Special Education RISE Co-Teacher - IDEA South Flores Academy (Immediate Opening)

About the Role

The Special Education Co-Teacher position is ideal for candidates looking to gain valuable experience in Special Education teaching. RISE (Reaching Independence through Support and Education) Co-Teachers work with students with significant cognitive and/or pervasive developmental disabilities. These K-12 classrooms focus on a functional curriculum that includes practical academics, communication, community, domestic, leisure/recreation, and vocational skills. The goal is to support students in acquiring daily living and vocational skills for a successful transition to adult life within the community.

IDEA Special Education RISE Co-Teachers support the classroom in the Academy (K-5) or College Prep (6-12) settings, working with students in lower student-teacher ratios (often 1 to 3) to address their academic needs. The role emphasizes communication, independence, and opportunities for students to generalize skills in natural settings, as well as participation in general education activities with typical peers.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the educational and social development of students under the direction and guidance of the facilitator and classroom teachers.
• Assist in the implementation of Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for students and monitor their progress.
• Provide support for individual students inside and outside of the classroom to enable full participation in activities.
• Work with other professionals, such as speech therapists, social workers, occupational and physical therapists.
• Assist classroom teachers with maintaining student records.
• Support students with emotional or behavioral concerns and assist in developing appropriate social skills.
• Assist with daily living activities, which may include feeding, lifting, and/or toileting in the Life Skills Unit.
• At some campuses, accompany students on school bus rides before or after school.

Requirements

• At least 48 college hours required; bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Experience working with children with cognitive and/or pervasive developmental disabilities strongly preferred.
• Willingness to pursue a Special Education teaching certification preferred.
• Capable of physically assisting students with special needs as required (positioning, lifting, transferring, restraining).
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to adjust and adapt to a multitude of situations in the school environment.

Qualifications

IDEA Co-Teachers with a bachelor’s degree are eligible to enroll in the IDEA Special Education Certification Program (ISECP), an alternative certification program facilitated by South Texas Transition to Teaching (SOTEX). The goal of the program is for all participants to gain a special education certification and become future special education teachers at IDEA.

Skills

We look for team members who embody the following values and characteristics:

• Believes and is committed to our mission: that all students are capable of getting to and through college.
• Has demonstrated effective outcomes and results and wants to be held accountable for them.
• Has a propensity for action, willing to make mistakes by doing in order to learn and improve quickly.
• Works with urgency and purpose to drive student outcomes.
• Thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment; is comfortable with ambiguity and change.
• Seeks and responds well to feedback, which is shared often and freely across all levels of the organization.
• Works through silos and forges strong cross-departmental relationships to achieve outcomes.
• Holds themselves to a high level of conduct, professionalism, and behaviors as models for colleagues and students.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits plan, covering the majority of the employee premium for the base medical plan and subsidizing the majority of costs for a spouse/domestic partner and children. Additional benefits include:

• Paid Family Leave: Eligible staff may receive up to 8 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, based on tenure and caregiver designation.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Staff may apply for up to 50% of tuition paid toward a qualifying degree program, up to $5,250 maximum per year (subject to manager discretion and budget availability).
• Employer-Paid Mental/Behavioral Health: 5 face-to-face counseling sessions within a year, unlimited 24/7 telephonic counseling, and other work-life services at no cost.
• Dental and vision plans.
• Disability and life insurance.
• Parenting benefits.
• Flexible spending account options.
• Generous vacation time.
• Referral bonuses.
• Professional development opportunities.
• 403(b) retirement plan.

IDEA may offer a relocation allowance to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.

Pay

Compensation for this role is set at an hourly rate ranging between $16.61 for 0 years of experience and $23.98. Co-teachers' earnings are paid out over a 12-month period.

About IDEA Public Schools

At IDEA Public Schools, we believe every child can go to college. Since 2000, IDEA has grown from a small school with 150 students to the fastest-growing network of tuition-free, Pre-K-12 public charter schools in the United States. IDEA serves nearly 80,000 college-bound students in 137 schools across Texas, Florida, and Ohio, with a legacy of sending 100% of its graduates to college.