Teacher - Exceptional Education (Split Position)

Shared position between Short Pump Middle and Pocahontas Middle schools.

About the role

Under the direction of the school principal, the special education teacher plans and provides appropriate learning experiences for students with disabilities in a variety of educational settings. The role involves creating a flexible program and learning environment that offers specialized instruction, enabling students with disabilities to benefit from the general education curriculum to the greatest extent possible with supplemental aids, accommodations, and other supports. Classes may be single or multi-grade level, subject, skill, or specialty-oriented. The position involves working within a team or departmental setting but may also require independent work in a unique teaching specialty.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct and indirect instructional support to students in a positive environment.
• Employs special educational strategies and techniques to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.
• Instructs students in academic subjects using techniques such as phonetics, multi-sensory learning, and repetition to reinforce learning and meet varying needs and interests.
• Plans and conducts activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time, providing students opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
• Establishes and enforces rules for behavior and procedures to maintain a conducive learning environment for all students.
• Meets with parents to discuss their children's progress and determine priorities for individualized educational needs.
• Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, and other professionals to develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) promoting students' educational, physical, and social/emotional development.
• Maintains accurate and complete student records and prepares reports as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
• Establishes clear objectives for lessons, units, and projects, communicating these to students.
• Develops plans for effective communication, monitoring, and follow-up of students in inclusive classroom settings.
• Assists students with learning personal hygiene.
• Collects and analyzes data to inform educational decision-making.
• Assists in the development of Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA) and Behavior Improvement Plans (BIP).
• Serves as a member of a multidisciplinary team as appropriate.
• Assists in the preparation of data for local, state, and federal reports.
• Supervises paraprofessionals assigned to the classroom.
• Maintains professional competence through staff development activities, curriculum development meetings, and other professional opportunities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Regular attendance is required.

Requirements

• Demonstrates accurate knowledge of evidence-based teaching practices (e.g., reinforcement, prompting, visual schedules, antecedent-based intervention).
• Demonstrates accurate knowledge of the learning and behavioral characteristics of students with disabilities.
• Understands functions of behavior and is knowledgeable of interventions matched to each.
• Experience with a variety of evidence-based instructional practices as well as data collection and its utilization.
• Knowledge of special education laws, policies, and practices.
• Proficient with Microsoft and/or Google Suite and other related educational software.
• Must hold or be eligible for a Virginia teaching license with an endorsement in special education.
• Master's degree in special education preferred.
• Must be able to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds frequently and 25 to 50 pounds occasionally, and may assist, move, or restrain students when required for safety.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, lift, walk, stand, and hear.

Pay

The minimum salary for this 209-day position is $59,663. Starting salary is $57,925 with a bachelor's degree or $62,527 with a master's degree. The annual salary will be prorated based on the work begin date.

Benefits

For information about benefits, visit the Henrico County Public Schools employee benefits page.