Special Education Teacher

DIVISION: Academy

REPORTS TO: Director of Education 

SUPERVISES: Paraprofessionals Indirectly (5-15) 

EXEMPTION STATUS:  Exempt 

POSITION SUMMARY: At BHA Academy, Certified Special Education Teachers are essential leaders in advancing our mission: empowering individuals with developmental disabilities and behavioral needs to achieve academic, social, and emotional success. Grounded in our Core Values—Compassion with Purpose, Structure Builds Safety, Professionalism in Every Moment, Positivity Drives Progress, Education is Empowerment, Consistency Creates Change, Reunification is Our Mission, and Advocacy Through Action—Special Education Teachers/Case Managers design and deliver individualized education that changes lives.

Special Education Teachers collaborate within interdisciplinary teams to ensure that instruction, accommodations, and behavioral supports align with each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), functional needs, and long-term goals. They lead by example—coaching paraprofessionals, partnering with families and districts, and ensuring fidelity of implementation across all environments.

This is a safety-sensitive position. Employees must be able to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, including maintaining continuous alertness, providing direct supervision, driving individuals served as required, and administering medications as trained

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Special Education or related      field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Current Missouri licensure or certification as a      Special Education Teacher; endorsement in autism or behavioral      disabilities preferred.
• Minimum 2 years of experience working with children      with autism, developmental delays, and maladaptive behaviors preferred      (school experience strongly preferred).
• Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary or      interdisciplinary team

Skills & Competencies

• Strong time management and      organizational skills; ability to prioritize and manage a caseload of      approximately 15 students.
• Strong interpersonal and      communication skills.
• Organizational and time management      proficiency.
• Emotional resilience and      professionalism in high-pressure situations.
• Strong knowledge of IDEA, IEP      processes, FBA/BIP development, and data-based decision-making.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and      data collection systems.
• Excellent written and verbal      communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership,      collaboration, and ethical professionalism.
• Commitment to ethical standards,      professional integrity, and fiscal responsibility.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Compassion with Purpose

• Approach each student with a trauma-informed mindset,      recognizing that behind every behavior is a story, and respond with      empathy, high expectations, and skill. 
• Build strong, trusting relationships with students and      families by maintaining open, respectful, and strengths-based      communication about progress, challenges, and successes. 
• Provide individualized supports and accommodations      that preserve student dignity while promoting independence in academics,      behavior, and self-care.

Structure Builds Safety

• Create and maintain a predictable, structured      classroom environment with clear expectations, routines, visual schedules,      and supports that promote safety and learning. 
• Implement and monitor classroom management systems      that align with behavior intervention plans (BIPs), IEPs, and Academy      procedures, including reinforcement systems and visual behavior supports. 
• Collaborate with behavior analysts and clinical staff      (e.g., BCBAs, Behavior Specialists) to implement proactive, positive      behavior strategies and participate in Functional Behavior Assessments      (FBAs) and BIP development as needed. 

Professionalism in Every Moment 

• Maintain confidentiality, professionalism, and ethical      standards in all interactions with students, families, colleagues, and      external partners. 
• Complete all required documentation, including IEPs,      progress monitoring, grade reporting, data collection, and communication      logs, accurately and within required timelines. 
• Participate actively in IEP meetings, parent-teacher      conferences, staff meetings, and multidisciplinary collaboration as a      prepared, solution-focused team member.
• Provide consistent coaching, direction, and feedback      to paraprofessionals to ensure they understand and implement instructional      and behavioral supports with fidelity

Positivity Drives Progress

• Foster a classroom culture of optimism, resilience,      and growth by celebrating small wins, effort, and progress toward IEP      goals. 
• Maintain a solution-focused mindset when addressing      challenging behaviors, academic gaps, or crises—modeling calm, regulated      responses for students and staff.
• Encourage and reinforce positive peer interactions,      social skills, and self-advocacy, emphasizing what students can do      and are learning to do.

Education is Empowerment 

• Develop and implement IEPs tailored to each student’s      unique needs, including measurable goals, accommodations, services, and      progress monitoring plans. 
• Plan and deliver differentiated instruction aligned      with state standards and IEP goals, using evidence-based strategies and      specialized techniques to support sensory, communication, cognitive,      motor, and academic development.
• Utilize instructional technology, visual supports, and      assistive tools appropriate for students with autism and other      disabilities to maximize engagement and accessibility. 
• Regularly analyze academic and behavioral data to      adjust instruction, update goals, and refine interventions to support      meaningful progress.

Consistency Creates Change 

• Implement classroom routines, reinforcement systems,      instructional strategies, and BIPs consistently, ensuring predictability      and follow-through for students and staff. 
• Maintain consistent data collection on IEP goals and      behavior targets, ensuring that paraprofessionals are trained and      supported to collect accurate data. 
• Follow all BHA Academy protocols, behavior support      plans, safety procedures, and mandated reporting requirements, ensuring      alignment and reliability across the team.

Reunification is Our Mission

• Design instruction and supports that promote student      skills necessary for successful participation in less restrictive      environments, including public school settings when appropriate. 
• Collaborate with sending school districts, families,      and external partners to support transition planning, reintegration, and      long-term success. 
• Provide timely, clear, and data-based progress reports      to school districts and families, highlighting growth and next steps      toward reunification or the least restrictive environment.

Advocacy Through Action 

• Advocate for student needs, rights, and access to      appropriate services and supports in IEP meetings, school-based teams, and      cross-agency collaborations. 
• Partner with families by providing resources,      strategies, and education that help extend learning and behavior supports      into the home environment. 
• Identify and help remove barriers to student learning,      participation, and inclusion—using data and professional judgment to      recommend changes in programming, supports, or services.

Other Duties 

• Perform other duties and special      projects to support Academy and organizational initiatives as assigned.
• Conduct staff training, supervision, and performance      evaluations as assigned.
• Participate in on-call rotations for behavioral crisis      response.
• Complete all documentation, billing, and reporting      requirements in accordance with BHA and regulatory guidelines.
• Uphold BHA’s mission and values in all work performed.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Additional Conditions and Expectations:

• Employees must maintain      professional conduct and emotional regulation at all times, even during      crisis events or when exposed to aggressive or unsafe behaviors.
• Employees must adhere to all BHA      safety protocols, behavior support plans, and de-escalation procedures,      following the direction of supervisors and clinical staff.
• Employees must remain physically      and mentally alert throughout the workday to ensure continuous supervision      of students. Sleeping or inattention during supervision is prohibited.
• Employees must maintain      confidentiality, respect, and dignity toward all students, families, and      colleagues, regardless of behavioral presentation.
• Work hours may vary depending on      student needs, program requirements, and emergency situations.

BHA Academy Core Values

Compassion with Purpose 

Structure Builds Safety

Professionalism in Every Moment 

Positivity Drives Progress 

Education is Empowerment 

Consistency Creates Change 

Reunification is Our Mission 

 Advocacy Through Action 

Fitness for Duty / Medical Evaluation (Job-Related):
BHA may require a job-related fitness-for-duty evaluation consistent with applicable law when there is a reasonable concern that an employee may be unable to safely perform the essential functions of the role (including driving, medication administration, crisis response, and continuous supervision), or as part of return-to-work clearance following certain leaves or incidents.

ACCESS TO PHI: The employee may have access to Protected Health Information (PHI). Employees must always protect the confidentiality of all client information. This includes adhering to all BHA policies and all applicable state and federal regulations regarding Protected Health Information (PHI). Sharing, discussing, or disclosing PHI in any form—verbal, written, electronic, or visual—is strictly prohibited unless explicitly authorized and required for job duties.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT: Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment based on their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination based on their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy shall not be interpreted so as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or the recruiting rights of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces or the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America.

ADA STATEMENT: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential job duty. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

ACCOUNTABILITY/IMPACT (Degree of answerability for actions, consequences of errors in judgment, and legal liabilities): Errors in judgment or mistakes could cost the organization loss of revenue, loss of clients, and/or negatively impact KCBHH’s reputation.

SCHEDULE: Mon-Fri, 8a-4:30p

This is an onsite position.

FULL-TIME BENEFITS

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
• Participation in The 2P Plan — our unique, growth-based bonus program
• OnDemand Pay (access your pay when you need it)
• Health Savings Account (HSA) / Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options
• Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Additional $100 monthly wellness benefit after 90 days
• Referral bonuses and more!

ASK ABOUT OUR 2P PLAN: Great things happen when talented professionals are supported to grow and develop. Our Premier Professionals (2P) Plan is our way of investing in you and building a bright future together. More than a tiered incentive plan, 2P grows with you. Elevate your career, advance professionally, and feel truly valued for your contributions. Offering special 2P bonuses paid out 2x a year. Find meaning, opportunity, growth, and more, as a 2P Professional with BHA. 

Starting Salary: Our compensation is competitive within the market. The starting rate for this position begins at $62.099.11 annually, with your final offer based on a combination of your education, relevant experience, and overall qualifications.