Middle School Learning Specialist at The Frances Xavier Warde School in Chicago, Illinois

Job Description:

Educators at The Frances Xavier Warde School (FXW) are hired with the invitation and encouragement to be life-long learners. FXW will employ faculty who enjoy teaching, who are progressive and innovative in their craft, who love working with students, who are great colleagues, and who truly find joy in their profession.  We expect that an FXW faculty member possesses the necessary knowledge, teaching skills, character, and commitment to be productive members of the FXW community.  Additionally, the FXW will teacher adhere to the unique Catholic mission and interfaith values of FXW School.

At FXW, we aspire that each teacher is successful. To support this, an FXW teacher will,

• Utilize effective instructional strategies with students.  


• Be willing to grow in their profession.


• Create and manage the classroom in a positive manner, respecting the dignity of all. 


• Embrace the FXW Mission and Charisms.


• Complete annual goals and seek professional development opportunities. 


• Maintain a positive rapport with all members of the FXW community. 


• Fulfill routine duties and expectations in a dependable manner. 

Diverse Learner Program Description 
At The Frances Xavier Warde School (FXW), our student support program is inclusive.  Our educators employ strategies to differentiate instructional delivery.  They collaborate regularly to determine ways to support students.  Classroom teachers and learning specialist’s plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate topics.  This involves collecting and analyzing data pertaining to the learning needs of students.  Everyone works as a team to partner with families to discuss their child's progress toward identified goals.  The team may choose to develop individualized education plans (ILPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, and social/emotional development.  All educators regularly attend student-needs meetings and provide advisement on tiered systems of support. 

Primary Function of a Middle School Learning Specialist
Overall, Learning Specialist creates a flexible program and learning environment that provides differentiated instruction for all students.  This includes co-teaching in classrooms, collaborating with teachers on content delivery, and working with multiple providers to determine appropriate accommodations for students.   The learning specialist co-teaches across content areas (with a focus on math and literacy) in a specified grade-level to support all learners; this may include taking the role as the lead teacher for all or part of lessons when this best serves the students.  They assist with providing accommodations to the general education curriculum for students with diverse learning needs.  The learning specialist teaches an executive functioning course to help students manage deadlines and learn study skills.  They also serve as an advisor for one homeroom section.  

Qualifications and Requirements  

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in education.


• A valid, issued State of Illinois teaching certificate is preferred.  


• A master’s degree in a curriculum area is preferred.  

Although FXW is an Independent Catholic School, all faculty and staff comply with the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Protecting God’s Children Requirements. 

A candidate must demonstrate: 

• The ability to establish collaborative relationships with co-teacher/teaching staff.  


• Strong interest in to teaching in an inclusive faith-based school and comfortable teaching a Religion

        Curriculum- either Catholic or Interfaith in subject matter.  

Key Relationships 
The teacher reports to the campus principal and is supervised, evaluated, and mentored by the principal and/or the assistant principal. Other key relationships include: the Head of School, other teachers and administrators, staff, students and parents.

Compensation and Benefits

Pay at FXW is competitive, commensurate with experience, and consistent with independent schools. The School has a robust benefits program available to all eligible employees.

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications?  We understand. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply and welcome a chance to review your background. We are dedicated to building and maintaining a diversified workforce and considering a broad array of candidates with a variety of skills, workplace experiences, and backgrounds.

Non-Discrimination Policy   

It is The Frances Xavier Warde School’s goal to attract, recruit and retain exceptional faculty and staff that are inspiring, diverse and committed to the school’s mission. We support our teachers and staff by welcoming them into an environment that encourages them to excel and by maintaining a rich benefits package that helps them to flourish and grow personally and professionally.

FXW will not engage in discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, order of protection status, genetic information, marital status, disability, sexual orientation including gender identity, unfavorable discharge from the military or status as a protected veteran and will comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action laws, orders and regulations. This nondiscrimination policy applies to student admissions and employment.

We invite you to become a part of our community and FXW makes a deliberate effort to employ faculty and staff of diverse races, ethnicities, and backgrounds. No phone calls please.

Mission Statement

The Frances Xavier Warde School is a Catholic elementary school in downtown Chicago that provides an excellent academic, values-oriented education to students of all ethnic, religious, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds in a child-centered urban environment. As a keystone of its diverse community, The Frances Xavier Warde School provides need-based scholarships to thirty percent of its students.

The Frances Xavier Warde School partners with its families, nurtures faith development for its Catholic students, and engages all its students to learn about and respect other faith traditions. The Frances Xavier Warde School uses a rigorous curriculum that enables students to grow, clarify their values, and develop decision-making skills and a sense of responsibility for themselves and the world they will inherit. 

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