Middle School Support Specialist
Job Title: Middle School Support Specialist
Salary: Based on experience and degree level
Posting Date: October 28, 2025
POSITION OVERVIEW
The employee in this position will have the primary function of supporting WV Middle school educators and administrators. The specialist will provide student guidance in career exploration, developing decision-making skills, leadership skills, and adjusting to new challenges.
The specialist will work collaboratively with districts to provide and coordinate support to assist WV Middle Schools in providing evidenced-based instruction that fosters academic achievement and holistic student development.
The specialist will guide Middle School educators and administrators to provide environments that foster students’ abstract thinking, teamwork and hands-on learning. This will include career exploration which helps students build skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork which are crucial to future professional success.
The specialist will develop and enhance Career Tech Education in Middle Schools throughout West Virginia and help students discover what they’re passionate about and imagine doing what they love while building foundational understanding of concepts and applying them in real world context. Ultimately, students will develop rich entrepreneurial skills that can be transferred to any professional setting.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree or higher
- Demonstrated success as an administrator at the Middle School level or in K-8 program (a minimum of five years’ leadership experience)
- Core knowledge of developmental needs of children aged 11-14
- Knowledge of and/or passion for middle schools in West Virginia
- Ability to work collaboratively in a high-functioning team setting within WV schools
- Deep understanding of standard-based teaching and differentiated instruction
- Ability to coach teachers in continual instructional reflection and improvement and assist middle school leaders to understand WV College and Career Readiness Standards
- Ability to problem solve and implement project-based lessons
- Ability to understanding state and local job markets
- Highly effective communication skills
Key Responsibilities
- Acts as a supporter of all strategic initiatives that are Middle School focused
- Is a visible and viable presence in all areas of the Middle School and regularly available to district personnel, to students, faculty, staff, parents/guardians when deemed necessary
- Works collaboratively with WVDE and District Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and district Academic Teams to make curriculum decisions impacting the middle school including efforts to expand CTE programs at the middle school level
- When deemed appropriate, mentors new middle school faculty in understanding supports and standards
- Acts as a middle school instructional leader to support and strengthen the Empowerment Collaborative model and career exploration by attending meetings and taking on roles to support the programs
- Support Middle Schools by helping administrators decrease discipline referrals, while increasing student achievement, and attendance.
- Support Middle School personnel to ensure that student leadership roles are experienced throughout project-based learning experiences
- Collect data on student achievement, attendance and discipline to assess the value of the Empowerment Collaborative and Middle School Career Exploration programs.
- Presents to various stakeholders Empowerment Collaborative and Middle School Career Exploration programs about Middle School Exploration Program when requested
- Serves as a consultant to teachers in matters of classroom management, teaching methods, WV College and Career Readiness Standards, and general school procedures
- Prepares and conducts professional learning programs that build the knowledge and skills associated with the implementation of the WV Middle School Models
- Other duties as assigned
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Resume Must Include:
1. List of educational institutions attended, course of study, dates attended, and certificates earned.
2. List of employers for the past ten years, including address and name of immediate supervisor(s).
3. Description of responsibilities/work experiences in previous employment.
4. Alignment of work experience with posted Job Description.
5. List of at least three (3) references including addresses and telephone numbers.
Send Application & Resume:
Ms. Jan Hanlon, Executive Director
Mountain State ESC
501 22nd Street
Dunbar, WV 25064
or via email to rjpreece@k12.wv.us
MSESC WILL GRANT EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL PERSONS, REGARDLESS OF RACE, AGE, RELIGION, COLOR, SEX, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN AND NO DISCRIMINATION BASED ON THESE FACTORS WILL BE MADE IN THE SALARY, PROMOTION, DEMOTION, TRANSFER, OR TERMINATION OF ANY EMPLOYEES.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
Recommended by the MSESC Executive Director
Confirmed by the MSESC Governing Council
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:
This position is a will and pleasure employee of the Mountain State ESC. Continuation of the position is dependent upon funding, enrollment and program performance.