Special Education Teacher LTS (Intermediate School Grades 3 to 5)

About the role

The Special Education Teacher (K-12) works with students who have learning, cognitive, social/emotional, and/or physical disabilities, and adapts general education lessons and subjects to guide and encourage students to develop and fulfill their academic potential.

Responsibilities

• Creates a classroom and/or instructional environment that is attractive, safe, supportive, and conducive to learning and appropriate to the maturity, interest, and abilities of students.
• Risk-taking is encouraged, students feel free to contribute their ideas, and teacher and student interactions are respectful and polite to promote a positive learning environment for all students.
• Creates a classroom and/or instructional environment that have materials in good condition and accessible to students, including but not limited to creating educational bulletin boards, web pages, parent/student newsletters, and other similar communication vehicles consistent with district practice.
• Uses relevant technology to support and differentiate instruction.
• Provides research-based specialized instruction to address the instructional goals and objectives contained within each student's IEP.
• Teaches District approved curriculum.
• Teaches skills and knowledge of subject matter in accordance with the requirements of approved courses of study using District curriculum and other appropriate learning activities.
• Guides the learning process toward the achievement of established District curriculum goals and establishes and communicates clear objectives to the students for all lessons, units, and projects.
• Strives by instruction and action to employ the District's philosophy of education, instructional goals and objectives, and performance expectations.
• Encourages and monitors the progress of individual students and uses information to adjust teaching strategies.
• Affirms and assesses student progress and determines the need for additional reinforcement or adjustments to instructional techniques.
• Prepares for classes and shows written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisor.
• Develops lesson plans and instructional materials and employs a variety of instructional techniques and teaching strategies to meet different aptitudes, interests and abilities of students, including current technology and whole-group/small-group learning.
• Designs activities to engage students in cognitively challenging work aligned to standards.
• Employ various teaching techniques, methods and principles of learning to enable students to meet their IEP goals.
• Uses resources that will promote high levels of learning and student engagement in the classroom environment.
• Reflects on practice and student work to determine what went well and what changes could improve instruction and uses reflection to inform future instruction.
• Affirms and assesses student progress and determines the need for additional reinforcement or adjustments to instructional techniques.
• Affirms and assesses student progress and determines the need for additional reinforcement or adjustments to instructional techniques.
• Maintains accurate, complete, and correct records as required by the District Policy, Administrative Policy, and Pennsylvania law.
• Closely monitors student learning in order to understand how students are progressing toward the learning objectives and provides age-appropriate communication with students on instructional expectation and keeps them informed of their progress in meeting those standards.
• Solicits and responds to concerns regarding student progress.
• Cooperates with other professional staff members in assessing and developing strategies to help students solve health, attitude, and learning problems.
• Facilitates and attends IEP, or other related meetings necessary for student assessment and/or compliance with federal and/or state law.
• Schedule team meetings and work cooperatively with child study team members and others in developing instructional goals and strategies.
• Coordinates the delivery of special education services in each student's IEP.
• Responsible for implementing IEP, complying with all legal documents, and ensuring that individual student needs are being met.
• Attends district department and faculty meetings and serves on district committees as required or assigned.
• Attends established traditional school-sponsored activities (i.e.: back-to-school night, open house, and other activities customarily attended by classroom teachers and/or faculty members).
• Participates in curriculum related and programmatic activities that are a part of the regular District program, including but not limited to field trips or overnight camping trips that have been historically part of the school curriculum and programming.
• Participates in in-services and staff development activities and staff meetings as required or assigned.
• Maintains an ongoing program of professional growth that satisfies District requirements but also satisfies personal expectation as a professional.
• Provides, when appropriate, information and recommendations (verbal and written) when requested for student placement, course selection, awards, scholarships and in pursuit of other academic, extra-curricular endeavors or employment.
• Collaborate and consult with educational professionals and community service providers (i.e., social services, public health, medical providers etc.) regarding the needs of students.
• Provide consultation to classroom teachers regarding classroom adaptions, instructional modifications, adaptive equipment, behavior modification plans and other similar instructional interventions to meet the needs of students with disabilities.
• Establishes partnerships with the community as appropriate in support of the academic program.
• Demonstrates professionalism and adheres to the Professional Code of Conduct.
• Administers group standardized tests in accordance with District testing program.
• Selects and requisitions books and instructional materials.
• Follows established policies and procedures for reporting incidents (e.g., child abuse, substance abuse, harassment, and violence).

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in teaching from an accredited institution or related field teaching.
• Pennsylvania Certification in teaching in the appropriate subject area or areas.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing.
• Must have the ability to report to work on a regular and punctual basis.
• Must successfully complete and maintain compliance with all federal and state background and criminal record check requirements.
• Candidate must adhere to all local, state, federal, and school code requirements for employment.