Special Education Teacher - $5,000 Sign-On Bonus

Starting salary for certified teachers: $55,001.95. Starting salary for non-certified teachers: $45,240.00. $5,000 sign-on bonus: $2,500 paid upon hire and $2,500 paid after 6 months of employment. We welcome teacher candidates who are in the process of obtaining their Students with Disabilities, Birth-2 or All Ages certification. Tuition assistance may be available to support your certification journey.

About the role

The preschool special education teacher is responsible for designing and implementing group lessons comprised of speech, language, and readiness skills to encourage development in these areas by severely speech-language impaired preschoolers. The teacher works as a member of a multidisciplinary team in developing and implementing goals for each child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Buffalo Hearing & Speech utilizes the Floortime/DIR Philosophy in our classrooms and provides training on this unique approach. We also incorporate the Pyramid model and Trauma-Informed Care approach to best meet the needs of our students.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates each child in each area of skill development using formal and informal measures upon entrance into the program and provides updates on a quarterly basis, including compiling comprehensive reports regarding children's strengths and areas of need.
• Determines prognosis and appropriate treatment plan.
• Implements site-specific curriculum and plans classroom environment to encourage learning, independence, and generalization of skills.
• Designs and implements goals and objectives toward development of age-appropriate skills for each child as indicated on each child's IEP.
• Implements appropriate therapeutic programs designed to facilitate improved cognitive, social-emotional, behavioral, fine, and gross motor skills.
• Meets with and shares information regarding educational strategies, techniques, and philosophies with classroom aides and/or personal/1:1 aides.
• Facilitates weekly team meetings and classroom planning meetings (team leader) and acts as an active participant in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) meetings, as schedule allows.
• Assists and collaborates with the multidisciplinary team for program design and implementation, carryover of individual therapy goals to the classroom (e.g., speech, OT, PT, etc.), using specific teaching and/or behavior management strategies.
• Models appropriate speech and language.
• Makes appropriate referrals as needed to affect positive therapeutic results.
• Maintains contact with the parent or guardian regarding their child's progress within the classroom.
• Responsible, with other team members, for children's supervision and safety.
• Attends Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) and Committee on Special Education (CSE) meetings, when necessary.
• Submits highest quality written reports in a timely manner in accordance with compliance standards, including evaluation reports, treatment plans, log notes, progress reports, and discharge summaries.
• Maintains patient records in accordance with compliance standards set by site or assignment.

Requirements

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree in special education from an accredited university or college.
• New York State Certification as a permanent Special Education Teacher or Teacher of Students with Disabilities (Birth-2 or All Ages) OR willingness to obtain.

Skills

• Special Education Teacher behavioral competencies.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing.
• Ability to learn on the job and adapt quickly as situations require.

Physical Requirements

• Physical actions may include bending, kneeling, standing, squatting, reaching, printing, crawling, and running.
• Vision, speech, tactile, and hearing senses adequate to perform job requirements.
• Frequent sitting/standing and, when appropriate, floor sitting with pediatric patients.

Pay

Starting salary for certified teachers: $55,001.95. Salary range up to $70,127.49.

Benefits

• $5,000 sign-on bonus: $2,500 paid upon hire and $2,500 paid after 6 months of employment.
• Tuition assistance may be available to support certification journey.

Schedule

Full-time, permanent position.