SY25-26 Special Education Teacher

Reports to Director of Special Education

School Mission

At the Inspired Teaching Demonstration School, a professional learning community of master teachers and teacher residents ensures that a diverse group of students achieve their potential as accomplished learners, thoughtful citizens, and imaginative and inquisitive problem solvers through a demanding, inquiry-based curriculum. With its clear mission and prominent location in Washington, DC, the school serves as a model of instruction for students and training for teachers, with the goal of becoming a leader in changing the way teachers are prepared and supported and students are educated nationwide.

Job Purpose

The Special Education Teacher supports children with exceptionalities in accessing the general education curriculum. Through co-planning and co-teaching with general education teachers as well as writing academic portions of IEPs, Special Education Teachers provide on-ramps and access points for students with disabilities, enabling their success across all goal areas. 

Special Education Teachers take a developmentally responsive approach and use their understanding of both children and specific exceptionalities as the foundation on which all decisions are made. Special Education Teachers demonstrate courage and collaboration working together to create curriculum and learning experiences that are challenging, integrative and exploratory. 

Essential Functions

The Special Education Teacher is responsible for the following:

• Co-teach core content subjects with a general education teacher, including co-planning, developing differentiation strategies, and co-facilitating learning and lessons.

• Facilitate specialized instruction for students with IEPs outside general education through research-based interventions and methods (training provided).

• Draft IEP present levels, goals, and progress reports in Special Programs.

• Assist in the implementation of policies for identification, evaluation, and placement of students with disabilities.

• Assist in the development of positive relationships with parents of students with disabilities.

• Case manage assigned students, including parent communication, documentation, and ensuring implementation of IEPs across all classes.

• Adopt a restorative justice orientation toward discipline by holding all children to high behavioral expectations in a dignified, clear way; viewing misbehavior as an opportunity for learning and forgiveness and not a transgression to be punished.
  Share schoolwide responsibility for supervision by performing assigned duties punctually.

• Work closely with the Director of Special Education and Compliance Managers to meet all deadlines and maintain school compliance.

• Other duties as assigned by the Principal or Head of School. 

Qualifications

Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a related field. Master’s degree in Special Education preferred.

• 3 or more years of special education teaching experience or equivalent relevant work with children will be preferred.

• Passing of Special Education and/or content Praxis exams.

• Ability to establish strong, trusting, and authentic relationships with a wide variety of individuals, including new and experienced teachers, parents and families, and a diverse local community.

• Clear, concise, and persuasive writing and speaking skills.

• Integrity and a sense of humor.
  Experience in experiential, exploratory, arts-integration, and/or workshop model preferred.

• Experience with restorative justice and/or Responsive Classroom preferred.

• Experience implementing intervention curriculums for specialized instruction.
  
  

ABOUT THE SCHOOL

With its clear mission and prominent location in Washington, DC, the school serves as a model of instruction for students and training for teachers, with the goal of becoming a leader in changing the way teachers are prepared and supported, and students are educated nationwide.  At the Inspired Teaching Demonstration School, students learn through an academically challenging, standards-based curriculum that supports and builds the four “I”s: Intellect, Inquiry, Imagination, and Integrity. Within its walls young people learn and achieve at high levels without having to surrender their intellectual curiosity and passion for learning.  

The school focuses on developing student potential in four areas: Intellect, Inquiry, Imagination, and Integrity. Students master content in Reading & Literature, Communication, Math, Science, and Social Studies—and have the ability to apply their knowledge to relevant and current situations, problems, and experiences; students develop the skills of a researcher, using their intellectual curiosity to pose and solve problems; students exhibit the skills of divergent thinkers, with the courage to create, the willingness to approach problems with a joyful spirit, and the ability to play; and students develop the skills and dispositions necessary to function as members of a democratic society.

Teachers are held to a high standard of excellence and professionalism. Teachers demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the subjects they teach; draw on an extensive repertoire of authentic and engaging strategies for instruction and assessment, steeped in the knowledge of how children and adolescents learn; contribute to a vibrant and active professional learning community; and forge strong and positive relationships not only with students, but also with community stakeholders, including families.

As a demonstration school, staff works to disseminate our instructional approach through inviting education influencers to visit the school, and disseminating the model outward via preparation of Teaching Residents, conference presentations, and other opportunities to speak in the community.

The school is a place where children, adolescents and adults thrive and find joy in their work.

• The physical space communicates a genuine focus on learners.

• The emotional space requires an approach to academics and discipline that focuses on helping children and adolescents develop compassion, empathy, respect for others, self-discipline, and problem-solving skills.

• The intellectual space of the school asks teachers and students to act as leaders, share opinions and ideas, identify problems and generate solutions, and collaborate and work together as a community so that everyone experiences success.

• The school emphasizes parent and community involvement. Parents play an active and important role in the school - volunteering in classrooms, creating special events for families, supporting student learning, and contributing to the positive climate.

Primary methods of instruction include inquiry and active learning, where the teacher serves as facilitator and coach to support student learning. Instruction includes an emphasis on social-emotional learning, and classrooms are characterized by student-centered organization styles such as differentiated instruction, collaborative groups, and child-initiated play.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The Inspired Teaching School offers competitive salaries, commensurate with experience. The school offers a strong benefits package that includes health care (multiple plan options), retirement plan (employer match available), Flexible Spending accounts, supplemental insurance through AFLAC, and pre-tax public transportation/Metro benefit.

The Inspired Teaching Demonstration School is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive hiring and encourages applicants from all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, marital status, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected status. All employment decisions are made solely on the basis of the individual’s qualifications as related to the requirements of the position being filled. The school's Title IX Coordinator is Jessica Hiltabidel (jessica.hiltabidel@inspiredteachingschool.org).