifying student strengths, learning needs, accommodations, and recommended supports.
• Communicate decisions about accommodations and shared expectations in a clear, collaborative manner.
• Provide referrals for evaluations and other community resources when appropriate.

• Assist with interpreting universal screening and standardized assessment data to understand student learning patterns and inform instructional decisions.
• Coordinate and oversee applications for accommodations on College Board and ACT assessments, supporting equitable access for students who qualify.

• Pa…