Elementary - Exceptional Education Teacher

Reports to: Principal

About the role

At LEAD Public Schools, we believe in the transformative power of education. As an Elementary Special Education Teacher, you will play a crucial role in empowering students to achieve academic success and personal growth. You will embody our core tenets of joy, inclusion, excellence, and a whole child approach to teaching and learning, demonstrating that all children can learn and thrive in an environment designed for their success.

The LEAD Environment

Our elementary schools are dynamic learning communities where joy, excellence, and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do. We celebrate diversity and foster meaningful connections with students and families. LEAD teachers are data-driven professionals committed to high standards of academic excellence while supporting the socio-emotional needs of every student.

What We Are Looking For

• Believes that all children learn with the right support and opportunities.
• Embraces a data-driven approach, using assessments and analytics to inform instruction and improve outcomes.
• Thrives in a collaborative and inclusive environment that prioritizes joy, excellence, and inclusion.
• Is committed to fostering equity and respect in a culturally diverse classroom.
• Demonstrates expertise in specialized instruction.
• Develops and delivers targeted interventions in alignment with students' IEPs, adapting curriculum and teaching strategies to ensure access to grade-level curriculum.
• Conducts IEP meetings and communicates with all stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Instructional Excellence

• Design and deliver engaging, curriculum-aligned lessons tailored to meet the diverse needs of students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
• Use evidence-based teaching strategies to develop foundational skills in literacy, math, and other core subjects.
• Integrate the Whole Child Approach to address students' academic, emotional, and social growth.
• Foster independence and critical thinking through functional and daily living skills instruction, as appropriate.
• Advocate for inclusive opportunities for students to interact with general education peers.

Data-Driven Practices

• Develop and monitor IEPs in collaboration with stakeholders, ensuring alignment with federal, state, and district guidelines.
• Be adaptable to various teaching models, including push-in, pull-out, team-teaching approaches, and the least restrictive environment (LRE) model to support student success.
• Use formative and summative assessments to track progress and adjust instruction.
• Analyze data to identify student needs, develop targeted interventions, and set improvement goals.
• Collaborate with colleagues to share strategies and ensure consistency in data-driven practices.

Joy and Inclusion

• Create a classroom environment reflecting the school’s commitment to joy and inclusion.
• Celebrate and integrate the diverse backgrounds of students into the classroom experience.
• Build meaningful relationships with students, families, and surrounding communities to foster a sense of belonging.

Professional Growth

• Uphold the school’s mission, vision, and values in all aspects of your work.
• Participate actively in professional development opportunities to enhance your instructional skills.
• Work collaboratively with the school team to support the success of all students and the broader school community.

Collaboration and Teamwork

• Collaborate with Special Education staff to develop effective and individualized IEPs.
• Work closely with colleagues to plan and share best instructional practices, coordinate efforts, and support the overall success of students.
• Contribute positively to a team-oriented school culture, embracing shared accountability for student outcomes.
• Supervise and provide guidance to education assistants to enhance classroom support.

Requirements

• Minimum of two years teaching experience preferred but not required.
• Prior experience with diverse student populations or in an urban setting is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Must hold:
  • A valid Tennessee teaching license with the appropriate endorsement to teach SPED, OR
  • A valid out-of-state license transferable to Tennessee within 90 days of employment, OR
  • Proof of progress toward Tennessee certification.

Physical Demands

Light to medium physical work involving standing, walking, lifting, pushing, and carrying (exerting up to 20 pounds).

Pay

LEAD Public Schools offers an innovative performance-based compensation plan for teachers. Teachers receive a competitive base salary with the potential for a signing bonus and can earn up to 10% on their base salary each year through our performance-based compensation plan. This plan has been in place for 5 years, and we have seen an average annual increase of over 5% for our teachers with approximately 80% retention for those who qualify. Additionally, teachers are eligible for LEAD’s Master Teacher program after 3 years. In this program, teachers can earn up to $100,000 and receive a $1,500 professional development stipend.

Benefits

• Robust and competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, disability, supplemental insurance, life insurance policy options, and mental health benefits. Application for these benefits may be made immediately upon employment, effective upon the first of the month following the first day of work.
• Access to the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System pension plan (TCRS). Eligible staff contribute 5%, and LEAD matches up to 6%. Staff may also be eligible for 401k, in which LEAD will contribute 5%. Participation in TCRS is mandated by the state of TN. Non-TCRS eligible staff members are eligible to participate in LEAD’s defined contribution 403b plan, where LEAD matches 50% of the first 6% of employee contributions. Additional annual contributions are provided to eligible employees after one year based on LEAD’s overall budget performance.
• Time off package for school-year employees (teachers, counselors, paraprofessionals) includes 30 paid days during the school year (including holidays, fall break, thanksgiving break, winter break, and spring break) and summer break. School-year employees can also accrue up to 10 PTO days during the school year.
• Time off package for calendar-year employees (Central office, Instructional Managers, Assistant Principals) includes 32 paid days during the school year (including holidays, fall break, thanksgiving break, winter break, spring break). Calendar-year employees can accrue up to 12 PTO days during the school year.
• Parental leave: 16 weeks of paid maternity leave and 6 weeks of paid parental leave (adoption, foster care).
• Laptop computers with access to the internet and/or email to assist in performing job responsibilities.