Academic Specialist, K-4

Spring Lake Park Schools; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 53,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Sick Leave

403(b)

Life insurance

Long-term disability (LTD)

Flexible spending account (FSA)

Job summary

Spring Lake Park Schools seek a qualified elementary teacher to design meaningful learning experiences that engage students in future-focused learning. The role emphasizes creativity, collaboration with colleagues and families, and a commitment to equitable education.

Qualified candidates will hold or be eligible for Minnesota licensure in Elementary Education and demonstrate strong planning, organizational, and interpersonal skills. Salary aligns with district guidelines and benefits listed.

Qualifications

• The successful candidate must have earned a B.A. or B.S. degree and holds or is eligible for a Minnesota State Licensure in Elementary Education.
• Commitment to equitable education of all students, creative planning and organizational skills, and highly effective interpersonal skills.
• Ability to successfully implement the responsibilities of the position overview.

Responsibilities

• Design meaningful learning experiences that prepare students for the future.
• Create engaging, relevant work grounded in students' interests, strengths, and needs.
• Collaborate with home-base teachers, ASE managers and related service providers to support IEP and evaluation meetings.
• Identify student skill needs through diagnostic assessments and support growth through targeted interventions aligned to learning progressions.

Skills

Collaboration

Creativity

Critical thinking

Self-direction

Education

B.A./B.S. degree

Minnesota State Licensure in Elementary Education

Job description

About Spring Lake Park Schools

Hello from Spring Lake Park Schools! We are a vibrant school community serving about 6,200 students from the suburbs of Blaine, Fridley and Spring Lake Park in the northwest Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Our district purpose - "High expectations, high achievement for all. No excuses" provides our focus to meet the unique and varied needs of each student.

Spring Lake Park Schools is recognized for our commitment to personalized learning, creating a culture of innovation and creativity through human-centered design thinking. We are working to create a culture where teachers and staff have the freedom, flexibility and invitation to design new ways of learning that are centered around deepening student engagement to continuously improve student success.

About Spring Lake Park Educators

Each teacher at Spring Lake Park Schools designs meaningful learning experiences that prepare students for the future. Our educators create engaging, relevant work grounded in students' interests, strengths, and needschallenging them to think deeply and take an active role in their learning.

Teachers cultivate inclusive, engaging learning environments where each student feels valued, supported, and has a true sense of belonging. The focus is developing strong academic skills and essential career and life competencies such as collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and self-direction.

Our teachers are reflective, collaborative professionals committed to ongoing learning. They embrace a culture of reciprocal feedback, refining their practice and driving continuous improvement and innovation. Above all, they believe that each student deserves meaningful work worthy of their time, talents, and potential.

Our academic specialists identify student skill needs through diagnostic assessments and supports growth through targeted, evidence-based interventions aligned to learning progressions, including scaffolding foundational skills below grade level to strengthen access to core learning. Students engage in motivating experiences that build on their interests, with assessment for learning practices used to monitor progress and clarify next steps. Progress is documented to ensure accelerated growth and achievement of intervention or IEP goals, while ongoing communication with families supports learning at home. Collaboration with home-base teachers, ase managers and related service providers ensures coordinated support through participation in IEP and evaluation meetings.

Qualifications/Licensing Requirements

The successful candidate must have earned a B.A. or B.S. degree and holds or is eligible for a Minnesota State Licensure in Elementary Education. Additional demonstrated qualifications include: commitment to the equitable education of all students, creative planning and organizational skills, and highly effective interpersonal skills. Ability to successfully implement the responsibilities of the position overview listed above.

Preferences

We strongly prefer candidates who have exhibited excellence in collaboration with colleagues and an enthusiasm to work with students. Preferred candidates will also have a demonstrated commitment to ongoing learning as evidenced by graduate-level work or an earned degree, as well as participation in professional organization conferences or seminars related to the content area. Prefer candidate with experience working with diverse learners.

Salary

Group

Teachers

Position

1.0 FTE Teacher

Rate of Pay

$53,228-$107,781/school year (placement determined based on experience and qualifications)

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Sick Leave
• 403(b)
• Life
• LTD
• FSA

Other

Salary pro-rated based on start date.

Spring Lake Park Schools is an equal opportunity employer and will not deny anyone the opportunity for employment because of sex, race, religion, color, creed, national origin, marital status, age, sexual preference, disability, or status with regard to public assistance.