POSITION SUMMARY
The Middle School Special Education Teacher (grades 6-8) has the overall responsibility for developing and implementing all special education IEPs and ensuring that all students are receiving appropriate special education services in a welcoming classroom environment with daily data collection. This classroom has a co-teaching model with low student to adult ratios. This role works in collaboration with the team to ensure Learners are making daily, weekly, and monthly progress in their academic performance as aligned with the Learner’s behavioral goals and programming.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Provide an optimal classroom environment and learning experience, including following a consistent schedule.
- Establishes and maintains strong classroom management techniques.
- Ensure that special educational services are delivered appropriately and that all federal, state, and local educational requirements are met, including IEPs that meet all relevant standards and expectations.
- Ensure that parent(s) and districts are all included as part of the IEP team and IEPs are completed in a timely manner.
- Maintain student records and complete all school requirements related to billing.
- Coordinate with the Student Assessment Coordinator (SAC) and ensure that all standards and expectations are met for completion of state required assessments.
- Complete all academic and diagnostic assessments, including i-Ready.
- Complete monthly education summaries and quarterly academic report cards / transcripts to be shared with other professionals.
- Develop lesson plans in accordance with standardized curriculum that allow for self-paced and individualized learning and support emotional/behavioral deficits.
- Communicates with students in a strengths-based, trauma-informed, and respectful manner.
- Knowledge of behavior/emotional support plans, crisis intervention techniques, and proactive/preventative techniques.
- Demonstrates ability to work with staff to identify concerning behaviors, anticipate potential problems, and provide for the child’s individual needs on an ongoing basis.
- Utilizes de-escalation and trauma-informed behavior management techniques.
- Oversee paraprofessionals as they maintain routine, consistency, structure and democratic environment on an ongoing basis.
- Maintains professional boundaries with peers and students and act as a positive role model.
- Complete all necessary paperwork before the end of shift, i.e. incident reports.
- Consult directly with the Director on any questions or concerns related to implementation of, and/or compliance with, Learners’ curriculum. Attend regular meetings with the Director to review curriculum implemented in daily and weekly “week at a glance” lesson plans, to ensure curriculum is being utilized and to discuss any need for supplemental materials.
- Report any behavioral concerns of Learners in class by the end of class to the Director to ensure proper documentation of behavioral concerns.
- Attend professional development learning as needed and/or required on staff training days.
- Maintain commitment to continuous development of academics and Special Education knowledge base, through specialized training/courses and work experience.
- Maintain strict adherence to the highest professional and ethical standards; seek guidance from the Director of Center Programs should any potential or perceived ethical issues arise.
- Demonstrate a teamwork mentality of cooperation and collaboration. Communicate and work effectively with team members and management to accomplish goals and resolve problems. Build and maintain constructive work relationships.
- Maintain compliance with HIPAA rules, appropriately safeguarding Learners’ PHI, family information, or other private and confidential information.
- Embrace and exemplify Monarch Academy’s core values:
- Passion
- Teamwork
- Accountability
- Respect
- Science
- Fun!
- Perform other reasonable duties as assigned in support of business operations.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Special Education or Teaching
- Current Colorado teacher’s license required. Willingness to obtain a Professional Teaching license, if applicable.
- Maintain teaching license by accumulating CEUs and/or credits and submitting application for renewal to CDE before current license expires.
- Minimum 1 year experience in Special Education
- Experience with Learners ages 7-18 preferred
- Experience with high-intensity challenging behavior preferred
- Mandatory Reporter certification, or completion of Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse & Neglect training within 1 week of employment
- Valid CPR, First Aid, and/or BLS certification
- Must pass a full criminal background check and professional reference checks
EXPECTED COMPETENCIES
- Commitment to maintaining the highest professional, ethical, and safety standards in Special Education, ABA, and related disciplines
- Solid understanding of state and federal special education rules. Be familiar with the Exceptional Children's Educational Act Rules and Regulations.
- School records shall be maintained and transmitted according to State law, pursuant to Section24-72-204, C.R.S., and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
- Friendly, professional, and effective communications skills; able to calmly present solutions in challenging situations
- Able to demonstrate self-motivation, confidence, energy, and creativity while working with children
- Willingness and ability to work with a variety of Learners and behaviors
- Able to work well in a team environment that promotes inclusiveness and communication among team members
- Able to seek and receive mentorship and feedback
- Self-directed accountability and reliability
- Cultural Competency
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the responsibilities of the job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; run; reach with hands and arms; bend over; stoop; kneel; crouch; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and see, hear, and talk. The employee must occasionally lift, hold, and/or move up to 100 pounds.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $55,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
