Middle School Learning Specialist

The Dalton School; New York (NY); On-site; USD 81,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

The Dalton School in Manhattan's Upper East Side seeks a full-time Middle School Learning Specialist to begin in September 2026. This pedagogical expert designs multisensory, differentiated learning plans, serving as a bridge between students’ neurodiverse profiles and classroom environments.

Reporting to the Dean of Academic Support & Student Services, the specialist will collaborate across departments, provide targeted support, build executive-function skills, and monitor progress to ensure

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree required and deep knowledge of executive function, memory, and adolescent brain development.
• Ability to interpret and summarize neuropsychological evaluations.
• Experience supporting students with attention, processing, or learning barriers.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct support to students identified with learning barriers by teaching skills and strategies.
• Teach or co-teach classes as needed.
• Lead small-group or 1-on-1 sessions on organization, time management, and meta-cognitive strategies.
• Collaborate with House Advisors, teachers, and the Dean of Academic Support & Student Services to coordinate support.
• Monitor student progress and report needs to grade-level teams.

Skills

Executive function

Differentiated instruction

Student advocacy

Education

Master’s Degree in Special Education

Master’s Degree in Educational Neuropsychology

Master’s Degree in Learning Science

Job description

Salary Range:

$81,000 - $178,000. The position on the scale will be based on years of teaching experience and education.

Exemption Status:

Exempt

The Dalton School, a progressive K-12 gender-inclusive school in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, is consistently recognized as one of the preeminent independent day schools in the nation. Known for its child-centered approach and an exceptional, inspiring faculty, Dalton enrolls over 1,300 students with approximately 350 faculty and staff. Guided by the Dalton Plan, the foundation of a Dalton education, our faculty meets each student’s evolving needs, interests, and abilities. Dalton challenges each student to develop intellectual independence, creativity, curiosity, and a sense of responsibility toward others both within the School and in the broader community.

We are seeking a full-time Middle School Learning Specialist to start in September 2026. The Middle School Learning Specialist serves as a pedagogical expert in how students learn. Reporting to the Dean of Academic Support & Student Services and collaborating across all departments, the Specialist acts as a student advocate and executive functioning coach who designs multisensory, differentiated, and feedback-rich conditions for learners with persistent barriers related to attention, memory, processing, and executive function. The Specialist works to uncover root causes of academic barriers, serving as the primary bridge between a student’s neurodiverse profile and their classroom environment to help translate learning plans into daily successes. By focusing on cross-curricular learning strategies and ensuring that support is integrated into the student’s comprehensive academic experience rather than siloed by subject, the Specialist helps students understand how their brains work and internalize strategies for self-management.

Responsibilities:

• Provide direct support to students identified with persistent barriers to learning (e.g., attention, memory, processing, executive function, learning disabilities) by teaching skills and strategies.
• Teach or co-teach classes, as needed.
• Lead small-group or 1-on-1 sessions focused on organization, time management, and meta-cognitive strategies.
• Contribute to a school culture that reduces stigma around learning support by making effective learning tools universally available to all students.
• Collaborate with House Advisors, teachers, and the Dean of Academic Support & Student Services to coordinate and provide learning and executive skills support for students identified in Guidance and Student Support.
• Help monitor the academic progress of students and alert the Dean of Academic Support & Student Services and grade-level teams when issues arise.
• Serve as a member of an academic department (i.e. Math, English, History, World/Classical Languages, Science).
• Collaborate with subject teachers to adapt curriculum, assessments, and classroom practices that reflect strategic, accessible, and differentiated instruction.
• Provide targeted support and enrichment in alignment with departmental goals and standards.
• Collaborate closely with a grade-level team (4, 5, 6, 7, or 8).
• Periodically attend Grade Level Meetings.
• Design and implement proactive grade-wide strategies for executive function, study skills, and academic habits.
• Serve as a point person for students in the grade for observing and assessing students of concern, co-writing Learning Plans, attending case conferences, and supporting House Advisors.
• Monitor student progress across the grade in order to report patterns and identify emerging needs and opportunities for targeted intervention.
• Coordinate details for Learning Plans and support faculty with implementation of strategies.
• Attend Guidance and Student Support Team meetings as needed.
• Build collaborative relationships across departments and grade levels, modeling flexibility, professionalism, and shared responsibility.
• Report student learning through narrative reports and progress notes.
• Proctor for extended time and separate location testing.

Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Special Education, Educational Neuropsychology, Learning Science, or related field.
• Deep knowledge of executive function, memory, and adolescent brain development.
• Ability to interpret and summarize neuropsychological evaluations.

The Dalton School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, ethnic origin, age, physical disability, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by applicable law in the administration of our educational policies, hiring policies, admissions policies, financial aid programs, athletics, and other school-administered programs.