Special Education Teacher Support Leader

Reports to:

Director/Associate Director of Student Services 

Receives guidance from:

Director/Assistant Director of Student Services, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, TLC Curriculum, PD, & Mentoring Leads

Assignment:   K-12 

Full-time: The role is performed on a regular full-time basis in place of a regular teaching assignment. 5 days for summer work

Role Summary

The mission of the Special Education Teacher Support Leader is to support special education teachers through training, coaching, and mentoring. The teacher leader will provide guidance regarding effective IEP and goal writing; best practices in planning and delivery of specially designed instruction; progress monitoring; and classroom management. The teacher leader will have a primary emphasis on supporting special education teachers who are new to the field, new to the role, or on a conditional license.

Summary of Essential Role Functions

1. Provide professional development to special education teachers and paraeducators.
2. Orient new special education teachers to district special education procedures and resources.
3. Assist new special education teachers with organizing physical classroom space, creating instructional plans, schedules, resources, and rosters.
4. Assist special education teachers with assessing student skills, differentiating instruction, writing effective IEP goals, and grading.
5. Assist special education teachers with co-planning and co-teaching with gen ed teaching partners.
6. Assist Strat II teachers with planning for and administering Alternate Assessment.
7. Collaborate with District PD & Mentoring Leaders to support new sped teachers through coaching, mentoring, and planning professional learning opportunities.
8. Regular check-ins with new sped teachers.
9. Follow-up with teachers on conditional licenses regarding coursework towards licensure.
10. Attend monthly sped team meetings, 1:1 meetings with student service directors, and quarterly meetings with AEA Team Reps.

Minimum Educational, Job experience, and Role Requirements

1. Hold an Iowa Standard Teaching License or similar educational license such as School Psychologist, School Counselor, or School Social Worker;
2. Evidence of commitment to continual professional growth;
3. Special education teaching experience in multiple grade levels is preferred;
4. Knowledge of best practices in special education, IEP writing, and special education law;
5. Ability to earn and maintain the trust of others;
6. Understand and able to apply principles of adult learning, growth, and development;
7. Ability to deliver and receive descriptive, constructive, direct feedback to peers;
8. Excellent time management and organizational skills;
9. Small-group facilitation skills;
10. Training design, development, and delivery skills.