PENINSULA SCHOOL, LTD. 

Opportunity to work in a delightful and stimulating progressive school that centers around an old Victorian mansion on a six-acre tree-lined campus, filled with enthusiastic preschool through eighth grade students. Peninsula School, founded in 1925, is an independent day school for 250 children, 3-14 years of age.  At Peninsula, students are grouped in multi-age classes with 16-21 children in a classroom. They are enabled and encouraged to express themselves in myriad ways. Together, teachers and students embrace the acquisition of academic skills while placing an equal emphasis on creative arts and social-emotional development. We take pride in our supportive administrative staff, dedicated teachers, children who love their school, and a great community of parents, all in the beautiful surroundings of exquisite oak trees.

Lower School Literacy Specialist

Job Summary

(Academic Year, Part-Time, 9am – 12pm)

The Lower School (K-3/4) Literacy Specialist of Peninsula School has primary responsibility for working with the Lower School Head Teachers in helping students of varied ages and developmental skills to read and write and developing programs designed to improve students’ skills in all aspects of the language arts.  The Literacy Specialist will work hand in hand with Head Teachers to identify students that require additional support and give them the extra attention and coaching needed to help get them on equal footing with their peers.  The Lower School Literacy Specialist reports to the Director of the School, and will work closely and collaboratively with the Lower School Head Teachers and Program.

Primary duties and responsibilities include, but may not be limited to:

General responsibilities:

• Help assess the literacy skills of the students in the classroom.
• Help identify the students who need additional support and/or are exhibiting developmental language delays in reading or writing
• Provide targeted instruction and coaching to individuals or small groups to help improve the literacy skills of the students who have been identified as needing additional support and/or are exhibiting delays in reading and writing skills.
• Be cognizant of student learning styles/needs and communicate with the teacher if/as students appear to possess more significant learning challenges and/or may need outside tutoring or special education support.
• Work with the teacher in developing targeted skills, strategies, and materials to help support progress of students in the regular classroom setting.
• Stay abreast of and provide current research and study that helps inform best practices in literacy instruction and related program.
• Assist with identifying professional development opportunities in literacy instruction for teachers and/or teaching assistants in the Lower School.

 Other responsibilities:

• Attend parent-teacher conferences, special teacher meetings, and class parent meetings as requested by Head teachers.
• Attend student study team meetings (SSTs) if/as related to literacy concerns for a student in the Lower School.
• Attend staff and Inservice meetings.

Professional Qualifications:  Bachelor’s degree required; as well as a teaching credential and/or coursework focused specifically in literacy education.  An advanced degree in education and/or training in multi-sensory, Orton-Gillingham based teaching methodologies considered a plus. 

Personal Qualifications:  Initiative and an ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of individuals and learners; exceptional communication skills; friendly, dependable and patient; and most important, understands the developmental orientation of the Peninsula School program, and possesses a genuine love of helping others learn.  

A background check, including fingerprinting, TB testing, and proof of eligibility to work in the U.S., is required for the position.

Peninsula School is an equal opportunity employer and actively promotes the principles and practices of diversity throughout the school community.  We offer competitive compensation commensurate with experience and a progressive community dedicated to learning and engaged citizenship.  Please send letter of intent and resume to Kathy Koo, Interim Director at Peninsula School Ltd, 920 Peninsula Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025 or fax to 650-325-1313, or email in MS Word or PDF format to hr@peninsulaschool.org by September 10th, 2012.