Special Education Teacher, Moderate/Severe Needs, K-2

The Academy is hiring a Special Education Teacher, Moderate/Severe Needs, Grade K-2 for the 2025-2026 school year.

The Academy of Charter Schools Is…

The Academy of Charter Schools is a public PK-12 school of choice located in Westminster, Colorado. We pair a rigorous, content-rich curriculum with opportunities to explore strengths and passions to achieve the highest standards for all. Our mission is to help all students grow into college ready, exemplary citizens by combining academic mastery with personal empowerment to drive lifelong success. We serve our full community by intentionally developing a school culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Our approach to vertically aligning the full educational experience for our students from youngest to oldest centers around three notions – Prepare, Explore, and Empower – that keep us grounded in The Academy’s mission and vision as we set priorities and make decisions that impact instruction and school culture.

Academy Employees Are…

At The Academy, employees embody our mission, vision, and values every day. They guide and support staff to prepare students for academic mastery by delivering evidence-based curricula; they collaborate with students, staff, and families to design student-centered learning experiences that create opportunities to explore strengths and passions; and they support the implementation of social-emotional skills lessons that empower students to become leaders of their own learning. Academy employees work hard to provide an engaging, inclusive, and joyful learning environment. They embrace relationships and positive communication with a diverse community of students, staff, and families while helping maintain a culture of high expectations for all. Experience in school environments, strong people skills, and ability to work within a team is required.

What Makes a Good Academy Employee?

The Academy is looking for committed leaders who are prepared to perform at a high level in a demanding environment. Some of the characteristics that make for a successful employee at The Academy include:

• A people-first, relationship-focused orientation
• A growth mindset
• A belief that ALL children can achieve at high levels
• A passion for contributing to overall school success by working alongside and supporting others
• A creative, innovative, and caring attitude
• A spirit of openness, trust, and kindness
• A dedication to data-driven practices
• A highly motivated work ethic and willingness to tackle challenges
• Comfort with being flexible
• A sense of humor

At The Academy, we know that diversity makes us stronger and challenges us to think differently every day. The Academy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status or disability. The online application should include a cover letter and resume.

• Copy of transcripts and three current letters of recommendation are highly recommended but not required with initial application
• Current Colorado teaching credentials required or proof of eligibility required
• Competitive Salary 
• Salary range starts at $60,000 plus additional for verified work experience
• School year starts August 4, 2025; school year ends May 22, 2026
• Medical Benefits - 100% paid for employees on select plans
• PERA Retirement Benefits

Visit our website at www.theacademyk12.org. The Academy’s comprehensive benefits package includes a number of different plans for full-time employees. Refer to Employee Benefits Enrollment Guide for details at https://www.theacademyk12.org/about-us/working-for-us. Information on employee paid leave is also available at this same location.

SUMMARY: The Special Education Moderate & Severe Needs/Autism Teacher provides students who are moderately or

severely disabled an instructional program based on student time on task and encompassing mastery learning theory.

Employee shall perform the duties and responsibilities proficiently, professionally and in a collaborative manner consistent

with the standards of care and quality that accompany the highest norms of the profession.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to

perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill

and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform

the essential functions.

1. Serve as a teacher of students with moderate to severe disabilities, providing instruction according to

approved courses of study and curriculum, at a rate and level commensurate with established student

expectancies and Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals and objectives.

2. Develop goals and objectives for multi-graded classes and variety of handicap conditions.

3. Provide direct instruction and services to students.

4. Design, implement and evaluate structured instructional and behavioral management programs for

individual students.

5. Plan and implement appropriate affective and social skill development programs.

6. Train and supervise classroom paraprofessionals.

7. Monitor student progress as it relates to established IEPs.

8. Work as a member of a trans-disciplinary team for planning and implementing data based

instructional programs.

9. Develop transition plans to move students to targeted integrated or community based activities, and/or

transition to adult lifestyles.

10. Provide a thorough assessment and diagnostic process for an individualized instructional program.

11. Provide information and support to parents and families when appropriate.

12. Maintain accurate reports, records and files on individual students.

13. Assist in identifying, developing and implementing appropriate use of resources for instructional

application.

14. Maintain effective working relationships with parents, school personnel and other agency staff.

15. Enforce and follow The Academy’s rules and policies.

16. Attend all scheduled staff meetings.

17. Participate in professional growth opportunities.

18. Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in an education field (e.g. teaching, psychology, speech language, etc.) plus additional coursework required for certification or licensure.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS or CERTIFICATIONS:

• Maintain current licensure with the State of Colorado.
• Criminal background check required for hire.

TECHNICAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES:

• Ability to maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job.
• Personal computer and keyboarding skills.
• Strong customer service and public relations skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks with frequent interruptions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to promote and follow Board of Education policies, Authorizer policies and building and department procedures
• Ability to communicate, interact, and work effectively and cooperatively with people from diverse ethnic and educational backgrounds.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT OPERATING KNOWLEDGE:

• Operating knowledge of and experience with personal computers and peripherals.
• Operating knowledge of information technology systems and any other department specific software and equipment required within one month after entering position.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS & DIRECTION/GUIDANCE:Reports to: Principal

Direct reports and # of Employees:None
BUDGET AND/OR RESOURCE RESPONSIBILITY:

• This job has no direct budgetary responsibilities, but must work closely with Principal in regards to budget impacts.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands, work environment factors and mental functions described below 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.