Education Support Specialist (2026-2027)

Job Description

EDUCATION SUPPORT SPECIALIST
Royal Palm Academy | Naples, Florida
Full-Time, 10-Month Faculty Position
Start Date: August 1, 2026
Compensation starting at $58,000-$72,000 depending on experience and qualifications; RPA also provides very competitive benefits for full-time employees.

Royal Palm Academy, an independent Catholic PK-8 school in Naples, Florida, is seeking a full-time Education Support Specialist for the 2026-2027 school year.

This is a high-trust, student-facing faculty role for a strong educator with sound judgment, versatility, and a deep love for children. The Education Support Specialist helps triage student needs, support teachers, strengthen partnership with parents, and contribute to a calm, orderly, and student-centered school environment.

This role works in close collaboration with the Student Support Coordinator and reports to the Division Heads. The right candidate will be capable, steady, relational, and comfortable working across a range of student situations with professionalism and discretion.

About Us
Royal Palm Academy is a joyful and thriving independent Catholic school serving students in Pre-K through 8th grade. We partner with families to provide rich academics and Catholic formation, helping students grow in wisdom, virtue, confidence, and character. We seek faculty and staff who believe in the formation of the whole child and who are eager to support our mission in the spirit and tradition of Saint John Bosco.

Position Overview
The Education Support Specialist is a new position at RPA and will be a key member of the Student Support team. This person will help respond to student needs as they arise during the school day, supports teachers and school leaders, and will help ensure strong follow-through for students and families.

This role is intentionally broad and collaborative. Depending on the needs of the school and the strengths of the candidate, the position may include elements of student support, teacher support, academic intervention, parent communication, and coordination with school leadership.

The Education Support Specialist is not intended to be a therapist or counselor. This is a school-based support and intervention role for an experienced educator who can assess situations, respond appropriately, and help determine next steps in partnership with teachers, the Student Support Coordinator, and Division Heads.

Key Responsibilities
• Help triage student needs that arise during the school day.
• Support teachers in responding to student concerns and maintaining classroom continuity.
• Partner with the Student Support Coordinator to support students with academic and school-based needs.
• Collaborate with Division Heads regarding student situations, follow-up, and next steps.
• Communicate with parents professionally and appropriately when needed.
• Participate in student, parent, and teacher meetings as appropriate.
• Model maturity, warmth, professionalism, and discretion in all interactions.
• Support the Catholic mission and educational philosophy of Royal Palm Academy.

Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in education or a related field.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in a K-12 private school setting; K-8 preferred.
• Experience working directly with students in elementary or middle school.
• Strong judgment, emotional steadiness, and professional maturity.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with students, parents, and teachers.
• Ability to handle student situations with calm, professionalism, and follow-through.

Preferred Qualifications
• Catholic strongly preferred.
• Experience in an independent school or Catholic school strongly preferred.
• Experience with younger students preferred.
• Experience in student support, learning support, intervention, behavior support, or related school-based roles preferred.
• Experience participating in parent conferences or other student support meetings preferred.

The Ideal Candidate

The strongest candidates will demonstrate:
• A calm and confident presence with children
• Strong educational instincts and practical judgment
• The ability to balance compassion with firmness
• Credibility with teachers and parents
• Flexibility and comfort wearing multiple hats
• A visible love for children and commitment to their growth

Physical and Other Demands
• Ability to move actively throughout campus and between classrooms during the school day.
• Ability to respond promptly to active student situations.
• Ability to supervise and support students indoors and outdoors.
• Ability to maintain composure and professionalism in fast-moving situations.

To Apply
Please submit the following in PDF format to Michael Bussman, Head of School, at mbussman@royalpalmacademy.org:
• Cover letter describing the specific background you bring to this role, and;
• Resume
• In your email, please include a link to your current LinkedIn profile, if you have one.

Royal Palm Academy seeks faculty and staff who are mission-aligned, collaborative, student-centered, and committed to helping children flourish academically, socially, and spiritually.

About the Employer

Royal Palm Academy is an independent, Catholic, pre-kindergarten to eighth grade school in Naples, Florida. Our mission is to partner with families to provide an education of rich academics with Catholic formation. Royal Palm Academy teaches the mind, educates the heart, and forms the character of tomorrow's leaders. This mission is pursued through the development of the whole person, integral formation, which encompasses the commitment to teach, to educate, and to form our students.