Special Education Teacher, Level III Elementary Program

Nisswa Elementary School is seeking a collaborative, organized, and student-centered Special Education Teacher for a 1.0 FTE kindergarten through grade five Level III program. This position primarily supports students receiving services in the areas of Emotional or Behavioral Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Other Health Disabilities, and related individualized educational needs.

About the role

Nisswa Elementary School serves preschool through grade five and typically has two sections at each grade level, with some larger cohorts requiring a third section. Students may receive significant portions of their instruction within the special education setting or participate in a combination of special education and general education environments, as determined by their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The teacher will provide case management, specially designed instruction, behavioral support, progress monitoring, and coordinated services across these settings.

Responsibilities

• Plan, deliver, and monitor specially designed instruction aligned with each student's IEP, Minnesota academic standards, and Brainerd Public Schools curriculum, procedures, and approved resources.
• Develop, implement, and maintain accurate and legally compliant evaluations, IEPs, prior written notices, progress reports, service records, behavior plans, and other required special education documentation within established timelines.
• Monitor and coordinate IEP implementation, including goals, direct services, service minutes, accommodations, modifications, behavioral supports, assistive technology, and related services.
• Use evaluation results, baseline information, classroom performance, curriculum-based measures, behavioral data, and formal and informal assessments to guide instruction and monitor student progress.
• Clearly communicate student progress and initiate collaborative problem solving when a student is not making expected progress.
• Work with the IEP team to determine whether instruction, interventions, services, goals, or supports need to be adjusted.
• Serve as the teacher of record, as assigned by the district, for students or complete content areas in which the teacher provides primary instruction. Complete report cards, progress reports, and required instructional records.
• Support students receiving instruction within the Level III setting and students participating in general education classrooms, specialists, and other school environments. Ensure students have meaningful access to instruction, peers, activities, and the least restrictive environment identified by the IEP team.
• Identify and help remove instructional, behavioral, communication, sensory, environmental, or scheduling barriers that interfere with student participation or progress.
• Work collaboratively with families, the site administrator, district administrators, certified staff, fellow case managers, general education teachers, paraprofessionals, related service providers, and other district personnel.
• Coordinate shared services and student support within Nisswa Elementary School to ensure direct and indirect services required by student IEPs are provided.
• Provide daily direction, scheduling, training, coaching, and monitoring to paraprofessionals assigned to the program or individual students. Ensure paraprofessionals understand and appropriately implement assigned portions of student IEPs, behavior plans, communication supports, accommodations, modifications, and safety plans.
• Build positive and respectful relationships with students, families, and colleagues and contribute to a professional culture of shared responsibility for student success.
• Demonstrate openness to coaching and professional feedback and a willingness to reflect upon and apply guidance from the site administrator, district leaders, special education staff, and professional colleagues.
• Attend and actively participate in required district, building, curriculum, special education, safety, and professional development activities.
• Complete district-required training in positive behavioral supports, crisis prevention, de-escalation, emergency response, and restrictive procedures.
• When trained, assigned, and legally authorized, participate in district-approved emergency physical interventions only when immediate action is necessary to protect a student or another individual from physical injury and in accordance with Minnesota law and district procedures.
• Maintain student and family confidentiality and perform all responsibilities in accordance with federal and Minnesota special education law, PELSB requirements, the Code of Ethics for Minnesota Teachers, district policies, and each student's IEP.
• Perform other duties consistent with the position and assigned by the site administrator or district administration.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Valid Minnesota special education teaching license issued by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) that is appropriate to the students, disability areas, and services assigned. Applicable licensure fields may include:
  • Emotional or Behavioral Disorders
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • Academic and Behavioral Strategist (when assigned students and services fall within the authorized scope of that license)
  • Another applicable Minnesota special education license or approved permission determined by Brainerd Public Schools to be appropriate to the assignment
• Demonstrated knowledge of special education evaluation, IEP development and implementation, due process, progress monitoring, positive behavioral supports, service delivery, and least restrictive environment requirements.
• Ability to provide specially designed instruction across multiple elementary grade levels and manage a multigrade Level III program.
• Ability to organize instruction, IEP services, staff schedules, student data, and legal timelines.
• Strong communication, collaboration, leadership, coaching, mediation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively with families, staff, the site administrator, and district personnel.
• Ability to receive and apply professional feedback.
• Ability to remain calm, organized, and student-focused during behavioral or safety concerns.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, including student supervision and safety responsibilities, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current Minnesota Tier 3 or Tier 4 license in Emotional or Behavioral Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Academic and Behavioral Strategist, or another applicable special education field.
• Successful experience providing instruction and case management for students receiving services under EBD, ASD, OHD, SLD, or related disability categories.
• Experience in a Level III, self-contained, or comparable elementary special education setting.
• Experience supporting students across special education and general education environments.
• Experience using data to guide instruction, monitor progress, and support team-based decision making.
• Experience completing evaluations, IEPs, prior written notices, progress reports, and due process documentation accurately and within established timelines.
• Experience serving as teacher of record and completing report cards and instructional progress reports.
• Experience directing, coaching, and monitoring paraprofessionals.
• Experience with positive behavioral interventions, functional behavioral assessments, behavior intervention plans, communication supports, assistive technology, visual supports, and sensory regulation strategies.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability (LTD)
• Teachers Retirement Association (TRA)
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Paid time off (PTO) and Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST)

Pay

Salary Range: $46,936 - $90,238 (based on education and experience; wages outlined in the Certified Master Contract located on the district website).

Schedule

8 hours per day, Monday through Friday (184 duty days; may change with new contract ratification).

Employment is contingent upon verification of appropriate Minnesota licensure, satisfactory professional references, completion of all legally required background checks, and fulfillment of Brainerd Public Schools employment requirements.