Special Education Teacher (Academy Grand)

Position Title: Special Education Teacher (Academy Grand)
Department: Academy Grand
Reports to: Academy Grand Principal 

Position Objective and Summary: 
Under the direction of the Principal, the Teacher works with a group of students, employing specific training skills to conduct special educational activities.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Developing Individual Education Programs

• Develops and implements curriculum to meet physical, emotional and creative needs of students in an environment where they feel safe, valued and respected.
• Plans specific educational and developmental activities and a schedule of activities within program outline - appropriate to the age level of the assigned students.
• Diagnose educational needs using Kaufman method.
• Develops IEP based on the student’s unique situation.
• Develops IEP that identifies both short and long-term learning and behavioral goals.
• Creates classroom lesson plans in accordance with students’ IEPs. 

Instructional Effectiveness

• Uses educational/therapeutic materials and methods, and plans for their appropriate use to promote the social, intellectual, emotional and physical growth of the assigned students.
• Establishes learning objectives and uses pre-planning and classroom teaching to accomplish those objectives.
• Involves all students by utilizing a variety of educational methods to meet students’ individual learning styles.
• Explains directions and models desired student performance.
• Monitors student progress and adjusts instruction based on that progress.
• Establishes closure by summarizing content and fits into context what has been taught.
• Selects, maintains and inventories educational supplies, and controls utilization of equipment and materials. 

Promotes Orderly Behavior

• Promotes orderly behavior throughout the school and clearly defines expected student behavior by encouraging positive behavior and controlling negative behavior.
• Uses appropriate therapeutic methods to promote the social and emotional growth of the students.
• Remains calm at all times and uses appropriate language with students and coworkers.
• Maintains orderly behavior during class, class transitions and meal breaks.
• Is able to contain children using Therapeutic Crisis Intervention.
• Utilizes Crisis Intervention staff appropriately. 

Building Relationships and Networks

• Maintains relations with casework/social work staff and supports and encourages students to achieve a strengthening of the total agency relationship.
• Establishes rapport with students and parents.
• Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with coworkers and all agency personnel.
• Actively listens to others and their points of view.
• Maintains regular contact with parents by making a minimum of one phone call per month to each parent.
• Keeps parents regularly informed about their child’s progress and areas for improvement.
• Builds to strengthen the relationship between the school and parents. 

Documentation

• Prepares a documented lesson plan and emergency lesson plan for each school day.
• Keeps appropriate individual records, attendance records, and student assessments as designated.
• Produces an IEP annual report for each student in a timely manner and in a format consistent with school requirements.
• Maintains a current and up-to-date parent log and in a format consistent with school requirements.
• Completes student report cards in a timely manner and in a format consistent with school requirements.
• Observes functioning of students and keeps appropriate individual records, attendance records, and student assessments as designated; prepares, distributes and grades examinations. 

Outside Staffings

• Attends and participates in outside staffings to meet the educational needs of the students.
• Completes required paperwork for all stafffings.
• Arrives at staffings prepared and on time.
• Works cooperatively with the other members of the educational team.
• Stays focused and on task in order to complete goals. 

Education/Job Experience/Certification:

• Type 10 (ED/BD), LBS1 Unlimited or LBS1 Limited Certification.
• Experience in and ability to teach all subject matter in a self-contained environment.