Job Posting for MS Academic Support Specialist
Start Date: 10/19/2026
Additional Terms: Exempt, Part Time (.5 FTE) 10-month faculty position, occasional travel and ability to drive required for attendance at community events, professional development and the occasional chaperoning of student activities.
Charles Wright Academy (CWA) is a co-educational, non-religious, independent school located in University Place, WA. Charles Wright Academy is located on a beautiful and sprawling 107-acre campus that includes athletic fields and more than 60 acres of gorgeous Pacific Northwest forests that also serve as an extension of our proper academic campus. Grounded in a commitment to both academic excellence and experiential learning, our approach invites students to engage deeply in purposeful, interdisciplinary study that connects classroom knowledge with real-world exploration and meaning.
The only completely co-educational, independent, and non-religious school serving students in preschool through grade 12 in the South Sound area, CWA provides a challenging and nurturing environment with college preparatory academics and robust programming that prepare students to thrive and successfully launch into college and beyond. A wide array of experiential education, artistic, athletic, travel, and service opportunities promote students’ social-emotional development and provide students avenues to discover and pursue their passions. In a culture that values self-expression, appropriate autonomy, and exploration of their authentic selves, students are nurtured, encouraged, mentored, and supported by a highly-qualified and experienced faculty that share collective institutional values and provide engaging, active, and joyful experiences for students each and every day.
Charles Wright Mission Statement
To inspire active, joyful learning while nurturing and challenging our students to develop the
character, creativity, and skills to successfully navigate the future with confidence.
Position Description:
The Academic Support Specialist (Grade 5) works part-time teaching hours (8:00-11:20 M-W, F; 8:00-2:30 Th) to support 5th-grade students, teachers, and families in understanding and implementing individualized learning strategies. Operating in collaboration with the Middle School Learning Support Specialist, this role focuses on direct instructional support, skill reinforcement, and classroom differentiation for 5th graders.
Responsibilities:
Direct Student Support: Provide individual and small-group targeted instruction to reinforce core classroom concepts, study skills, and executive function.
Instructional Differentiation: Collaborate with 5th-grade teachers to adapt materials, implement student support strategies, and assist with classroom differentiation.
Assessment & Accommodations: Coordinate and administer testing accommodations for benchmark assessments and individual support plans.
Team Collaboration: Active member of the Middle School Student Support Team; attend weekly meetings and align intervention strategies with the lead Learning Support Specialist.
Family & Staff Communication: Maintain clear, professional, and timely communication with families, teachers, and administration regarding student progress.
Classroom & Culture Support: Model proactive classroom management that promotes self-regulation, joyful learning, and a sense of belonging in alignment with the school’s DEIB commitment.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Elementary or Middle Level Education required. Master’s degree in Special Education, Reading/Math intervention, or related field preferred.
Experience: Teaching or instructional support experience with 10–12-year-old learners (upper elementary or early middle school) required.
Core Competencies:
Demonstrated skill in direct intervention, study skills coaching, and differentiation techniques.
Strong organization, task prioritization, and time management in an active school environment.
Proactive communication and collaborative problem-solving skills.
Ability to uphold confidentiality and align with the school's mission, values, and inclusion goals.
Technical Proficiency: Fluent with Mac hardware and Google Workspace applications (Docs, Sheets, Calendar).
Physical Requirements
Must be able to sit and stand for extended periods of time;
Must be able to move easily around a classroom, accessing materials and assisting students as needed.
Must be able to communicate and exchange information with students, other teachers, and families with appropriately sensitive and accurate communication skills.
Must be able to lift 25 lbs at all times
Ability to walk with students on outdoor terrain for forest time and field trips as appropriate.
Salary & benefits
This position has a Full time Salary range from $61,800 to $94,760 and is Prorated for (half time .5) at $30,900 to $47,380, depending on qualifications and experience. Benefits available subject to plan and candidate eligibility.
Insurance: Medical, Vision, Dental; Basic Life, AD&D, and Long Term Disability; Health Care FSA; and Dependent Care FSA may be available to employees, premiums are subsidized by the school/employer, subject to the terms of the applicable benefit plan.
Retirement Plan: CWA offers an employer and employee contributed 403(b) plan, starting at 5% and up to a 7.5% employer contribution subject to the terms of the plan documents and employee eligibility.
Paid Sick Leave: Employees receive 80 hours of paid sick/wellness leave per year.
Personal Leave: Employees will receive 3 days of personal leave per year.
Other Leave: All employees are eligible for paid bereavement, jury duty, and professional development leave subject to approval and eligibility.
Other Benefits: EAP (Employee Assistance Program), Tuition Assistance for employees seeking advanced degrees, Child Tuition Remission of 50% for those choosing to enroll at CWA, 50% discount of Extended Day child care services for eligible enrolled students. Enrolled students at CWA may attend the Extended Day program until 4:00 daily at no cost.
Application Process
To apply, submit a cover letter addressing why you feel you are the right fit for this role at Charles Wright Academy and how that aligns with both our Mission and Inclusion Statements (both included in this posting). Please provide an updated resume, and email and telephone contact information for 3-5 professional references (which must include your most recent supervisor) via ADP or charleswright.org where this posting occurs. Applications for this position will be accepted until filled. No phone calls or inquiries, please.
Inclusion Statement
Charles Wright Academy best exemplifies its mission and values when everyone knows they belong in our school community.
We embrace an intentional culture that champions everyone’s full participation as their authentic selves in all of the opportunities that comprise the Charles Wright experience. This includes supporting each community member’s understanding of their own identities and acceptance of the identities of others. By doing so, we empower everyone at Charles Wright to connect, learn, grow, and achieve.
The inclusive culture we strive for requires us to make both institutional and individual commitments. Institutionally, we will align policies, curriculum, and decision-making to this goal, and we commit to ongoing self-examination, learning, and action. We also encourage and support individuals to initiate and engage in candid, courageous conversations as this work is the responsibility of every member of our community. (adopted by the CWA Board of Trustees, March 2020).