Learning Support Specialist

Job Description

Position Type: Full-Time/On-Site
Start: July 2026
School Name: St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School
Address: 2330 S Sherman St, Denver, CO 80210
Wage: $60,000-80,000 annual salary determined as commensurate with experience. Full-time employees receive a suite of medical, dental, vision, retirement, and life insurance benefits.

The Role:

The Learning Support Specialist works with students to help them take ownership of their academic success by providing personalized support, promoting self-advocacy, and fostering skills for independent learning. This position primarily oversees the development and implementation of student accommodations using 504 Plans and Individualized Learning Plans. The learning support specialist participates in the overall mission of the school by fostering a culture of inclusive education that extends to students with learning disabilities in keeping with the dignity of the person created in the image and likeness of God.

This position is regular, full-time, exempt and reports to and is evaluated by the Principal. This is a salaried position requiring a consistent commitment from 7:45am-3:30pm ("the school day") when school is in session. The Learning Support Specialist will be required to attend key community events (such as Open House, graduations, etc.) as well as student activities outside normal school hours. The salary range for this full-time, 11-month, exempt position is $60,000 - $80,000 commensurate with experience. Full-time employees receive a suite of medical, dental, vision, retirement, and life-insurance benefits.

Candidate Profile & Responsibilities:

A strong candidate for this role must be a Catholic in good standing with the Catholic Church, who assents to the Church's teachings on all matters, with particular care for those concerning the nature of the human person, sexual ethics and sexual identity. The candidate shall possess a zeal for the Lord, living the faith in all aspects of life, with an ability to interact comfortably and authoritatively with students in a variety of settings and with collegiality with other JPG faculty and staff.

Responsibilities:
Foster Student Ownership of Learning:
-Empower students to set academic goals, track progress, and develop strategies for overcoming challenges.
-Encourage students to take responsibility for their learning by actively engaging in their individualized support plans.

Provide Direct Instruction and Support:
-Deliver personalized, one-on-one or small group instruction to address academic challenges.
-Help students build self-management and organizational skills, ensuring they can independently apply learning strategies.

Create and Implement Multi-Tiered Systems of Support:
-Identify students with demonstrated need for support and create a process of escalation that includes identifying the need to create learning plans, working with families to identify learning disabilities, designing target accommodations

Collaborate with Students and Educators:
-Work with students and teachers to ensure accommodations are met and integrated into everyday classroom learning.
-Support students in understanding and advocating for their needs in the learning environment.
-Assisting and collaborating with faculty to ensure implementation of support loans.
-Assist faculty with curricular and assessment differentiation and modification where necessary.
-Act as a liaison with local education agencies like Denver Public Schools and The Archdiocese of Denver as well synthesizing external evaluators and recommendations.

Engage with Families to Support Student Growth:
-Regularly communicate with parents about their child's progress, challenges, and strategies for supporting learning at home.
-Guide students and families on how to reinforce academic responsibility and self-discipline outside of school.

Assist Families in Procuring Testing Accommodations:
-Help families navigate the process of requesting accommodations for standardized tests (e.g., CLT) to ensure students receive the necessary support during exams.
-Work with families, school administration, and testing organizations to secure appropriate accommodations.

Promote Self-Advocacy and Emotional Resilience:
-Encourage students to take initiative in seeking support when needed and to develop resilience in the face of academic challenges.
-Help students build confidence in their abilities to manage stress and set realistic academic expectations.

Monitor Progress and Adjust Support:
-Guide students in tracking their academic progress and adjusting strategies as needed to reach their goals.
-Help students take ownership of their growth by making informed decisions about areas for improvement.

Advocate for an Inclusive Learning Environment:
-Promote a culture of inclusion where students understand the importance of self-advocacy, respect, and personal responsibility for their academic success.

Qualifications:
-Bachelor's degree required in special education or related field; a Master's degree preferred
-A minimum of 5 years of measurable professional experience related to role responsibilities
-Knowledge of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504, or ADA, to inform its application in a private school context
-Previous experience working with student population including dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, autism spectrum, executive function deficits, anxiety
-Confidence in building out structures and processes; a "self-starting" approach to tasks; a willingness to "run with" tasks and reach out for support and collaboration as necessary
-Competency in organizational skills, interpersonal skills, and communication; particularly proactive communication with parents and students
-Knowledge and experience in creating Multi-tiered Systems of Support for students
-Ability to work with diverse student populations and address varied needs to support academic achievement and intellectual growth

Application Process:
Please apply for this position on our website, www.jpgdenver.org, or by sending resume and cover letter to search@jogdenver.org. Please indicate how your experience is relevant to this role with St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School.

Central Denver Classical High School, dba St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School, admits students of any race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs

About the Employer

St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School exists to form disciples of Jesus Christ. Rooted in truth and joy, we will graduate men and women prepared to witness to the truth and equipped to lead virtuous lives at the service of the Church, our country, and the common good.