Teacher - Elementary Structured Learning Services

About the role

Adams 12 Five Star Schools is seeking an Elementary Structured Learning Services (SLS) Teacher to facilitate specially designed instruction for students with Autism and/or related disabilities. The SLS teacher will manage paraprofessionals and instruct in a center-based classroom where students receive these supports in addition to specialized academic instruction and/or instruction on grade-level standards. Students in the SLS classroom join general education classes per their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and the SLS teacher is responsible for teaching general education access skills, monitoring student progress, and adjusting IEPs to increase/decrease student participation in general education as appropriate.

Responsibilities

• Advocate for students with disabilities to ensure access to learning opportunities and equity in discipline processes
• Model and promote inclusive language
• Facilitate care and management of students' personal and medical needs
• Ensure students have access to appropriate communication resources
• Assess and determine eligibility of students with disabilities
• Administer assessments specific to students with ASD and/or related disabilities
• Develop and monitor progress of SMART learning goals for each student
• Conduct Functional Behavior Assessments and develop and monitor Behavior Intervention Plans
• Develop and monitor incentive plans, point sheets, data collection systems
• Supervise, schedule and monitor paraprofessionals
• Collaborate with classroom teachers, school psychologists, speech/language pathologists, school social workers and other special education service providers to develop integrated plans for students with disabilities
• Collaborate with families to ensure students' strengths, needs, services and progress are regularly communicated
• Implement IDEA and ECEA regulations
• Develop and implement legally compliant, instructionally sound IEPs
• Abside by all district/policies/procedures
• Implement the ASD CDE Quality Indicators and APERS (Autism Program Environment Rating Scale)
• Identify students' current academic and functional performance levels
• Develop appropriately ambitious trajectories toward grade- and age-level standards
• Plan lessons incorporating evidence-based practices and identify resources for instruction
• Implement specially-designed instruction in a continuum of special education/general educational environments
• Differentiate instruction for learners with diverse needs
• Demonstrate an understanding of student behavior and classroom management structures
• Participate in ongoing professional development sessions

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher
• Minimum of 18 years old
• Experience working with ASD preferred

Qualifications

• Criminal background check required for hire
• Must possess the required license and endorsement for the position, or be able to obtain, or be in process with, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) for a valid Colorado Educator License within 30 days of hire
• Possession of ELL Training and/or an ESL or (LDE) Linguistically Diverse Education Endorsement preferred

Skills

• Ability to advocate for students with disabilities
• Knowledge of inclusive language and best practices
• Experience managing students' personal and medical needs
• Proficiency in conducting assessments and developing SMART learning goals
• Experience with Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans
• Ability to collaborate with various stakeholders
• Strong organizational and planning skills
• Ability to differentiate instruction for diverse learners
• Understanding of student behavior and classroom management
• Proficiency in evidence-based practices and instructional strategies

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Voluntary life insurance through PERA
• 401(k), 403(b) & 457(b) plans

Pay

All salary placement on our Certified Salary schedule is dependent on the employees' education and/or work experience. Special programs teachers of students with significant support needs, structured learning services or affective needs, audiologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, school nurses, school psychologists, school social workers, and speech language pathologists shall receive experience credit for each full year of previous experience and are not limited to ten (10) years as described in Appendix A, Item 3. Additionally, one (1) step for each full year, as described in this Appendix, of service in the district as a contracted certified, classified, in-building substitute, and/or administrative employee for educators beginning a new certified contract or returning to a certified contract. For further explanation of salary placement please refer to our Certified Master Agreement that can be found on our district website.

Schedule

Standard full-time hours of 40 hours per week.