Excel Academy Charter Schools·Boston, Massachusetts
The Learning Specialist will provide daily instructional support to students on their caseload and serve as an inclusion teacher to differentiate curriculum. They are also responsible for managing special education paperwork, including IEPs and 504 plans, while ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations.
Organization Overview Excel Academy is a network of 5 schools in Massachusetts and Rhode Island that prepares students in grades 5-12 to succeed in high school and college and engage productively in their communities.
The majority of our 1,700 students identify as Latinx or Hispanic and will be the first in their families to graduate from college.
Families choose Excel because our students consistently outperform their peers in growth and achievement and are 5x more likely to graduate from college.
At Excel, we believe that every student—regardless of race, zip code, or economic status—deserves access to a free, high quality holistic education.
During their middle school journey with us, students grow at a pace faster than most peers in their state.
This is possible through a combination of high expectations, rigorous instruction, and individualized support.
At our nationally ranked high school, students achieve at the highest level and are poised for success in their chosen college or career path.
About our Team Everyday, our team members choose to be positive, drive their own growth, uplift one another, and hold the highest possible beliefs for what students can achieve.
Excel teachers are responsible for delivering effective, high-quality, rigorous college-preparatory instruction designed to foster the success of their students. Teachers who thrive at Excel tend to be entrepreneurial instructors and hungry learners who crave frequent, high-quality feedback on their practice. They also have a great deal of passion and expertise in their content area that they are eager to share with students.
Teaching Responsibilities Teach daily instructional support lessons to students on caseload, utilizing time outside of core-academic classes; Serve as an inclusion teacher as needed to more effectively support the learning abilities of students with high needs; Work closely with general education teachers to differentiate curriculum, help create effective accommodations, and modify curriculum when appropriate; and Ensure that all work with students with special needs is aligned with the school’s academic goals for student achievement. Ensure that implementation of Special Education services is in compliance with federal and state special education regulations; Manage all paperwork (e.g. IEPs, 504s, Child Study Records of Accommodations, Teacher Input Questionnaires, IEP Progress Reports, subject-area checklists for MCAS, etc.) associated with Special Education cases, ensuring deadlines are met and information is accurately recorded; and Maintain regular communication with students’ parents/guardians and families. Mission Alignment You share a commitment to and belief in all students and the mission of Excel Academy Charter Schools, including Excel’s values and educational model; You are committed to addressing racial and economic inequity in education; You work effectively in a team environment and have a willingness and desire to support others in doing their best work; and You are open to change, are willing to problem-solve, and seek feedback for your own professional growth and improvement.
A Bachelor’s degree is required; a Master’s degree is preferred; License or certification not required prior to start date: You can learn more about Licensure Requirements through DESE here: https://gateway.edu.state.ma.us/elar/licensurehelp/LicenseRequirementsCriteriaPageControl.ser A minimum of two years’ teaching experience in an urban public school or charter school setting preferred, but not required. Preference will be given to applicants who share points of intersection with our students, such as speaking Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, or a language commonly spoken by our students and families at an advanced level, being first generation college graduates, or having grown up low-income.
A Bachelor's degree is required, with a Master's degree preferred. Candidates should ideally have at least two years of teaching experience in an urban public or charter school setting.
Market context
Middle school learning specialist roles in Massachusetts typically seek candidates who can provide targeted academic support and collaborate with educators, making urban public or charter school experience a competitive qualification. Review how your teaching background aligns with the posting, and confirm licensure or other school-specific requirements before applying; this platform’s AI-summarized requirements and benefits, drawn from the original description, can reduce research time.