Special Education RISE Teacher - IDEA Southeast Academy (Immediate Opening)

RISE stands for Reaching Independence through Support and Education. IDEA Special Education RISE teachers ensure that our students who have a wide range of learning, cognitive, emotional, and physical disabilities are held to very high achievement expectations so they reach their fullest potential. Our IDEA Special Education RISE teachers teach all subjects such as Reading, Writing, Math, History, Adaptive PE, and others to students with intellectual, behavioral, and physical disabilities. RISE Special Education teachers also provide resources, education, training, and emotional support to families to prepare them for long-term plans for their children.

Compensation

The starting teacher salary for 0 years of experience is $63,500. This role is eligible for various stipends based on certifications, credentials, and campus leadership ranging from $500-$4,000 each. We also offer additional performance-based compensation. Additional hourly compensation is provided for after-school tutoring or Saturday school as assigned.

To ensure compliance with Texas Education Code 21.4031 and accurately verify creditable service, candidates selected for this position must submit official electronic service records from previous educational employers. Service records will be used to validate professional experience and determine creditable years of service and compensation, as applicable.

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. Some of the special benefits we offer at IDEA 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 members 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 available at no cost.
• Dental and vision plans
• Disability and life insurance
• Parenting benefits
• Flexible spending account options
• Generous vacation time
• Referral bonuses
• Professional development
• 403(b) retirement plan

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

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year educational institution (required)
• Experience: Experience in a Special Education classroom setting with students who have significant disabilities (strongly preferred)
• Licenses or Certifications: Valid Texas state certification in Special Education (required); appropriate grade and subject band core content certification(s) or Texas Core Content Competency Worksheet (required)

Skills

• Knowledge of curriculum and instruction
• Ability to instruct students and manage student behavior
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to adjust and adapt to a multitude of situations in the school environment
• Ability to facilitate Admission, Review, and Dismissal meetings
• Strong family engagement and communication
• Record of results for students who are academically at risk

Responsibilities

• Adapt lessons to meet the needs of students
• Support coordination of related services for students on their caseload
• Develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for a caseload of students
• Implement IEPs, assess students’ performance, and track their progress
• Update IEPs throughout the school year to reflect students’ progress and goals
• Assess students’ skills to determine their needs and develop teaching plans
• Collect and analyze student data to make effective decisions to maximize achievement
• Discuss student’s progress with parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators
• Prepare and help students transition from grade to grade and after graduation
• Implement state learning standards and IDEA curricula and assessments
• Submit weekly lesson plans two weeks in advance for feedback
• Implement formal and informal assessments to track student progress and learning needs, adjust lesson plans accordingly, and update gradebook weekly
• Communicate students’ progress with students and families on a weekly basis
• Effectively facilitate and personally use technology as a communication and educational tool to improve student achievement and manage work-related tasks
• Implement a clear and consistent behavior management system aligned to campus-wide initiatives while developing students’ character and sense of community
• Help shape and develop a school-wide culture that fosters a productive and enthusiastic learning environment
• Establish and maintain a cooperative working relationship with students and families based on trust, understanding, and respect
• Host necessary tutoring sessions to meet all students’ needs
• Participate in weekly manager check-ins, grade-level meetings, before and after-school duties, and school-wide meetings and functions
• Engage in summer and year-long district, school, and personal learning and development
• Minimum of 40+ hours spent at school per week
• Additional responsibilities may include after-school tutoring or Saturday school based on the needs of scholars

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

• Believes and is committed to our mission and being an agent of change: 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
• Believes in education as a profession and holds themselves to high levels of conduct, professionalism, and behaviors as models for colleagues and students

Supervisory Responsibilities

Oversee the daily work and responsibilities of a Special Education Co-Teacher (para-professional) in the RISE classroom.

About IDEA Public Schools

At IDEA Public Schools, we believe each and every child can go to college. Since 2000, IDEA Public Schools has grown from a small school with 150 students to a multi-state network of tuition-free, Pre-K-12 public charter schools. IDEA Public Schools boasts national rankings on The Washington Post and U.S. News & World Report’s top high schools lists. IDEA serves over 80,000 college-bound students in 143 schools across Texas, Florida, and Ohio, and is on track to maintain its legacy of sending 100% of its graduates to college. When you choose to work at IDEA, you are part of our IDEA Team and Family. You will work alongside team members who set and reach ambitious goals every day, are excited to continue to grow with IDEA, and work relentlessly to make college for all a reality.