Duties
Job Summary:
Under the direction of the Director, the Licensed Special Education Teacher develops and provides specialized instruction to meet the needs of students whose primary need is in the area of Emotional Disability. S/he will evaluate and assess student progress against instructional objectives and function as an IEP case manager for assigned students. In this position, the Special Education Teacher will utilize Life Space Crisis Intervention and the Circle of Courage for social-emotional behavior support within the learning environment. Academics are based on competency-based learning practices to design individual learning pathways for students.
This program is housed outside of the home districts in an alternative site under the direction of the Leyden Area Special Education Cooperative. All students within the program are in high school (9th-12th grade) or Middle School (6th-8th grade) and need more support than is available at their home districts due to their severe emotional needs. The Special Education Teachers in this program embrace a unique learning environment for students that is highly specialized. The ideal candidate uses creative solutions and thinks outside the traditional curricula and methods available in a high school/middle school setting.
Essential functions of the job may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Using a competency-based instructional design, develop and provide specialized instruction to address the instructional goals and objectives contained in the student’s IEP while addressing credits needed for high school/middle school graduation.
- Incorporate and embed the Circle of Courage and Life Space Crisis model into social-emotional learning for all students.
- Collaborate and consult with the team to develop individualized learning pathways for all students.
- Monitor students’ academic success to ensure they are on a trajectory to satisfy high school/middle school graduation requirements.
- Create a positive learning experience with emphasis on individualized instruction using creative venues for student learning (technology, volunteer experiences, work-study programs, internships, community partnerships).
- Serve as a contact for families to access support within the program.
- Complete all necessary components of mandated special education paperwork for IEPs and reevaluations.
- Design units of study that are aligned with competency-based practices.
- Maintain positive culture within learning spaces using positive behavioral practices founded in the Circle of Courage and Life Space Crisis model.
- Employ and implement a structure for teaching students that encourages student responsibility, cooperation, and mutual respect.
- Understands classroom management theories and methods. Data collection procedures for individual behavioral management, crisis prevention, intervention, and de-escalation techniques. Balance/incorporate social-emotional learning with academic competency-based instructional design.
- Create unique, individualized learning spaces that promote a cognitively busy place for students. This is characterized by a shared belief in the importance of learning and establishes high expectations for students’ personal achievement.
- Chooses and implements instructional techniques and strategies that promote successful transitions for individuals with disabilities. Creates varied options for all students to use effective written, verbal, nonverbal, and visual communication.
- Understands assessment as an educational process. Utilize assessment (formal and informal) to determine students’ competencies and instructional competency-based activities for individual students.
Salary/Benefits
Starting salary range $52,000 to $60,000 (connect to Education and Years of Teaching)
Available benefits include
Partial Board Paid Medical Insurance of ANY Available Plan
100% Board Paid Single Dental Insurance
100% Board Paid Life Insurance (annual salary)
Flex Savings Accounts
Sick and personal days