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Senior Learning Access Specialist

Carole Robertson Center for Learning -
Chicago, IL

Job Details

$74,750 - $84,000 a year

Benefits

Health insurance
Dental insurance
401(k)
Paid time off
Employee assistance program
Vision insurance

Qualifications

Early childhood education center experience
Microsoft Outlook
Data interpretation
Microsoft Teams
Leading team collaboration initiatives

Full Job Description

Senior Learning Access Specialist

Under the direction of the Vice President of Program Scaling and Dissemination, the Sr. Learning Access Specialist is responsible for implementation of supports and services for children with special rights within our care at Carole Robertson Center. In this role, the Senior Learning Access Specialist will focus on implementation of evidence-based practices through push-in classroom support and classroom pull out time, as needed. In this role, the Sr. Learning Access Specialists support the implementation of all special education best practices, ensures adherence and alignment to strategies outlined in a child's IFSP or IEP, and provides collaboration and guidance to Program Advisors, Social Emotional Learning Advisors and teachers in order to implement best practices in the classroom. The Sr. Learning Access Specialist will also be responsible for direct supervision of two additional Special Education Specialists.

Additionally, they are responsible for building and maintaining a strong partnership with all program staff to promote quality and provide ongoing support to children teachers in the development of skills, especially pertaining to children who may present or be diagnosed as neurodivergent. The Senior Learning Access Specialist will contribute to and implement support plans for each child/classroom in their portfolio alongside the director and advisor teams.

Major Responsibilities and Key Tasks

Classroom Planning and Implementation
- Assess children’s abilities and craft teacher plans detailing specific individualized strategies based on children’s strengths and needs
- Collaborate with support staff and classroom groups to maintain the smooth functioning of the program, which at times may require changes to meet the needs of the children;
- Manage classroom crises and solve conflicts;
- Monitor children’s behavioral patterns and arrange strengths based, appropriate interventions as needed; including supporting staff to:
  - Ensure an emotionally safe climate by upholding and demonstrating the practices outlined in the NAEYC Code of Conduct in all interactions with children, families, and colleagues.
  - Utilize strategies for Active Supervision throughout the day and in all spaces (indoors and outdoors) to ensure child safety and wellbeing.
- Mentor other professionals who work with children with special rights / disabilities
- Supports developing staff buy-in to program and service area goals by eliciting their input and discussing the goals’ content and rationale
- Participate in weekly “pod” staff meetings to support strategic implementation of services and supports for children with special rights / disabilities

Resource Management
- Identifies and manages additional external resources to support children with special rights / disabilities
- In collaboration with members of the program leadership, curate resources to improve program quality for children with special rights by offering suggestions and providing information about needed resources during the program’s planning and budget development process
- Collaborates with Programs and Impact leadership to ensure a safe, attractive, well-equipped program environment designed to maximize inclusive practices for children with special right by contributing to the development of sound budgets, purchasing high-quality materials and equipment, and establishing and/or implementing systems to monitor and maintain/replace equipment, and a ensure clean and safe facility.

Observation, Analysis, Planning, and Documentation
- Supports Teachers to complete documentation requirements for children with special rights by ensuring that the program maintains accurate, objective, complete, timely, and well-organized child, family, and program records and/or data entry
- Supports Teachers to promote effective use of data by integrating pertinent information from developmental screenings, IFPs, IEPs, etc. into classroom planning for children’s individual growth and development.

Communication
- Demonstrates respect for others by sharing information objectively and non-judgmentally and adjusting verbal and written communication strategies for different audiences.
- Follows protocols (e.g., reporting structure, confidentiality) when communicating with others in the program, families, governing body, policy group, committees, and those in other community programs
- Employs a culturally competent and flexible approach when working with those from various cultures by acknowledging, accepting, and accommodating differences (e.g., providing information in an understandable format and/or language for those who have limited/no reading skills or who are English language learners)
- Promotes a collaborative, productive working environment by following established communication protocols, clearly articulating expectations, outcomes, and timelines, and using conflict resolution and negotiation skills when needed
- Facilitates communication with others by using available technologies and by supporting staff to do the same
- Consistent use and updating of Outlook calendar
- Utilizes Outlook to schedule all meetings
- Maintains an updated Outlook calendar with program events, i.e., family events and staff workshops and shares it
- Answers e-mail within 24 hours 80% of the time

Professionalism/Leadership
- Promotes a culture of inquiry by exhibiting a commitment to lifelong learning, keeping abreast of current information and research, and reflecting on their relevance
- Furthers professional growth by seeking feedback, reflecting on, and assessing own practice, and taking advantage of opportunities to improve skills and knowledge
- Ensures colleague and family confidentiality by limiting conversations about them and access to their records to those directly involved in providing services to them and by ensuring that confidentiality policies are followed across the programs
- Perform other duties as assigned

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

A minimum of a bachelor’s (master's preferred) or advanced degree in early childhood education, special education or child development and a Level 5 ECE Minimum of a bachelor’s in social work early childhood education/child development, education, education administration or a related field or discipline
At least 5 years of experience early childhood education/child development, special education, education administration or a related field or discipline
Have knowledge and experience in the philosophy and practices of Head Start (or comparable child development programs), early childhood education, developmentally appropriate practice, and bilingual education
Proficient use of Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and TEAMS
Demonstrate leadership abilities
Demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills
Demonstrate successful experience working in a team setting
Demonstrate high degree of emotional intelligence and self-awareness
Must be able to oversee multiple concurrent projects effectively
Must be able to understand, analyze, interpret, and make decisions about complex information received
Must be able to resolve problems, handle conflict, and make effective decisions under pressure
Must be willing and able to work evenings, weeks, or other times as required

Benefits:

Health Insurance (medical, dental, vision)

Retirement Savings Plan (401(k))
Paid Time Off (vacation, sick leave, holidays)
Employee Assistance Program
2026-27 CRCL Benefits Guide
CRCL 2026-2027 Bi-Weekly Rate Sheet
If you are having issues accessing the link, please be sure to check out our Careers page for more information!

Carole Robertson Center for Learning provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

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