Special Education Teacher

About John G. Wood

Our specialized school, John G. Wood (JGW), is just the right size to teach students with emotional and behavioral challenges that impact their academic success. Small student-teacher ratios accommodate individual learning styles with a goal to transition students back to their public school as soon as possible. JGW includes a broad range of courses for children in kindergarten through grade 12 and Extended School Year (ESY) services are available during the summer. Some residents of VHBG’s group homes attend JGW in addition to students who commute from multiple localities in the Richmond region.

About the Opportunity

The special education teacher educates students enrolled in John G. Wood School utilizing evidenced-based, data-driven programming that assist students with meeting their academic and social-emotional needs.  The teacher provides educational services to students in middle and high school in a therapeutic educational community using the IEP to drive individual learning based on appropriate accommodations and curriculum modifications.

Core duties and responsibilities:

• Delivers lessons that are appropriately structured and paced and includes learning activities that meet the needs of all students and lead to student mastery of Standards of Learning, social-emotional objectives and behavioral programming.
• Ability to work well with children from different backgrounds who have different abilities.
• Well-organized and self-driven to devise and adopt new techniques for teaching and keeping the class orderly.
• Ability to manage the classroom despite challenging social skills and behaviors.
• Ability to plan, create and implement appropriate IEP’s to drive student learning. 
• Effectively designs the academic programming that supports the development of critical thinking standards for academic, theoretical and real-life situations.   
• Selects or designs rigorous, valid summative and formative assessments that seek to analyze student results and guide instructional decisions by 100% accuracy; ensure that student learning activities are driven by the data collected from these formative assessments.
• Adheres to procedures & policies found within our internal VHBG Policy Manuals, federal guidelines, state guidelines as well as accreditation requirements.
• Engages in self-reflection and growth opportunities to support high levels of learning for all students. 
• Effectively utilizes program methodologies to address the social and behavioral deficits of students.   
• Effectively works with students’ parents and / or other identified stakeholders to address the academic and behavioral concerns presented in official and unofficial documentation.  
• Markets to service providers and other decision-makers to influence client placements; articulating the desired culture and showing evidence of how it is reinforced.
• Establishes and maintains open lines of communication with parents, students, stakeholders and other staff members.  
• Participates in the School Improvement Teams & Training to assist with the ongoing refinement of educational & behavioral programming offered by the school
• Responsible for other duties as assigned by the Director of JGW School.

Experience and Education:

Required: 

• Professional or Provisional License in Special Education
• Must be able to successfully clear background checks associated with job and must successfully complete in-house training

Preferred:

• Masters’ degree from an accredited University or College in the field of Education, Special Education and/or another related Education Degree
• Experience supporting adolescents or young adults who have identified special education needs or identified with behavioral deficits

VHBG will provide you with a sign on bonus in the gross amount of $2,000.00 subject to any deductions permitted under law. $500 sign on bonus on second paycheck, and $1,500 Retention Bonus on payroll that includes their 1-year anniversary. If your employment with VHBG is ended for any reason prior to six months of employment, the first installment will be recouped in your final paycheck.

About the Culture at VHBG

VHBG's leadership team encourages employees to bring their authentic self to work, whatever that means for that employee. We do this through unbiased recruiting practices, advocating for employees to participate in our inclusion ambassador council, implementing employee feedback and offering training opportunities focused on diversity, inclusion and equity. VHBG nurtures belonging and retains a highly engaged workforce in order to achieve the best experience and outcomes for our clients. 

VHBG is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, genetic information, age, gender (including pregnancy and childbirth), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, status as a protected veteran, disability, or other status protected under federal, state, or local law.