Special Education Teacher - Gifted

TITLE: Special Education Teacher - Gifted   

LOCATION: Central Office

The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) is a nationally recognized urban school district that serves approximately 22,000 students and 60+ different languages are spoken in the homes of our students. KCKPS is home to Sumner Academy, the #6 highest rated High School in the Nation and #1 High School in Kansas according to the US News rankings.

With Head Start/preschools, 28 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 5 college and career academies/high schools, we are the fifth largest district in the state of Kansas and our student population is approximately 56% Hispanic, 24% African American, 9% White, and 6% Asian. To serve our students, the district employs approximately 4,000 employees including more than 1,800 teachers. 

JOB GOAL:             

To provide students with the ability to obtain knowledge, information, skills and to have a sense of self-worth and dignity that will help them be successful as they transition from school to the community. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Understand, plan and implement a range of evidence-based strategies to assess gifted and talented students.
• Differentiate instruction, content and assignments for gifted and talented students, including the use of higher order critical and creative-thinking skills.
• Recognize the learning differences and cognitive/affective characteristics of gifted and talented students, including those from diverse backgrounds, and identify their related learning and social-emotional needs.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with general education teachers in a co-taught or collaborative setting.
• Communicate with students, parents, general education teachers and administrators through conferences and other means to discuss student progress and interpret the gifted program.
• Collaborate with other district teachers of the gifted in planning for project based learning activities.
• Serve as a resource person in gifted education for all district personnel.
• Maintains professional competence through professional development activities provided by the district and self-selected professional growth activities. Demonstrates a commitment to professional growth.
• Assigns tasks that are intellectually challenging to students.
• Monitors student progress and prepares Individual Education Plans for students assigned on caseload.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Meet the employment qualifications set forth by the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education and the Kansas State Department of Education.
• Hold or be eligible for Kansas certification appropriate for the position
• Must be tolerant and understanding of students with special needs.
• Show initiative, creativity, self-motivation and good judgment.
• Demonstrate good judgment, adaptability and flexibility.
• Respect confidentiality.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, professional judgment, oral and written communication
• Be efficient and organized in “paper management”

COMMUNICATION

Maintains communication with teachers, other school personnel, and parents/guardians to enhance cooperative action which will meet the educational needs of students.

Provides health services, information, and counseling in an effective and positive manner to enhance the health and wellness of the school community.

Completes accident/incident reports for students/staff.

Compiles data for statistical purposes.

Maintains confidentiality regarding educational records.

ORGANIZATION

Maintains a daily log of school/staff visits and documentation.

Maintains the daily environment of the health office facility and supplies.

Utilizes existing technology effectively in the performance of duties.

Performs other related work as required. 

REASONING ABILITY:  Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.  Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:  Ability to read and analyze and interpret general professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, general curriculum and learning theories, correspondence, and protocols.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of administrators, staff, parents, students, and the general public.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, stand and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  The employee must occasionally push items of 50 pounds such as pushing on a bike or wheelchair, or moving/rearranging furniture.  While performing the duties of the job the employee occasionally may visit a child’s home.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud and is a standard acceptable level for this environment. Is directly responsible for students’ safety, work output and well-being.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES: Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program; ability to plan and implement lessons based on division and school objectives and the needs and abilities of students.  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, parents and community; ability to speak clear and concisely in written or oral communication.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 186 Days 

SALARY: Certified Salary Schedule

https://www.kckschools.org/hr/salary-schedules

FLSA STATUS: Exempt 

REPORT TO: Principal 

EVALUATION: Performance will be evaluated in accordance with Board of Education policy

Applications will be reviewed prior to the closing date for this position.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position.  The individual holding this position performs additional duties and additional duties may be assigned.   

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  KCKPS is an equal opportunity employer and shall not discriminate in its employment practices and policies with respect to hiring, compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of an individual’s race, color, religion, sex/gender (to include orientation, identity or expression), age, disability, national origin, genetic information or any other basis prohibited by law.

For more information regarding Title IX please contact:

District Compliance Coordinator

2010 N. 59^th Street

Kansas City, KS 66104

913-279-2262

Title IX@kckps.org