Special Education Teacher

Position: Special Education Teacher

Department: Special Education

Reports To: Director of Special Education

FLSA Status: Exempt

Direct Reports: None Last

Position Summary: Northwood Academy Charter School (NACS) Special Education Teacher is responsible for creating and delivering relevant and legally compliant learning experiences for students who have been identified as needing special education services in our K-8 setting. The Special Education Teacher works with other team members, related service personnel, and parents to design, monitor, and provide a rigorous academic and appropriate social emotional program to meet individual needs in a respectful and professional manner. Additionally, the Special Education Teacher uses knowledge, competency, and a positive nature to create meaningful relationships and build a strong foundation for future educational and social opportunities.

Essential Accountabilities:

• Modify the general education curriculum for students with disabilities based upon a variety of instructional techniques and technologies
• Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, and other professionals to develop individualized education programs (IEPs) designed to promote students’ educational, physical, and social/emotional development
• Create and execute individual education plans for each of the students in your care
• Create and distribute progress reports quarterly
• Provide direct and indirect instructional support to students in a positive environment
• Instruct students in academic subjects using a variety of techniques such as phonetics, multi-sensory learning, and repetition to reinforce learning and to meet students’ varying needs and interests
• Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining an environment conducive to learning for all students
• Maintain accurate and complete student records and prepare reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations
• Develop plans for effective communication, monitoring, and follow-up of students in inclusive classroom settings
• Provide crisis intervention, as needed, for students and those in inclusive classrooms
• Assist in collection of data for providing appropriate classroom interventions
• Maintain documentation of IEP progress.
• Maintain data for students with IEP and Tier III.
• Relevant duties as assigned by school administration.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree B.A/B. S, Special Education certification.
• Active and valid Pennsylvania state clearances and credentials.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated compliance with federal, state, district and school regulations and policies for special education teachers.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to write routine correspondence.
• Demonstrate a genuine interest, understanding and care for students personal and academic success.
• Operate from the belief that all students can learn and be held to high standards.
• Possess a strong desire and ability to engage families through intentional relationship building and ongoing communication.
• Respond positively and effectively to challenges with a solutions-oriented mindset.
• Possess excellent organizational and time management skills.

Working Conditions: Usually work indoors in classrooms, may sometimes teach outdoors or supervise playgrounds. Work very near others, within a few feet or less. Working with young children often entails close contact. Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time; exhibit manual dexterity, hear and understand speech at normal classroom levels.

Physical Requirements: There are physical aspects of this position to successfully carry out essential job functions such as ability to lift or carry supplies, textbooks, and equipment up to 30 pounds. Must be able to sit, stand, bend, stoop, reach, grab, pull, see, hear, and speak daily. Employees in this classification may be subject to work environments that have exposure to weather or interiors with extremes of heat and/or cold, wet and/or humid conditions, high noise levels, and various work-related hazards. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a person with a disability to perform the essential job duties