PRESCHOOL/EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM TEACHER
Students with Disabilities Birth–Grade 2 Certified or Certification Eligible
Position Summary
The Preschool/Early Childhood Special Education Classroom Teacher serves as the transdisciplinary team leader for the classroom and is responsible for providing high-quality, developmentally appropriate special education services to preschool children with developmental delays and disabilities.
The Teacher provides leadership in the planning, implementation, documentation, and evaluation of each student's educational program. The Teacher works collaboratively with teaching assistants, related service providers, families, school districts, community partners, and other members of the multidisciplinary team to support each child's growth and development.
The Teacher must be able to consistently and successfully perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Certification Requirements
Candidates must possess or be eligible for appropriate New York State certification, including:
- NYS Permanent Special Education Certification; or
- NYS Students with Disabilities Birth–Grade 2 Certification; or
- Appropriate NYS certification eligibility and actively working toward required certification, as permitted by applicable NYSED requirements.
Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesInstruction & Curriculum
- Plan, develop, and implement developmentally appropriate, play-based educational programming that addresses the individual strengths, needs, interests, and learning styles of students.
- Ensure classroom instruction and activities support each student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals and objectives.
- Develop and implement appropriate curriculum, lesson plans, learning experiences, and classroom routines.
- Utilize evidence-based instructional strategies, accommodations, modifications, visual supports, assistive technology, and other individualized approaches as appropriate.
- Create an organized, engaging, inclusive, and effective classroom environment that promotes learning, independence, communication, social-emotional development, and participation.
- Adapt activities and the classroom environment to ensure meaningful participation for children with a wide range of developmental abilities and needs.
IEP Implementation, Documentation & Progress Monitoring
- Maintain accurate and current student casebooks, educational records, data collection systems, progress monitoring tools, and other required documentation.
- Collect, analyze, chart, and utilize student data to evaluate progress and guide instructional decisions.
- Monitor student progress toward IEP goals and objectives and adjust instructional strategies as necessary.
- Complete progress reports, educational summaries, classroom documentation, and other required written reports accurately and within established timelines.
- Participate in CPSE meetings, annual reviews, program reviews, transition meetings, and other student-related meetings as assigned.
- Maintain student records in accordance with agency procedures, NYSED requirements, confidentiality standards, and applicable regulations.
- Ensure all required documentation and reports are completed accurately and within established deadlines.
Transdisciplinary Team Leadership
- Serve as the classroom's transdisciplinary team leader and facilitate collaboration among all professionals supporting students.
- Coordinate and collaborate with speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers, nurses, psychologists, and other related service providers.
- Promote integration of therapeutic strategies and recommendations into classroom routines and educational activities.
- Participate actively in team meetings, student reviews, consultations, and collaborative problem-solving.
- Maintain effective communication among team members regarding student needs, progress, concerns, and programming.
Classroom Leadership & Staff Supervision
- Provide daily leadership, direction, and support to teaching assistants, aides, substitutes, interns, volunteers, and other personnel assigned to the classroom.
- Clearly communicate classroom expectations, schedules, responsibilities, student needs, and instructional priorities.
- Delegate classroom responsibilities appropriately while maintaining responsibility for the overall operation and educational programming of the classroom.
- Model appropriate instructional, behavioral, communication, and professional practices.
- Provide feedback, coaching, and support to classroom staff and communicate performance or safety concerns to the appropriate supervisor.
- Promote teamwork, professionalism, respectful communication, and a positive classroom culture.
Behavior, Social-Emotional Development & Safety
- Implement proactive, developmentally appropriate strategies to support positive behavior, emotional regulation, communication, and social development.
- Identify potential triggers and utilize individualized supports to prevent or appropriately respond to behavioral challenges.
- Collaborate with team members and families to develop consistent strategies for addressing behavioral or developmental concerns.
- Maintain active supervision of students and ensure student health, safety, and well-being throughout the school day.
- Follow all agency procedures related to supervision, incident reporting, emergency response, mandated reporting, health, and safety.
Family & Community Collaboration
- Establish and maintain positive, professional, and respectful relationships with students and their families.
- Communicate regularly with families regarding student progress, classroom activities, developmental needs, successes, and concerns.
- Collaborate with families as active members of the educational team.
- Communicate effectively and professionally with school districts, CPSE representatives, outside providers, community partners, and other individuals involved in a child's educational program, as appropriate.
- Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries in all communications.
Professional Responsibilities
The Teacher is expected to:
- Demonstrate professional knowledge of early childhood development, special education, developmental disabilities, and evidence-based instructional practices.
- Demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills.
- Maintain accurate, timely, objective, and professional documentation.
- Meet established agency, program, and regulatory deadlines.
- Attend required meetings, trainings, staff development activities, and professional learning opportunities.
- Maintain required certification, professional development, and training.
- Demonstrate dependability, flexibility, professionalism, and sound judgment.
- Work cooperatively and respectfully as a member and leader of a multidisciplinary team.
- Accept and appropriately implement supervisory feedback and agency directives.
- Follow all Bornhava policies and procedures and applicable NYSED and regulatory requirements.
- Perform other duties consistent with the position as assigned based upon student, classroom, program, and agency needs.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with preschool-aged children with developmental delays and disabilities.
- Experience implementing and monitoring IEP goals and objectives.
- Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary or transdisciplinary team.
- Experience supervising or providing direction to teaching assistants, aides, or other classroom support staff.
- Knowledge of early childhood special education practices and NYS preschool special education requirements.
Teamwork
Team Player: Works effectively and collaboratively as a member of a group while also demonstrating the leadership necessary to guide the classroom team.
Mission Alignment
The Teacher supports and adheres to the mission of Bornhava:
To nurture and educate differently-abled children through play, creating the foundation for them to thrive.
The Teacher is expected to demonstrate this mission through interactions with children, families, colleagues, community partners, and other professionals.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $34,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- Teaching: 1 year (Preferred)
- Special education: 1 year (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- NY State Teaching Certification (Preferred)
- Special Education Certification (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
