The Atlanta Speech School
Full-Time Assistant Teacher in the Wardlaw Kindergarten
for Children with Dyslexia
Start Date: August 1, 2023
The Wardlaw School is currently seeking an outstanding professional to serve as an assistant teacher in our kindergarten classrooms. Wardlaw classrooms are based on a multi-disciplinary, collaborative model where classroom teachers, reading specialists, and speech and language pathologists work together to help each child reach his/her full potential. This caring environment stresses the importance of sharing your talents with others and provides an unmatched opportunity to learn from both peers and experts in the field. As we strive to construct the reading brain, we have opportunities to interact with leading researchers in the field, including Maryanne Wolf, Joe Torgeson, and Patricia Kuhl.
The Atlanta Speech School has evolved over its 85 years into the nation’s most comprehensive center for language and literacy – earning a rising national reputation as the educational equivalent of a teaching hospital. The School attracts a staff of the most gifted and committed teaching professionals who apply the research of the nation’s leading brain development and educational experts to achieve transformational language and literacy outcomes for children through its four school divisions, five clinical programs, and Rollins Center for Language & Literacy (“Rollins Center”) professional development program. The School has never turned away a child in need of services based on his or her family’s financial circumstances. All of the School’s efforts are interrelated and intentional, creating a circle of impact that is continually refined and strengthened across all programs. Our mission is to help each person develop his or her full potential through language and literacy. Please visit our website for further information: www.atlantaspeechschool.org. We’d also encourage you to watch our video, Every Opportunity: https://vimeo.com/179818336
Description:
The Wardlaw School is dedicated to serving children with average to very superior intelligence and mild to moderate language-based learning disabilities including dyslexia (reading disability). Children accepted into the Wardlaw School may exhibit underlying auditory and/or language processing problems that make it difficult for them to learn in their present educational setting. Our students are between the ages of 5 and 12 years old and are in kindergarten through 6th level. Wardlaw School students typically have a diagnosis of dyslexia or “red flags” for the disorder. They may also have difficulty understanding and/or using spoken language, expressing themselves through written language, or experience mathematical difficulties.
Essential candidate qualities, preferences, and skills
- Caring, positive attitude and a desire to work with young children
- Able to set priorities and to remain flexible in response to changing needs
- Maintain a daily schedule that balances instructional and administrative tasks
- Work as part of a collaborative team in support of lead teachers, reading teachers and speech-language pathologists
- Experience with young children in an educational environment
Requirements:
The job requires excellent oral communication skills, physical stamina and a desire to learn. An undergraduate degree from an accredited university
- Exceptional ability to relate to the needs of kindergarten children
- Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills
- Experience with young children in an educational environment
- Strong verbal communication ability
- Physical stamina
- Desire to learn
- Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to provide an appropriate speech and language model for developing children
Responsibilities:
- Assist the lead teachers in the Wardlaw School to implement instructional plans for 18 kindergarten students who have mild to moderate language-based learning disabilities.
- Support the work of these teachers through preparation of instructional materials, data gathering and organizational tasks.
- Interact with kindergarten students by providing additional individualized or small group learning support.
- Assist teachers to gather data regarding student performance. Occasionally implement instruction for a group of 9-18 students for periods of time by following a teacher- designed lesson plan
- Supervise groups of K-3 children during lunch and recess
- Work individually with children under the direction of the lead teacher to facilitate academic progress
- Communicate with parents as needed during pick up and drop off
- Prepare instructional materials, assist with assembly of bulletin boards, organize paper work
- Participate in ongoing development opportunities provided by the school
- The position is full time (5 days per week 7:45-2:45)
Benefits:
Salary is commensurate with experience
This 190-day, full-time school position offers a generous benefit package including health/dental/life/vision and long term disability insurance; the School subsidizes health insurance premiums of staff and families. Other benefits include Flexible Spending Account; 403(b) Plan; cost reduction of some Atlanta Speech School services; subsidized meals during working hours; and accrued sick leave.
To Apply:
Please submit all of the following documents to ensure that your information is considered: cover letter, resume, copies of certificates and/or licenses, college transcript, and written submission describing how your particular skills, talents, and/or expertise could be beneficial to the Wardlaw School (please limit to 500 words).
Please no phone inquiries
CONTACT: Send, fax, or email resume and accompanying documents to:
Iris Goodson
Director of Human Resources
Atlanta Speech School
3160 Northside Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30327
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $32,000.00 - $35,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Grade levels:
- Kindergarten
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
School type:
- Private school
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Atlanta, GA 30327: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person