SY 25/26 Academic Specialist

Academic Specialist Start Date: July 2025 Role Type: Full-Time, 12 month Location: Washington, DC FLSA Status: Exempt WHO WE ARE DC Prep is a high performing network of public charter schools serving over 2,100 preschool through 8th-grade students across six campuses in Wards 5, 7, and 8. We’re proud of the high bar we set for ourselves to achieve results–our students deserve our best! OVERVIEW The Academic Specialist is charged with modeling and building a positive, productive and joyful learning environment to ensure a high-quality experience for all children, most specifically for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The Academic Specialist collaborates frequently with members of the special education department and leadership team to design rigorous specialized instruction for students on their caseload. An effective Academic Specialist is highly data-driven and relentless in designing specialized instruction that holds high expectations for students with disabilities while meeting a wide range of academic needs in collaboration with co-teachers. As a key member of the school leadership team, the Academic Specialist functions on a 12 month schedule as a teacher-leader and reports to the campus Special Education Coordinator. WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU’LL DO You absolutely love to teach and have a strong track record of differentiating instruction that supports your students in making academic leaps and bounds. You are unwavering in your belief that ALL students can–and should–pursue rigorous academic goals. You will be responsible for: Providing Tier 3 interventions to students with IEPs Designing and implementing literacy and math instruction for multiple special education pull-out groups daily Designing and delivering standards-aligned, student-centered instruction to meet rigorous academic goals for students with disabilities Using data to develop rigorous IEP goals for each student on your caseload Designing and implementing high quality specialized instruction for students with disabilities across multiple grade levels Creating and refining service delivery schedule for specialized instruction Monitoring progress of specialized instruction to inform refined services or goals for students on your caseload Communicating regularly with families regarding student progress toward IEP goals Providing instructional leadership to other members of the school community to ensure specialized instruction is aligned with all other student services Serving as a member of the Multi-Disciplinary Team for students on your caseload to report out on progress with families and other service providers Collaborating with general education teachers, special education inclusion teachers, and Academic Intervention Fellows to ensure specialized instruction is aligned with grade-level curriculum and content Providing expertise to school community regarding academic interventions by serving as a member of the SST team Maintaining compliance for all students on your caseload Writing and updating Present Levels of Performance and IEP goals on an annual basis Writing and submitting quarterly IEP progress reports Communicating with other related service providers to ensure appropriate service delivery QUALIFICATIONS Educational background and work experience 2+ years of lead teaching experience as an Interventionist or Special Education Teacher in an urban public school with a record of high student achievement Bachelor’s degree from a competitive college or university required. Concentration or advanced degree in special education or literacy/ math intervention preferred Skills and characteristics Desire and willingness to do “whatever it takes” to support student achievement in traditionally under-served communities Passion for connecting with students and families in support of student success Extraordinary oral skills to effectively communicate with varied audiences Comfort with and ability to write efficiently and effectively as part of a culture where curriculum writing, email communication, and documentation are critical Superior analytical skills and sound judgment to make critical decisions autonomously Meticulous organizational ability in order to set priorities, organize workload, handle multiple responsibilities and meet deadlines Positive attitude, maturity, and personal stability sufficient for a demanding position Deep belief in DC Prep’s mission, values and commitment to diversity WORKING AT DC PREP DC Prep's faculty and staff are passionate, talented, and uncompromising with a mission to make sure all students succeed at a high level. Every aspect of our organization and program is designed – and continually refined – to ensure that goal. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS Highly competitive salary Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability insurance; maternity, paternity, and adoption leave; and a 403b retirement plan ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS DC Prep teachers are on duty at their assigned campus Mondays through Fridays from 7:15 am to 4:15 pm and must be prepared to receive students in the classroom at 7:30 am. Occasionally, staff may be required to report to a different campus for professional development or all network event. DC Prep staff regularly perform morning, lunch, and afternoon duties as assigned by their principal Additional responsibilities may arise during the school year, including attending staff and student field trips, after school events, family-teacher conferences, home visits, and other events involving parents and students, as needed. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands and environmental conditions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions. Must be able to sit and work at a desk/computer for extended periods of time Must be able to spend the majority of the day standing or mobile throughout the classroom Ability to concentrate in active and noisy environments such as cafeterias and playgrounds JOIN US Do you believe that Learning Has No Limits? Are you eager to join a supportive, innovative, and collaborative community of educators? Are you committed to growing your strengths as an educator through individualized professional development and coaching? Apply today! We’re an equal opportunity employer and hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability. We strongly encourage diverse candidates to apply.

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