Innovation Special Education Teacher - SY 26/27 - JOB ID# 14278

Since 1966, the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) has been dedicated to providing innovative, high-quality, and cost-effective educational programs and services to meet the diverse needs of children and adults in Greater Hartford. Serving 33 member districts and reaching additional communities statewide, CREC supports approximately 12,000 students annually through more than 120 educational programs.

About the role

CREC seeks a talented Special Education teacher for a position at the Academy of Science and Innovation. This role is ideal for a committed educator looking to work in a diverse school setting with a social justice mindset. Special Education Teachers work under the general supervision of their school principal or program director.

Responsibilities

• Conduct assessments, testing, and diagnostic examinations of students to identify learning issues, and recommend courses of action or corrective procedures to overcome issues and maximize learning.
• Participate in PPTs and assist in developing Individual Educational Programs ("IEP") for students.
• Assist students and teaching staff in implementing students' IEPs and behavior management plans.
• Collaborate with general education teachers and pupil personnel staff to design and implement programs and strategies to address students' individualized needs.
• Coordinate with district representatives, outside agencies, organizations, and institutions, including state and federal authorities as needed.
• Coordinate with administrators and other teaching staff members to ascertain individual student's abilities and needs, including students with special needs, and to familiarize stakeholders with social work services.
• Serve as a resource to students and parents to provide counseling that will lead each student to increased personal growth, self-understanding, and behavioral management; serve as liaison between home and school.
• Collect, organize, and maintain data to assist in decision-making as it relates to academic and behavioral concerns.
• Acquire professional knowledge and learn of current developments in the educational field by attending seminars, workshops, or professional meetings.
• Collect, organize, and maintain data and systems for accurate and complete record-keeping and providing student information to prospective colleges and employers, as required by district procedures and applicable laws.
• Encourage parental involvement in students' education and ensure effective communication with students and parents.
• Utilize appropriate books, aids, and equipment and maintain inventory records.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree (BA) from a four-year college or university in an education discipline applicable to teaching assignment.
• Valid Connecticut Special Education certification.
• Motor Vehicle Operator's License or ability to provide transportation to meetings, trainings, and professional learning opportunities as required.

Skills

• Intrapersonal Competencies:
  • Demonstrate a dedication to all learners, especially those historically marginalized.
  • Demonstrate commitment to lifelong professional learning and growth.
• Interpersonal Competencies:
  • Design, strengthen, and participate in positive learning environments (i.e., school and classroom culture) that support individual and collaborative learning.
  • Build strong relationships with students, peers, families, and learning community members that contribute to individual and collective success.
  • Contribute to the lifelong success of all learners, particularly those who have been historically marginalized due to background, demographics, neurodiversity, ability, or culture.
• Cognitive Competencies:
  • Utilize in-depth understanding of content and learning progressions to engage learners and lead individual learners toward mastery.
  • Demonstrate awareness of and employ culturally responsive teaching (CRT) to center students' diversity as a strength and asset in their learning journey.
  • Employ techniques for developing students' skills of metacognition, self-regulation, and perseverance.
• Instructional Competencies:
  • Personalize learning experiences through assessments, supports, progressions, relationships, and technology.
  • Develop student agency, ownership, self-advocacy, and effective communication skills with regard to learning.
  • Use technology in the service of learning and completing professional responsibilities (e.g., various learning platforms, gradebook, Google Suite, and Microsoft Office).

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here 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.

• Prolonged standing and movement in the classroom.
• Frequent bending and crouching, lifting and carrying materials.
• Fine motor skills for manipulating small objects.
• Clear speaking voice, good vision and hearing.
• Ability to focus on multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to move quickly to respond to student needs.
• Ability to work in a high-energy environment with varying noise levels (from quiet to loud) based on student activity.
• Ability to work both indoors and outdoors (as needed) and participate in off-site field experiences.

Benefits

• Group Health Insurance Plans
• Basic & Supplemental Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability & Short Term Disability options
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with Employer Matching Contribution (if applicable)
• Flexible Spending Account Pre-Tax Savings for Health Care, Dependent Care, and Limited Purpose Post Deductible (if contributing to an HSA)
• Comprehensive benefit time package
• Employee Assistance Program
• Bereavement time & Religious Holidays
• Credit Union Access
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Employee Network Groups
• Access to professional learning opportunities with two fully paid courses through CREC University each year
• Exclusive partnership with Springfield College, offering a 15% discount on tuition for next-level degree programs (based on terms and conditions during employment)