Long Term Substitute SpEd Learning Specialist, K-2

The Academy is seeking a Long Term Substitute SpEd Learning Specialist, K-2 for the first semester of the 2025-2026 school year (August - October).

The Academy of Charter Schools Is…

The Academy of Charter Schools is a public PK-12 school of choice located in Westminster, Colorado. We pair a rigorous, content-rich curriculum with opportunities to explore strengths and passions to achieve the highest standards for all. Our mission is to help all students grow into college ready, exemplary citizens by combining academic mastery with personal empowerment to drive lifelong success. We serve our full community by intentionally developing a school culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Our approach to vertically aligning the full educational experience for our students from youngest to oldest centers around three notions – Prepare, Explore, and Empower – that keep us grounded in The Academy’s mission and vision as we set priorities and make decisions that impact instruction and school culture.

Academy Employees Are… At The Academy, employees embody our mission, vision, and values every day. They guide and support staff to prepare students for academic mastery by delivering evidence-based curricula; they collaborate with students, staff, and families to design student-centered learning experiences that create opportunities to explore strengths and passions; and they support the implementation of social-emotional skills lessons that empower students to become leaders of their own learning. Academy employees work hard to provide an engaging, inclusive, and joyful learning environment. They embrace relationships and positive communication with a diverse community of students, staff, and families while helping maintain a culture of high expectations for all. Experience in school environments, strong people skills, and ability to work within a team is required.

What Makes a Good Academy Employee?

The Academy is looking for committed leaders who are prepared to perform at a high level in a demanding environment. Some of the characteristics that make for a successful employee at The Academy include:

• A people-first, relationship-focused orientation
• A growth mindset
• A belief that ALL children can achieve at high levels
• A passion for contributing to overall school success by working alongside and supporting others
• A creative, innovative, and caring attitude
• A spirit of openness, trust, and kindness
• A dedication to data-driven practices
• A highly motivated work ethic and willingness to tackle challenges
• Comfort with being flexible
• A sense of humor

At The Academy, we know that diversity makes us stronger and challenges us to think differently every day. The Academy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status or disability. The online application should include a cover letter and resume.

• Assignment start date will be from August 4, 2025, and will run through the end of October 2025.
• Compensation: $190.00 daily rate
• Schedule: 40 hours per week
• PERA Retirement Benefits
• Responsibility to verify experience rests with employee

Visit our website at www.theacademyk12.org. The Academy’s comprehensive benefits package includes a number of different plans for full-time employees. Refer to Employee Benefits Enrollment Guide for details at https://www.theacademyk12.org/about-us/working-for-us. Information on employee paid leave is also available at this same location.

SUMMARY: Employee shall perform the duties and responsibilities proficiently, professionally and in a collaborative manner consistent with the standards of care and quality that accompany the highest norms of the profession.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Enforce and follow The Academy and school district’s rules and policies.
• Knowledge of federal and state special education laws and regulations and commitment to learning and implementing The Academy and CSI procedures for the implementation of compliant special education services for students
• Support differentiated instruction for students according to student needs, selecting and implementing appropriate educational materials and strategies
• Implement specially designed instruction in a continuum of special education and general education environments
• Plan lessons incorporating evidence-based practices and identify resources for instruction
• Understand the foundations of literacy instruction and how math instruction relies on the integration of knowledge to solve problems
• Demonstrate an understanding of student behavior and classroom management structures
• Administer formal assessments and analyze/report data to support the IEP team in determination of eligibility of students with disabilities
• Collect and analyze universal data to determine student growth patterns and support IEP development.
• Collaborate with classroom teachers, school psychologist, speech-language pathologist, social workers, other special education service providers, school counselor(s), and administration to develop and implement integrated plans for students with disabilities
• Facilitate IEP and Evaluation meetings
• Communicate goals, strategy, and results of educational programs implemented with teachers, parents, and students
• Regularly consult and collaborate with the MTSS team.
• Advocate for students with disabilities to ensure access to learning opportunities and equity in discipline processes
• Demonstrate clear, accurate, professional, and respectful communication with parents, students, educational staff, and community members
• Dedication to making a difference in the lives of all children and working with families in a partnership role
• Demonstrated ability to establish working rapport with students with a wide range of ability levels and needs
• Demonstrated commitment to serving social and emotional needs of all learners
• Understand, appreciate, and be responsive to the student diversity
• Participate in professional development and continuous learning
• Attend weekly team meetings
• Other duties as assigned

EDUCATION AND RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelors degree in an education field (e.g. teaching, psychology, speech language, etc.) plus additional course work required for certification or licensure.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS or CERTIFICATIONS:

• Maintain current licensure with the State of Colorado.
• Criminal background check required for hire.

TECHNICAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES:

• Ability to maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job.
• Personal computer and keyboarding skills.
• Strong customer service and public relations skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks with frequent interruptions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to promote and follow Board of Education policies, Authorizer policies and building and department procedures
• Ability to communicate, interact, and work effectively and cooperatively with people from diverse ethnic and educational backgrounds.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT OPERATING KNOWLEDGE:

• Operating knowledge of and experience with personal computers and peripherals.
• Operating knowledge of information technology systems and any other department specific software and equipment required within 2 months after entering position.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS & DIRECTION/GUIDANCE:

Reports to: School Principal(s) based on grade assignments

Direct reports: # of EMPLOYEES

None 0

BUDGET AND/OR RESOURCE RESPONSIBILITY:

• This job has no budgetary responsibilities.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands, work environment factors and mental functions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.