Job Description
POSITION TITLE: Teacher Special Education
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - EDUCATION AND/OR TRAINING:
Possess a Bachelor’s Degree from accredited college or university with an emphasis in the appropriate field. Have taken and passed appropriate Michigan Test for Teacher Certification. Holds appropriate Michigan teaching certificate. Must be highly qualified per federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Subject to criminal background check, drug screen, fingerprinting and Board Approval.
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE:
No minimum experience required.
DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE:
Preferred experience working with special education students; modifying/adapting general education curriculum; providing education services in varied environments.
CREDENTIALS AND/OR SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Commitment to education least restrictive normalized settings. Ability to prescribe, remediate, and evaluate student progress. Ability to function as a member of an educational team, collaborate with general education staff, support personnel, community agencies, and parents. Strong behavior management and student positive behavioral support skills. Ability to be flexible and receptive to change.
Knowledge of:K-12 core curriculum content;appropriate assessment tools to identify students with special needs; how to implement an integrated instructional program; how to write effective, meaningful student goals and objectives; appropriate options of delivery methods and services; how to coordinate services with the regular education classroom and program; appropriate modifications and interventions of classroom curriculum; effective interpersonal communication techniques. Knowledge of relevant technology.
Ability to: Coordinate service with the regular education teacher and work with core curriculum; administer a variety of assessments; plan for effective, meaningful integration of student instruction; implement curriculum that addresses student goals and objectives; deliver methods and services to match specific student needs; work with regular teachers in a team effort to plan curriculum and student support; develop and implement modifications and intervention strategies. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing, using proper grammar and vocabulary.
SUMMARY OF POSITION:
Under direction of Building Principal and the Special Education Director,special education teacher will plan for and provide quality instruction and support services to special education students through a commitment to team participation (staff, students, and parents) to plan and implement students’ IEPs. Special Education Teacher willconsult with all appropriate staffers in the process, including general education staff and parents. Will maintain a caseload, meet all general ed teacher paperwork requirements (for grading, planning, attendance, etc), write and maintain all appropriate special education documentation (including but not limited to IEPs, progress notes, and related documents). Complete all paperwork and hold appropriate associatedmeetings within timelines. Keeps all associated and appropriate records organized. Maintain positive, cooperative, and mutually supportive relationships with the administration. Serve as a role model for students, dressing and grooming professionally, demonstrating theimportance and relevance of learning, accepting responsibility, and demonstrating pride in thehonorable profession of teaching.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Essential functions may include, but are not limited to the following:
1. Prepare student education plans in consultation with parents and IEP team members.
2. Design and deliver instruction, both individual and small group, which parallels the general education curriculum. Assess and diagnose the learning, social, and emotional needs and styles of students, using a variety of assessment techniques and data.
3. Act as coordinator of IEP implementation and consultant to general education staff and special education staff alike (including parapros). Gives related direction to staff (including parapros) as necessary. Establish the schedule, role, responsibilities, and expectations for paraprofessionals assigned
to assist students. On-going planning with regular classroom teachers and supports the Student Review Teams in each building as needed.
4. Monitor student progress, participates in review and revision of IEP, as appropriate.
5. Assist other professional staff in diagnosis of learning disorders, development of planned remediation and evaluation of student progress.
6. Maintain appropriate student data and other records and submit reports as required.
7. Articulate curriculum between and among student levels.
8. Demonstrate appropriate classroom management and organization.
9. Attend work on a regular basis.
10. Protect confidentiality of records and information gained as part of exercising professional dutiesand use discretion in sharing such information within legal confines.
11. Perform other duties as assigned by the Principal or Director of Special Education, which are not otherwise prohibited by law or regulation.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job and are not meant to be allinclusive. The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; and fine finger dexterity. Generally the job requires 25% sitting, 10% walking, and 65% standing. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job.
In general, employees in this position must have the ability to:
1. Sit for extended periods of time.
2. Enter data into a computer and operate standard office equipment (telephone, fax, copier, etc).
3. See and read a computer screen and printed matter with or without vision aids. Seeing to monitor student activities and behaviors. Use close vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception along with the ability to focus vision.
4. Hear and understand speech at normal levels and on the telephone. Hearing and speaking to exchange information and provide instruction.
5. Speak so that others may understand at normal levels and on the telephone.
6. Stand, walk, and bend over, reach overhead, grasp, push, pull and move, lift and/or carry up to 25 pounds waist height, including ability to lift up to 25 pounds at times and/or to move instructional materials and/or files.
7. Ability to attend work on a regular basis.
8. Kneeling or crouching to assist students with other tasks.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Employees in this position will be required to work in indoor and outdoor environments and come in direct contact with students, staff, and the general public. Indoor environment includes (but is not limited to) office and classroom setting; exposure to usual room andstudent sounds and activities; seasonal temperatures; office dust and possible odor ofperfume or room deodorizer.
Due to the nature of this position, special education teachers may be exposed to a variety of childhood and/or adult illnesses. Occasional exposure to a variety of weather conditions should be expected. Exposure to heated/air and ventilated facilities should be considered. Exposure to a building in which a variety of chemical substances are used for cleaning, instruction, and/or operation of equipment, should be noted.
A successful special education teacher is one who can handle the appropriate stressors and rigors inherent to the position.
This organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, age, gender or disability. Inquiries regarding complianceprocedures may be directed to our personnel office.
This organization complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Persons with a disability who may need some accommodation in the hiring process should contact our personnel office.This organization may require a successful candidate to provide it with employment eligibility andverification of a legal right to work in the United States.