Special Education Teacher

Community Support Services, Inc. is seeking a Special Education Teacher for the Marcia D. Smith School,  an innovative nonpublic special education program in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The Smith School provides highly structured and individualized services up to twenty-five children with autism and other severe developmental disabilities between the ages of 11-21. The non-diploma program is ungraded, and focuses on functional academic skills, life skills, job readiness and work skills, social/behavioral skills, and inclusion in the community. The curriculum focuses on the successful transition to adult services. The Smith School implements each student’s IEP, and provides nonpublic day and residential educational services.

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Special Education (or related program) from an MSDE approved in-or out-of-state program., Must meet MSDE licensure requirements: An Initial Professional License (IPL) in General Special Education: 6-Adult. If holding a Conditional Teacher’s Certificate (CDC) must be able to provide documentation to support the completion of MSDE requirements or a PL or APL prior to the expiration of the CDC.
• Experience: Minimum five (5) years’ experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities in an instructional setting. Previous supervisory experience preferred.
• Skills: Must possess strong written and oral communication skills, as well as good organizational and coordination ability. Must possess and demonstrate strong interpersonal skills with the ability to exercise patience, caring and concern in new and sometimes stressful situations. Computer literacy required, with a proficiency in standard business software applications (i.e., word processing, e-mail and spreadsheets).
• The teacher will be responsible for daily education and supervision of students both in and outside the classroom. The teacher will also develop and coordinate individualized programming for each of the students and collaborate with related services.
  • Develop IEP and oversee implementation of the plan in coordination with parents, student, behavioral staff, medical staff, MCPS and related services.
  • Provide meaningful and functional, age-appropriate instruction with appropriate adaptations and materials for the individuals.
  • Communicate with individuals, families, residential staff, CSS related services, therapists, medical staff and behavioral staff to foster interdisciplinary team cohesiveness. Coordinate services and scheduling with related services.
  • Collect weekly data on students’ IEP progress and supervise collection of behavioral data.
  • Create daily and weekly schedules to incorporate curriculum, outings and special events.
  • Coordinate weekly team meetings with related services and support staff.
  • Monitor implementation of BMP and IEP according to CSS, county and state standards.
  • Ensure the safety of the students, report and document incidents in compliance with all incident-reporting procedures.
  • Oversee medication administration and documentation. Has completed the Maryland Board of Nursing‘s medication technician training program.
  • Develop vocational training opportunities to practice job skills including prevocational activities, self-employment activities and community work sites.
  • Maintain orderly records, classroom, and school facility to meet all CSS, county and state regulations.
  • Supervise and evaluate instructional associates (aides) providing direct management and support to the individuals.
  • The teacher will report directly to the Education Director and provide weekly lesson plans to the Education Director.
  • Other duties assigned.
  • Attend training for employees of Community Support Services, MCPS, MSDE and/or MDS school in-services.
  • Will adhere to all CSS and MDS policies and procedures and applicable standards and procedures.
• Special Education
  STAFF MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
  • Provides leadership, mentoring and motivations to staff to ensure the creation of the optimum environment to support individuals served by CSS.
  • Ensures staff members complete required training within time frames prescribed by CSS.
  • Conducts annual performance evaluations, make salary recommendations as appropriate.
  • Confers with human resources to affect any disciplinary measures as required.
  • Employees must be able to effectively complete a non-adverse physical intervention with autistic individuals of varying heights, weights and levels of physical strength according to the guidelines presented in Behavioral Principles and Strategies training.