Learning And Development Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

Oregon Episcopal School seeks an Upper School Learning Support Specialist to begin duties in August 2026. Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter addressed to Tracy Hardister (Director of Student Support) and Sarah Grenert-Funk (Head of Upper School) when submitting resumes.

OUR MISSION: Oregon Episcopal School educates students to realize their power forgood as engaged citizens of the world.

ABOUT US: Founded in 1869, Oregon Episcopal School today occupies a wooded 59-acre campus where 880 students in Pre-K through 12th Grade share an excellentfaculty, an inquiry-based curriculum, and a strong sense of community. The UpperSchool also includes a small boarding program of international and domesticstudents who live and learn together, enhancing the vibrancy of the schoolcommunity.

OES seeks and values employees who continually grow in their work practices.Teaching faculty engage in the Characteristics of Effective Teaching for theirongoing learning in service of students. All other employees engage in professionalgrowth specific to their responsibilities. Together, faculty and staff create a vibrantand diverse community of lifelong learners.

As an Episcopal school, we are rooted in a rhythm of gathering and reflection thatvalues and respects all beliefs and cultures. As such, we educate toward a largerpurpose - toward inclusion and respect, service and justice, and commitmentbeyond ourselves.

JOB SUMMARY: The Upper School Learning Support Specialist provides support for the development of differentiated curricula, effective instructional methods, and student support plans for Upper School students in collaboration with teachers, students, parents, and outside resources. The Learning Support Specialist will havesignificant knowledge of and experience with implementing best practices for teaching diverse learners; the skills to contribute to student learning and facilitate faculty professional development; and a strong desire to work with high school students. The Learning Support Specialist will work as a collaborative and proactive member of the All School Student Support Team. This team includes the Counselors and Learning Support Specialists from the Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School divisions. In addition, this position will work directly with US students, faculty,administration, and parents/guardians to help ensure the learning and academicsuccess of students. This position reports directly to the Director of Student Support.

The all-school OES Student Support Team works alongside teachers, students, and parents to create inclusive, safe, and supportive learning environments where students can grow, learn, and thrive. We emphasize our students' strengths while empowering them to be capable learners who take risks, self-monitor, self-advocate,and develop resiliency. Operating from a holistic perspective, we recognize that apositive and successful educational experience ensures that a student's academic,social, and emotional needs are met. Through thoughtful collaboration andplanning, the OES Student Support Team honors individual learning styles anddifferences, embracing a diverse learning community. The OES Student SupportTeam is composed of the Director of Student Support along with a Learning SupportSpecialist and a School Counselor for each Division.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Student Support Plans

• Develop, implement, and progress monitor individualized Student SupportPlans in collaboration with students, faculty, and parents. Serve as the PointPerson (i.e., case manager) for Student Support Plans and student supportneeds.
• Ensure that learning strategies, interventions, and accommodations areeffectively communicated to students, teachers, advisors, parents, the StudentSupport Team (SST), and outside stakeholders as needed.

Ongoing Student Support

• Meet regularly with a caseload of students who require additional support,using tools to support data-informed instructional practices and/orinterventions, such as academic screening measures, ELL assessments,Weekly Check-Ins and teacher feedback to monitor progress.
• Ensure timely updates and ongoing collaboration with advisors and faculty to respond to emerging student needs.
• Conduct classroom observations for student support referrals and Student Support Plans.
• Provide targeted academic support and skill development in small group orone-on-one meetings with students.
• Coordinate with the registrar on scheduling new and returning students andplacement of ELL students.
• Support ELL students as indicated and assigned through administering andinterpreting ELL assessments, progress monitoring English-languagedevelopment, providing small group or one-on-one support, and teaching ELLAcademic Skills Class, which intentionally develops learning language andacademic skills necessary to grow and develop as students at OES.

Student Support Team (SST) Collaboration

• Lead, coordinate, and facilitate weekly US SST meetings to ensure identification of student support needs and services, progress monitoring, and continuity of interventions, accommodations, and supports.
• Liaise with Residential Life faculty to provide SST student updates and integration of the day and dorm communities specific to student support and academic programming.
• Collaborate with the All School Student Support Team, including attendingregularly scheduled meetings and collaborating on initiatives.Testing
• Serve as the liaison for standardized testing accommodations, guidingfamilies through the application process.
• Submit official documentation required by standardized testing companies toqualify for extended time and other accommodations on exams.
• Collaborate with teachers to organize, ensure, and proctor extended timetesting for students with documented accommodations.
• Refer students for external Neuropsychological Evaluations as appropriate.

Admissions Committee Member

• Participate in the annual Upper School admissions review process throughparticipating in visit days and other admission events, reviewing applications,interviewing students, and attending application review meetings.

Medical & Concussion-Related Accommodations

• Collaborate with school staff and healthcare professionals to implementappropriate learning accommodations for students with temporary medicalconditions or concussions.
• Create Medical Leave Plans and monitor these plans, communicating withstudents, faculty, parents, and advisors to ensure student needs are metthroughout recovery and that adjusted expectations, accommodations anddeadlines are clear for students and faculty.

Faculty Professional Learning and Consultation

• Develop and provide professional learning opportunities specific toinstructional practices and/or interventions that support diverse learningneeds, including students with identified additional support needs (e.g., ELL,
  mental health diagnosis, Specific Learning Disorder, ADHD, ASD, etc.).
• Collaborate with teachers, which may include co-planning and time inclassrooms, regarding a student, instructional practices and/or interventionsto support diverse learning needs and to build teachers' skills around teachingdiverse learners.

School-Wide Responsibilities

• Participate in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) initiatives. Thisengagement supports a more inclusive and equitable learning environmentfor all students.