Elementary Special Education Teachers

POSITION SUMMARY : Under the direction of the Director of Education, the Special Education Teacher provides direct educational services to the identified students according to their Individual Education Program using professionally and educationally acceptable methods and techniques.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support students with IEPs including curricular and behavioral needs
• Provide emotional support through establishing a positive climate, being aware of and responsive to children, and encouraging child expression and autonomy.
• Use strategies for behavior management, such as clear behavior expectations, being proactive and redirecting misbehavior.
• Foster classroom productivity and maximize learning time, while engaging children with a variety of modalities and materials.
• Provide instructional support through concept development, fostering children’s analysis and reasoning, engaging in feedback loops, and modeling and supporting high-quality language.
• Work collaboratively with a teaching team to identify strategies and supports for each learner as indicated.
• Communicate with teaching team and parents regarding student progress per IEP goals.
• Keep IEP in compliance according to district, state, and federal mandates

Child Growth & Development : Uses knowledge of the principles of child growth and development to work with children and communicate with internal and external stakeholders.

Implements a child-centered curriculum and learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation to promote development in all domains for children of all abilities.

Addresses challenging behaviors by observing to determine possible causes of the behavior, implementing preventive measures, teaching the child new social and communication skills and partnering with families to support the child at home.

Uses observations of children and anecdotal notes to document children’s progress and individualize curriculum.

Creates partnerships with families to establish positive interaction patterns in program, school, and home.

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

Follow program curriculum providing developmentally and linguistically appropriate experiences appropriate to age, language and culture of children served.

Provide positive guidance and discipline supporting children as they acquire readiness skills for kindergarten and beyond.

Implement daily lesson plans in response to children’s needs and interests incorporating observations, anecdotal record keeping, knowledge of early childhood development and the key experiences.

Implement Individual Family Services Plans (IFSPs) for children with disabilities.

Provide children with a consistent classroom routine.

Provide supervision and ensure the safety and security of children at all times in accordance with Head Start and day care licensing requirements.

Supervise and eat nutritionally prepared meals and / or snacks with the children as a curriculum activity, to model good nutrition and proper social.

Supervise all classroom field trips and outdoor activities.

Understand regulations associated with prevention of disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination.

Non-Essential Duties :

Performs any and all other duties as assigned.

Job Specifications :

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to carry out each essential duty in a satisfactory manner. The job specifications listed below are representative of the education and experience as well as the knowledge, skill and / or ability (KSAs) required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates Basic computer knowledge, Basic knowledge of excel, word, and Google Drive.
• Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated computer literacy skills, using MS Office, Google applications and other basic data systems including internet navigation.
• Must be honest, dependable and able to meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.

QUALIFICATIONS :

The teaching position requires a minimum of a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a certification in Early Childhood Special Education (1809) or Crosscatagorical Special Education License (1801).

Physical exam and background checks are required for this position.