Learning Specialist English in Melbourne

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated expert knowledge of the relevant curriculum.
• Demonstrated ability to model exemplary teaching practice, including the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills across the curriculum, and implement school priorities.
• Demonstrated expertise in the implementation and modelling of high impact teaching strategies that respond to student learning needs.
• Demonstrated ability to support teachers to evaluate the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth.
• Demonstrated exemplary ability to model the monitoring and assessment of student learning.
• Demonstrated ability to support others in using data to inform teaching practice and to provide feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.
• Demonstrated exemplary interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to engage in collaborative relationships with students, colleagues, parents and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to model behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values.
• Demonstrated ability to support others to reflect on their practice and facilitate school-based professional learning.

Role

Learning Specialists will be highly skilled classroom practitioners who continue to spend the majority of their time in the classroom delivering high-quality teaching and learning and have a range of responsibilities related to their expertise, including teaching demonstration lessons, observing and providing feedback to other teachers and facilitating school-based professional learning. Learning Specialists are expected to have deep knowledge and expertise in high quality teaching and learning in delivering improved achievement, engagement and wellbeing for students.

The role of the Learning Specialist will be to model excellence in teaching and learning through demonstration lessons and mentoring and coaching teachers in improving the skill, knowledge and effectiveness of the teaching workforce. The Learning Specialist: English is a key instructional leader responsible for strengthening English/EAL teaching and improving student achievement and learning growth across Sunshine College, with a particular focus on the junior years.

Responsibilities

• Curriculum and Teaching Practice: Support the implementation of a guaranteed and viable English curriculum, aligned with Victorian Curriculum 2.0, consistent assessment practices and the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0 across the College. Promote high expectations and academic aspiration among teachers and students, ensuring learning experiences develop reading, writing, speaking and listening skills while providing appropriate challenge, support and extension for all learners. Strengthen consistency in curriculum planning, writing instruction, instructional practice and assessment across English classes and campuses.
• Student Achievement and Learning Growth: Work with teachers to analyse NAPLAN, classroom assessments and other relevant English data to identify learning needs, monitor student growth and inform improvements in teaching practice. Establish and support processes to identify and respond to students not demonstrating expected learning growth, including students performing at or above expected levels. Support teachers to implement and evaluate targeted teaching strategies, interventions and extension opportunities to improve reading, writing and broader English achievement for all students.
• Instructional Leadership and Teacher Capacity: Model exemplary English teaching through demonstration lessons, classroom observations, coaching, mentoring and evidence-based feedback. Facilitate collaborative planning, assessment moderation, reflective practice and targeted professional learning to strengthen teacher expertise and instructional effectiveness.
• School Improvement and Program Evaluation: Support the development, implementation and evaluation of English improvement initiatives aligned with the College's Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation Plan. Monitor the impact of curriculum programs, teaching practices and improvement initiatives on student achievement and learning growth, using evidence to inform ongoing improvement. Actively contribute to relevant College teams, share progress and celebrate improvements in English teaching and student learning outcomes.

Other Duties

Undertake additional duties and responsibilities as assigned by the principal.

Diversity and Inclusion

The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department.

Child Safe Standards

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards.

DE Values

The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights.

Location Profile

Sunshine College operates as a two site multi-campus school in North and West Sunshine with responsibility for serving the educational needs of around 1000 young people, employing approximately 140 staff. We are currently entering an exciting renewal phase in our teaching and learning practices and physical structure, including the opening of new facilities.