Reading Specialist and Skills Center Teacher

The Fessenden School - West Newton, MA 02465

Salary Range: $64,250.00 - $98,650.00 Salary/year

Position Type: Full Time

Job Shift: Day

Education Level: 4 Year Degree

Travel Percentage: None

Category: Exempt / Salaried

The Fessenden School is an all-boys independent day and boarding school serving 540 students in Pre‑Kindergarten through 9th Grade in West Newton, MA. The Fessenden School’s mission is to cultivate each boy’s talents and develop in balance his character, mind, and body in an inclusive and joyful community. For more than 100 years, The Fessenden School has offered state‑of‑the‑art facilities, curriculum, and programs specifically designed to meet the educational needs of boys.

The Fessenden School seeks a full‑time Reading Specialist and Skills Center Teacher for the 2026–2027 school year. This role combines individualized reading remediation with classroom‑based support for boys in Grades K–9. The Skills Center component includes one‑on‑one remediation and targeted support for students identified as needing additional instruction in foundational reading skills. Typically, a Skills Teacher works with each student two to three times per week.

As a Reading Specialist, the teacher will go into classrooms to support small groups, administer screeners or assessments, and collaborate with classroom teachers to ensure students receive appropriate and consistent support. Full‑time Reading Specialists and Skills Center Teachers are scheduled for approximately five of seven periods per day across the Skills Center and classrooms. Daily schedules may vary based on student needs and overall scheduling considerations.

The salary range for this role is $64,250–$98,650, depending on qualifications and experience.

• Meet with individual students in a tutorial setting to work on remedial and foundational reading and/or curriculum and organizational support.
• Design individualized lessons using a systematic, multisensory approach to teaching reading.
• Ability to develop and provide differentiated instruction to meet the learning needs of a range of students.
• Communicate regularly and effectively with parents, both orally and in writing, through emails and bi‑annual narrative reports.
• Communicate and partner regularly and effectively with classroom teacher(s), both orally and in writing.
• Collaborate with teachers and colleagues in the Learning Resources Department.
• Attend parent‑teacher conferences, Student Support Team meetings, Student Center Meetings, meetings with outside providers, and Folio goal meetings with the Director of Student Support.
• Incorporate educational technology in tutorial lessons and support student use of My Fessy, as well as assistive technology in the classroom.
• In addition to the regular weekly schedule, administer screeners and standardized assessments, and write testing reports that include an analysis of results and recommendations for remediation as needed.
• Write Learning Profiles for students enrolled in the Skills Center.
• Seek out additional Professional Development opportunities to attend in the summer or during the school year.
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance.
• Attend faculty meetings, typically on Mondays from 4:30 pm to 5:45 pm.
• Attend professional development meetings, three full days and three afternoons.
• Maintain current CPR/AED & first aid certification and child‑abuse prevention training.
• Exemplify the School’s mission and community principles.
• Complete other duties as assigned by the Director of Student Support or the School.

• New Teacher Orientation:
  August 24 and 25, 2026
• School year:
  August 31, 2026 – June 15, 2027
• Monday to Friday

• Commitment to inclusion, justice, diversity, and equity
• Enthusiasm and skills to engage boys and build meaningful relationships
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to perform critical thinking, organization, collaboration, prioritization, and problem‑solving
• Ability to serve among a diverse community of colleagues, students, and parents
• Commitment to boys and boys’ education
• Current with curriculum and 21st‑century learning and teaching
• Knowledge of Common Core Standards in Reading
• Experience with developing and implementing remedial and foundational reading skills programs with children
• Certification in Orton‑Gillingham or Wilson Reading Systems

• Bachelor’s degree in education or a related subject
• Experience in instructing children in reading in one‑to‑one or small group settings
• Successful criminal background check

• Master’s degree in special education and/or certification in a reading teaching program
• Teaching certification
• Familiarity with a variety of reading programs and curricula

Submit an application through Fessenden’s Career Site. A cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references are required.