What are the responsibilities and job description for the KIPP - Special Education Teacher / Education Specialist - Mod/Severe - High School - San Jose (24-25) position at KIPP Public Schools Northern California (East San Jose)?
Education Specialist (Moderate/Severe)
About KIPP Bay Area Schools
KIPP is a national network of 200 college-preparatory public charter schools with a 20-year track record of preparing students in educationally underserved communities for success in college and in life.
There are currently 11 schools in the Bay Area serving 4,700 students. These innovative, college-prep public schools are located in underserved neighborhoods of Oakland, San Francisco, San Lorenzo, San Jose, and Redwood City. Our newest elementary school will open in East Palo Alto, CA in the Fall of 2017.
Position Overview
The Education Specialist (Moderate/Severe) is responsible for co-leading the Specialized Teaching Program. The vision for the Specialized Teaching Program (STP) is to enable students on the autism spectrum or with other significant challenges in academics, communication, socialization and/or behavior participate in meaningful academic experiences in the general education and special education setting.
Core pillars of our STP program:
- Implementation of evidence-based practices and interventions
- Meaningful inclusion with general education peers
- Development of academic, social, functional, and vocational skills
- Strong home and school connections
- Clear vision for and implementation of data collection to evaluate progress of students and program
- Long-term and short-term planning of classroom lessons and activities designed to increase independence and academic performance.
- Supervision of instructional aides
- Collaboration with IEP team members, including service providers, general education teachers, parents, and administration team to ensure IEP implementation and high quality programming
- Consultation with general education team to support Universal Design for Learning and meet the needs of a diverse learning environment. ?
- Responsible for educational progress of students while working with staff and families to provide excellent educational opportunities for exceptional students.
- Appraise academic, behavioral, executive functioning, and independent living skills of an individual student.
- Provide a standards-based curriculum program for special education students consistent with state and federal education code requirements by way of pull-out and push-in support and services.
- Administer formal and informal academic assessments for the purpose of facilitating student learning in core academic subjects.
- Develop Individual Education Programs in accordance with federal, state, SELPA and KIPP standards.
- Facilitate Individual Education Program meetings.
- Ensure Individual Education Program compliance and that all timelines are met.
- Monitor students’ progress utilizing data that reflects student performance and adjust instruction as needed based on analysis of data.
- Complete progress reports in accordance with KIPP Bay Area Schools and school specific guidelines.
- Lead and guide para-professional staff assigned to work with individual students or with program.
- Work cooperatively with classroom teachers to develop activities to build inclusion between exceptional students and their neurotypical peers.
- Manage compliance of accommodations and modifications for exceptional students in the general education classroom.
- Develop and implement student appropriate behavior management techniques for students with special needs.
- Assist other staff members in resolving the unique psychological and/or disciplinary concerns of such students.
- Confer frequently with parents (or guardians), staff members and members of related disciplines, including outside agencies regarding the educational, social, and personal concerns of exceptional students.
- Manage relationships with related service providers to ensure students receive all prescribed Individual Education Program services.
- With the Program Specialist, assist in referral of students with exceptional needs to available community agencies, as appropriate.
- Keep attendance records, computerized Individual Education Plans records and all other records pertinent to the special education program for the state reports and program accountability.
- Participate in KIPP Bay Area Schools’ Special Education Community of Practice.
- Valid California Credential or license authorizing service in grade levels and areas assigned as an Education Specialist, Moderate/Severe; or Mild/Moderate with AASE in Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Two years of successful, full time teaching experience in Special Education, preferred;
- Possession of either BCLAD or CLAD certification is highly desirable;
- Ability to understand, assess and adapt Autism specific needs for student's educational learning as well as understanding for accommodating secondary diagnosis such as emotional and behavioral disorders;
- Demonstrated success teaching students from educationally under-served areas
- Excellent organizational, planning, and implementation skills;
- Ability to manage the ambiguity and multiple priorities inherent in an entrepreneurial environment;
- Ability to communicate and interact effectively with multiple constituencies;
- Detail-oriented team player willing to roll up sleeves and get the job done;
- Unquestioned integrity and commitment to KIPP Bay Area Schools and our students.
