Special Education Teacher, ASD/DD

Nature of Work

Responsible for teaching students in assigned disciplines in classrooms, small groups, or at home; adapting teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests; developing individual educational plans designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development; establishing and enforcing rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students; administering tests to help determine students’ developmental levels, needs, or potential; and conferring with parents, guardians, teachers, counselors, or administrators to resolve students' behavioral or academic problems.

Typical Class Responsibilities

• Implements and delivers instructional activities to students;
• Instructs and monitors students in the use of learning materials and resources;
• Makes and administers tests; grades assigned student work; provides performance feedback; and performs other related activities.

Develops, Implements, and Evaluates Curriculum

• Establishes learning objectives;
• Prepares and evaluates lesson plans;
• Evaluates and selects instructional resources and/or specialized resources;
• Adapts materials and curriculum to meet the needs of students with varying backgrounds, learning styles, and special needs.

Manages Student Behavior

• Develops and implements classroom rules and applicable disciplinary procedures;
• Aids in the administration of applicable behavioral policies and rules;
• Provides appropriate interventions and strategies to address behavior issues.

Maintains Accurate and Complete Student Records

• Maintains accurate and complete student records including grades, achievements, development, and attendance;
• Maintains Due Process rights of students are maintained, as applicable;
• Develops and writes Individualized Educational Plans and associated reports, as applicable.

Participates in Meetings

• Participates in a variety of meetings, which may include: parent or guardian conferences, special education briefings, staff and/or committee meetings, staff development sessions, and/or other related meetings.

Support Functions

• Provides feedback to education and student assistants;
• Gives direction to assistants as necessary.

Physical Requirements

• Positions in this class typically require: climbing, balancing, stooping, reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, and seeing.
• Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

Training And Experience Requirements

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree and license or ability to obtain a license from the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) in Autism Spectrum Disorders (K-12) or Developmental Disabilities (K-12).

Knowledge Requirements

• Applicable learning theories and teaching methods;
• Curriculum development;
• Student assessment methods;
• Proactive behavior management;
• Classroom management principles and practices;
• Instructional methods and practices;
• Differentiated instructional methods and practices;
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations;
• Recordkeeping principles;
• Computers and related software applications.

Skill Requirements

• Developing, implementing, and evaluating lessons;
• Assessing student achievement and learning;
• Identifying and utilizing instructional resources and/or specialized resources;
• Managing classroom behavior;
• Developing assessment materials;
• Modifying lesson plans for specialized populations;
• Maintaining applicable student records;
• Applying local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations;
• Preparing and maintaining records and reports;
• Operating a computer and applicable software applications;
• Communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Special Education Profile

• Special Education programs and services in Northeast Metro 916 are central to the Intermediate District's mission and fully integrated in its structure and decision-making processes.
• Programs provide special education and related service support to students from early childhood through age 21 with emotional/behavioral disorders, autism spectrum disorders, developmental and cognitive disabilities, deaf and hard of hearing disabilities, and learning disabilities.
• Our highly structured, safe learning environments share these characteristics: Classrooms of 4-10 students supported by 1-4 trained education assistants. Behavior management support, on-site mental health professionals, due process and curriculum support staff. In-house collaborative teams include: audiologists, behavior specialists, deaf/blind specialists and interveners, autism specialists, developmental adaptive physical education teachers, education assistants, health specialists, occupational therapists and assistants, physical/other health disabilities teachers, physical therapists and assistants, school psychologists, school nurses, school social workers, speech/language pathologists, and sign language interpreters.

Commitment to Equity

• At Northeast Metro 916, equity means that everyone has access to what they need in order to learn, grow and thrive.
• Northwest Metro 916 will not discriminate against individuals based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, parental status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, age or sexual orientation.