Anticipated Special Education Teacher (Life, Autistic, Learning Support)

South Fayette Township School District

3680 Old Oakdale Road

McDonald, PA  15057

(412) 221-4542; Fax (724) 693-2883

www.southfayette.org

Job Description 

TITLE:  Elementary School Special Education Teacher – Life Skills, Autistic, and Learning Support

REPORTS TO:  Principals regarding day-to-day job responsibilities

 Director of Student Support Services regarding all special education issues (paperwork, procedures, resources, mandates, etc.)

JOB GOALS:

• To create a differentiated, structured and highly organized special education program and a class environment favorable to learning and personal growth
• To establish effective rapport with the students
• To motivate and engage pupils to develop skills and knowledge needed to provide an excellent academic foundation in accordance with each pupil’s ability
• To establish effective communicative relationships with parents, caregivers, and other service providers, as applicable.
• To work in cooperative professional groups with colleagues
• To collect and analyze individual student data to make appropriate instructional decisions

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Valid Pennsylvania Special Education certificate  N-12 or PK-8
2. Valid Pennsylvania Elementary teaching certificate K-6 or PK-4 
3. 3.0 or higher QPA
4. Proof of ongoing professional or educational experience
5. Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
6. Experience in utilization of computer/technology literacy-Interactive White Boards, Laptops, iPADS, Apps, etc.
7. Experience in working with students who have life skill and autistic needs
8. Experience in PA Alternate Eligible Content
9. Experience in collecting and analyzing Progress Monitoring Data 
10. Experience with the Co-Teaching Model, Inclusion Practices, Differentiation Strategies
11. Experience with Academic, Emotional, Social, and Behavioral interventions
12. Experience in the use special education data management software
13. Experience with Universal Design of Learning (UDL)

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Teaches the academic subject(s) to pupils in accordance to each student’s IEP, using the approved written curriculum and/or the special education alternative curriculum adopted by the South Fayette Township School District.
2. Develops lesson plans and instructional materials using the Understanding by Design Framework and provides individualized and small group instruction in order to adapt the curriculum to the needs of each pupil in accordance with the student’s IEP.
3. Encourages students to think independently and express ideas through the utilization of real-world project based learning activities.
4. Writes and revises student IEPs and Positive Behavior Support Plans on an as needed basis but at least on an annual basis. 
5. Writes the reevaluation RR’s for special education students. 
6. Writes/mails/IEP invitation letters and coordinates all IEP revision meetings with parents and appropriate staff.
7. Writes all NOREPs.
8. Coordinates and attends all IEP meetings.
9. Develops and implements Positive Behavior Support Plans for students on an as needed basis and in accordance to the student’s IEP.
10. Works with the MDT team and IEP team members to determine appropriate support services for students and works with team members to implement these services.
11. Translates lesson plans into learning experiences/activities so as to best utilize the available time for instruction.
12. Establishes and maintains standards of pupil behavior needed to achieve a functional learning atmosphere in the classroom.
13. Evaluates pupils’ academic and social growth, keeps appropriate records, and prepares qualitative and quantitative progress reports.
14. Communicates with parents regularly through conferences, phone calls, emails, progress report and other means to discuss pupil’s progress and interpret the school program.
15. Identifies pupil needs and cooperates with other professional staff members in assessing and helping pupils solve health, attitude, and learning problems. 
16. Demonstrates ability to utilize and integrate technology into the classroom and lesson plans to support students with disabilities through laptop computers, iPADS, Apps, etc.
17. Creates an effective environment for learning through functional and attractive displays, bulletin boards, displays of student work, rules and expectations, etc.
18. Creates relevant and functional learning centers in the core subject areas as well as interest centers to promote student learning through reinforcement of skills and developing independence.
19. Maintains professional competence through in-service education activities/staff development provided by the district and self-selected professional growth activities.
20. Prepares required budget information that includes requisitioning books and instructional aides; maintains required inventory records.
21. Supervises pupils in out-of-classroom activities during the assigned working day.
22. Administers Pennsylvania State assessments based on each student’s IEPs (PSSAs and the PASA).
23. Administers individual achievement tests to students on a regular basis to help monitor student progress.
24. Participates in curriculum development programs as required.
25. Participates in faculty committees and the sponsorship of pupil activities.
26. Maintains extended school year data collection.
27. Collects and maintains Annual Progress Monitoring data collection quarterly per year to be distributed with each student’s report card based on the goals/objectives of the IEP and Positive Behavior Support Plan.
28. Runs a fully individualized program with one-to-one instruction.
29. Creates a Master Schedule for the classroom (i.e. Reading, Math, Life Quests, Speech and Language, OT, PT, work schedules, Paraeducators, etc.)
30. Designs individual lesson plans based on the needs of the students.
31. Creates reinforcement and re-teaching activities for each student’s individual needs.
32. Incorporates Functional Independent Living Skills in each student’s schedule such as cooking, housekeeping, social skills, recreational skills, health skills, money management, vocational skills, behavior management skills, etc.
33. Coordinates Community-based work activities.
34. Responsible for effective communication with regular education staff, related services staff, parents, and administration.
35. Oversees paraeducators assigned to the classroom 
36. Provides specific “classroom training” for paraeducators assigned to the classroom.
37. Develops activity schedules for all assigned paraeducators assigned to the classroom
38. Responsible for Medicaid/ACCESS written language in IEPs and forms that need to be signed by all parents who are on the classroom roster
39. Attends department meetings and serves on department committees
40. Performs other job-related responsibilities as per the building principal and/or Director of Student Support Services. 

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:  

Terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the South Fayette Township Board of Education and the South Fayette Education Association.

EVALUATION:

Performance of this job will be evaluated by, but not limited to, the Director of Student Support Services and communicated to the Superintendent for review.