Elementary Special Education Teacher-ASD/EBD

Qualifications

• Provides direct instruction for all core content as well as transitional areas.
• Uses a variety of techniques including individualized instruction, lectures, team teaching, hands-on formats and many other instructional strategies.
• Plans and prepares lessons for appropriate subject and grade/age level.
• Evaluates, selects, and modifies instructional resources to meet the needs of students with varying backgrounds, learning styles, and special needs.
• Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with students, parents, and other professionals on a regular basis.
• Maintains accurate and complete records of students' progress and development.
• Develops and writes annual IEPs, positive behavior support plans, progress reports, and three-year reassessments.
• Keeps up to date with developments in subject area, teaching resources, and methods.
• Participates in department and school meetings, parent meetings.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of current best practices, laws, including due process and Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA), and interventions regarding the education of special needs students.
• Knowledge of specific disabilities and familiarity with common children's mental health disorders, as well as specific strategies/interventions to use in the classroom.
• Knowledge of educational philosophy, teaching methods and approaches, and currently researched best practices and strategies.
• Knowledge of child development.
• Knowledge of learning theory; students' learning styles and needs, both academic and affective.
• Skill in classroom and behavior management.
• Skill in working with students having a wide range of disabilities.
• Skill in organization, and in verbal and written communications.
• Skill in utilizing computer technology for educational purposes.
• Skill in interpersonal relationships, and the ability to work with students and staff in stressful situations.
• Ability to develop and update curriculum, lesson plans and associated materials necessary to meet the unique needs of the special education students.
• Ability to develop relevant assessment tools, and integrate the results of the assessments into instructional units.
• Ability to teach a variety of students, with varying disabilities, a variety of classes.
• Ability to create a structured and efficient working environment for students.
• Ability to be flexible regarding meeting the changing needs of students, as well as the varying modifications to district and state mandates.
• Ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• A current teaching license, in EBD/ASD, issued by the Minnesota Department of Education.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience working with challenging behavior.