Special Education Self-Contained Teacher

This is for the 2024 - 2025 school Year

Certified SPED Teachers starting at $72,000*

Starting amount includes a $10,000 Special Education hiring incentive and a $6,000 Late hire bonus

Primary Purpose :

Provide students with appropriate learning activities and experiences in the all core academic subject areas assigned to help them fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, physical, and social growth.

Enable students to develop competencies and skills to function successfully in society.

Qualifications : Education / Certification :

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited university
• Valid Texas Special Education Certification, required
• Valid Texas teaching certificate with Core Content endorsements, preferred
• Demonstrated competency in the grade-levels assigned and corresponding academic subjects

Special Knowledge / Skills :

• Knowledge of Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee process and Individual Education Plan (IEP) goal setting process and implementation
• Ability to instruct students and manage moderate to severe behavior
• Knowledge of common learning characteristics of students with autism, intellectual disabilities and emotional disabilities.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills

Experience :

One-year student teaching or approved internship preferred

Major Responsibilities and Duties :

Instructional Strategies

Develop and implement lesson plans that fulfill the requirements of district’s curriculum program and show written evidence of preparation as required.

Prepare lessons that reflect accommodations for differences in individual student differences.

• Plan and use appropriate instructional and learning strategies, activities, materials, equipment, and technology that reflect understanding of the learning styles and needs of students assigned and present subject matter according to guidelines established by Texas Education Agency, board policies, and administrative regulations.
• Conduct assessment of student learning styles and functions of behavior and use results to plan instructional activities and behavioral plans.
• Prepare ARD / IEP documents accurately and participate professionally in ARD Committee meetings. Distribute these documents to parents and staff according to district guidelines.

Maintain and submit necessary documentation for the district's Medicaid billing program as required.

• Work cooperatively with general education teachers to modify curricula as needed for special education students according to guidelines established in Individual Education Plans (IEP).
• Work with other members of staff to determine instructional goals, objectives, and methods according to district requirements.
• Provide / oversee support with self-help skills that include but not limited to social skills, toileting, eating, and dressing.
• Plan and assign work to instructional aide(s) and oversee completion.

Student Growth and Development

• Conduct ongoing assessment of student achievement through formal and informal testing.
• Be a positive role model for students; support mission of school district.

Classroom Management and Organization

• Create classroom environment conducive to learning and appropriate for the physical, social, and emotional development of students.
• Manage student behavior in accordance with Student Code of Conduct and student handbook while using Behavior Intervention Plans as a supplement.
• Take all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities.
• Compile, maintain, and file all reports, records, and other documents required.

Communication

Establish and maintain a professional relationship and open communication with parents, students, colleagues, and community members.

Professional Growth and Development

• Participate in staff development activities to improve job-related skills.
• Comply with state, district, and school regulations and policies for classroom teachers.
• Attend and participate in faculty meetings and serve on staff committees as required.

Additional Duties :

Any and all other duties as assigned by your immediate supervisor.

Supervisory Responsibilities :

Direct the work of assigned instructional aide(s).

Mental Demands / Physical Demands / Environmental Factors :

Tools / Equipment Used : Standard office equipment including computer and peripherals; standard instructional equipment;

other specialized and adaptive equipment used by students

Posture : Prolonged standing; frequent kneeling / squatting, bending / stooping, pushing / pulling, and twisting

Motion : Frequent walking

Lifting : Frequent light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds); Occasional heavy lifting (45 pounds or over) and positioning of students with physical disabilities, controlling behavior through physical restraint, assisting non-ambulatory students, and lifting and moving adaptive and other classroom equipment.

Also may require some on the floor activities with very young or physically disabled students. The Applicant may be required to lift and position students with physical disabilities;

control behavior through physical restraint; and assist non-ambulatory students.

Environment : Work inside and outside (exposure to sun, heat, cold, and inclement weather); exposure to noise; exposure to biological hazards (bacteria, communicable diseases) In addition, some students will need assistance with personal hygiene including toileting and diapering.

Applicant will be routinely exposed to biological hazards and bodily fluids associated with toileting and diapering. Applicant may also be routinely exposed to students who exhibit physical and verbal aggression toward staff that is directly linked to the child’s disability.

The applicant would be expected to routinely assist in the implementation of individualized behavior intervention plans that are designed to decrease the aggressive behaviors.

Mental Demands

Maintain emotional control under stress; work prolonged or irregular hours