Middle School Special Education Teacher- Center-Based (SY 2026-27)

Responsibilities

• Instruct students in grade level content, making subjects accessible based on a student’s reading and math skill level per their IEP plan.
• Motivate students to develop skills, attitudes and knowledge needed to provide a solid foundation for further education.
• Serve as a case manager for students by: developing and maintaining IEPs; facilitating IEP meetings; providing parents and/or guardians with Rights and Procedural Safeguards information and notification of team meetings in a timely manner; and developing and sharing progress reports with parents.
• Work knowledge of and compliance with state and federal rules and regulations.
• Maintain and promote confidentiality per data privacy, MN Government Data Practices Act, FERPA, and HIPPA legislation.
• Develop and provide specialized instruction to meet the academic, functional, and behavioral needs of students in a middle school Federal Setting 3 classroom and within the general education setting.
• Collaborate with general education teachers to plan and implement curriculum, state and district wide assessments.
• Provide job performance feedback to, direct the work of, and support the paraprofessionals in the implementation of the students’ IEP goals.
• Advocate for the needs of the students with disabilities.
• Develop and implement proactive and positive behavioral interventions based on FBA results.
• Possess knowledge and ability to utilize techniques to maintain a safe environment (i.e. MANDT, CPI, building emergency plan, etc.).
• Participate in relevant staff development opportunities, be knowledgeable about current promising practices in the field, and stay current with state rules and regulations governing special education.
• Collaborate with related service providers.
• Possess knowledge of technology strategies/equipment available to students and, when needed, provide strategy information to general education teachers.
• Collaborate with outside agencies providing services for students and families, especially when interagency collaboration is required or requested by the family.
• Communicate effectively and positively with staff, students, parents, and administration.
• Attend ongoing professional development opportunities related to special education.
• Provide instruction in the core curriculum areas for which employed; make appropriate use of instructional resources and technologies.
• Support the Minnesota Graduation and Common Core Standards; implement the goals and objectives of the District and the school and/or program to which assigned.
• Evaluate student performance in accordance with systems used by school and/or District; promote student achievement; maintain required student records; make related reports to the principal as prescribed or authorized by the superintendent.
• Perform classroom management duties; enforce rules governing the conduct of students; take appropriate disciplinary action with students when necessary.
• Use data such as screening, diagnostic information, progress monitoring, and daily work samples to adjust instruction and practice as well as target feedback.
• Promote a learning environment that is welcoming, respectful, friendly and academically challenging.
• Maintain accurate records including but not limited to attendance, grades, assessments and lesson plans via Schoology and/or PowerSchool.
• Connect with families via phone calls, emails, conferences and school events.
• Foster a social environment with students to develop trust, respect, friendships and self-discovery.
• Participate in professional development meetings/clusters providing student work when requested.
• Implement new learning in the classroom following professional development.
• Develop and work on new learning based on self-assessment, input from teacher leaders and director of teaching and learning.
• Utilize student achievement data to address strengths and weaknesses of students and guide instructional decisions.
• Continuously seek opportunities to grow and learn as a professional.
• Supervise student activities, which may include: Bus duty – assist with walking students to the busses at the end of the day; Breakfast and/or lunch duty – assist with monitoring based on a rotational schedule.

Requirements

• A MA in a special education related field, Minnesota Teaching Licensure, and knowledge and understanding of the rigor, depth, and complexity of the Minnesota state content standards/Common Core standards across grade levels.
• Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to work effectively with students, parents, district staff and community members from diverse backgrounds, as well as excellent organizational and time management skills; ability to multi-task, and knowledge of the programs, functions, and procedures of a school setting.
• Current MN teaching license in one or more of the following: Special Education: Emotional Behavioral Disorders Grades K-12 Special Education: Autism Spectrum Disorders Grades K-12 Special Education: Learning Disabilities Grades K-12 Special Education: Oral/Aural Education Grades K-12
• Experience working with children of diverse ethnic backgrounds in an urban school setting.