Job Description: Johannesburg Middle School Learning Support Teacher Tentative

Job Description: Johannesburg Middle School Learning Support Teacher Tentative

CAMPUS: Johannesburg Campus
SUPERVISOR: MS Principal
CONTRACT DATE: 27 July 2027
POSTING DATE: 09 October 2026
CLOSING DATE: 01 November 2026

 

Inspire Learning to Build Our Better World. At the American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ), we are committed to providing an exceptional education that empowers global citizens to fulfill their future purpose. Our vision is to inspire learning to build a better world. We seek a dedicated and passionate professional who aligns with our commitment to excellence and believes in the transformative power of education. Every team member is crucial in creating a supportive and nurturing learning environment. At AISJ, we value every employee as a learner and expect them to embody and support the AISJ Portrait of Learner (Resilience, Mindful, Thinker, Globally Connected, Curious, Contributor) through their work. We are dedicated to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion within our school community.

Position Overview

The Learning Support Teacher supports the academic, social and emotional needs of students with mild to moderate learning differences at the Johannesburg Middle School. The teacher manages a caseload of students across Grades 6–8, providing Tier 2 and Tier 3 support within our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).

The Learning Support Teacher is a key member of the Middle School Student Success Team. They work closely with counselors, general education teachers, administrators and families to identify student needs and plan for them. Working with the K–12 Student Support Services team, they help build inclusive practices across the school and widen opportunities for every learner. The position also at times supports multilingual learners who are acquiring English, using WIDA data to guide instruction.

The Middle School operates on an 8-period rotating block schedule, and teachers teach 5 of the 8 blocks; the Learning Support teacher’s schedule typically includes Learning Lab and co-taught classes. Like every Middle School teacher, they also lead an Eagle Forum (advisory) cohort, which is central to the Middle School experience, and take part in our CWW, FLEX and Clubs programs.

 Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Required Educational Qualifications & Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Special Education or Learning Support (Master’s preferred)
• Teaching license or certification in Special Education / Learning Support
• Secondary teaching license or certification
• Certification in English Language Acquisition is an advantage

Required Professional Skill & Experience

•  Teaching Learning Support at Middle School level
• Supporting students with a wide range of learning needs
• Implementing MTSS and planning and delivering Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions
• Interpreting psycho-educational reports and standardized assessment data, then writing and monitoring Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) with clear, measurable goals
• Co-teaching and coaching general education teachers in accommodations, scaffolds and strategies for students with learning differences and English learners
• Applying a Universal Design for Learning Framework to planning with general educators
• Using WIDA English-language data to inform instruction
• Coordinating access arrangements for classroom and standardized assessments
• Knowledge of the CASEL SEL Framework
• Using learning data to examine and improve teaching practice
• Setting up and leading collaborative structures, including leading professional learning for colleagues
• Communicating clearly and sensitively with students, families and colleagues
• Recent, relevant professional development in Learning Support
• Working effectively in a multicultural environment
• A positive attitude and a firm belief that all students can learn

Key Responsibilities:

•  Manage a Learning Support caseload, including ILP development, progress monitoring and regular review
• Teach Learning Lab classes and co-teach in general education classrooms
• Take part in Student Success Team meetings and referral processes, working closely with counselors, teachers and administrators
• Give teachers practical strategies, accommodations and resources for learners with diverse needs
• Communicate regularly with families about goals, progress and next steps
• Keep accurate, confidential student records in line with AISJ Student Support Services procedures
• Collaborate with the K–12 Student Support Services team to strengthen inclusive practice
• Serve as an Eagle Forum teacher and take part in CWW, FLEX and Clubs
• Supervise students during Break and/or Lunch periods on a rotating basis.
• Engage in our Co-curricular program for at least one season per year.
• Engage in ongoing professional learning and contribute constructively to team and staff meetings
• Support new colleagues and take part in school events as required

Teacher Competencies:

Planning for Learning

• Curriculum Design: Creates personalized, challenging learning sequences that build on prior knowledge while ensuring knowledge transfer and regular reflection opportunities.
• Collaborative Planning: Partners across disciplines and specialties to create cohesive learning experiences that connect global contexts while anticipating student needs.

• Inquiry-Based Learning: Designs flexible conceptual units that honor student choice, pace, and multiple pathways to demonstrate understanding.

Maximizing Teacher Efficacy

• Student Agency & Critical Thinking: Creates self-directed learners who think critically, set goals, and drive their own learning journey.
• Research-Based Instructional Excellence: Implements proven teaching strategies that adapt to individual student needs through continuous assessment and adjustment.
• Connected Learning Design: Weaves together global perspectives, real-world applications, and cross-disciplinary connections to create meaningful learning experiences.
• Collaborative Leadership: Builds a learning community where students develop leadership skills through structured collaboration and personalized engagement.

Reflecting as Practitioners

• Student Agency: Builds student capacity for self-assessment through modeling, tools, and targeted feedback that drives individual growth.
• Data-Informed Practice: Analyzes student achievement data to align curriculum, refine teaching strategies, and measure instructional effectiveness.
• Professional Growth: Engages in collaborative reflection and data analysis with colleagues to continuously improve teaching practices and student outcomes.

Promoting Relationships, Community, & Culture

• Builds strong community-school partnerships and actively participates in community initiatives to enrich the learning environment.
• Adapts teaching practices by staying informed of educational and societal changes while understanding each

learner’s unique cultural background, learning style, and needs.

• Creates an inclusive learning environment that embraces diversity, challenges stereotypes, and connects learning to students’ real-world experiences and cultural contexts.
• Fosters a growth mindset by encouraging calculated risk-taking and developing students’ autonomy, personal responsibility, and ownership of learning.

All community members are expected to be committed to the AISJ Community Principles.

• We are better when we act together.
• Our differences make us stronger.
• Every voice counts. Every voice matters.
• Every team needs individuals. Every individual needs a team.

Work

Number of Work Days: : Monday through Friday – 188 (one hundred and eighty-eight) days per school year.

Work Day: 7:10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and from 7:10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

Other Duties As Assigned: The Teacher will be expected to perform any work assigned to them that is within their skills and capabilities and to be flexible about changes to this function that may be required from time to time for operational reasons. This includes other duties as assigned by their supervisor from time to time.

APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply, please complete the electronic form [Click here]. Information captured will be securely stored and used for a reference check on the candidate’s compatibility.  AISJ reserves the right to appoint the strongest candidate before the closing date if required.

SAFEGUARDING & CHILD PROTECTION
AISJ maintains robust child protection policies to ensure a safe, secure, and caring environment for our students. All employees must undergo criminal background checks, attend annual training, and sign a safeguarding agreement.

PRIVACY
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