Empowering Special Education Teacher: IEPs & Collaboration

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER
Noble Academy, District #4171


GENERAL PURPOSE:
To create an educational program, classroom and building environment that is Multicultural/Gender/Ability Fair, is favorable to learning and growth, and is based on a commitment that all children can learn.


PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: a valid Minnesota SLD or EBD license, certificate, or other legal credentials required for level of assignment.

• Prior successful experience in a K-8 urban, multicultural education is desirable
• Demonstrates continued professional development through course work, research, peer collaboration, and/or job-embedded staff development.
• Working knowledge of the subject matter, classroom management techniques, current researched best practices and strategies, and as well as students' learning styles and needs, both academic and affective

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:


General:

• Acquires knowledge of academic programs and expectations/goals. Works to support and achieve those goals.
• Establishes developmentally appropriate instructional and behavioral expectations for students and for him/herself and communicates those to students and their families.
• Creates lessons and learning environments that are safe, respectful and interesting as well as Multicultural/Gender/Ability Fair. Selects, adapts and individualizes materials appropriate for diverse student populations and skills.
• Teaches students the required curricula using strategies that foster thinking, reasoning and problem solving.
• Collaborates and communicates regularly with families in making educational decisions and uses family and community resources to support learning.
• Assesses students' developmental, cognitive, and social needs, and provides developmentally appropriate instruction to meet those needs.
• Regularly assesses student learning by using multiple forms of assessment.
• Facilitates positive interactions between students and teacher, student and peers, and student and other adults.
• Models learning and behaviors consistent with the expectations for students.
• Assesses own instructional effectiveness through the Professional Development Process (PDP).
• Participates in ongoing and regular staff, team and individual professional development.
• Collaborates with peers to develop, plan and implement best practices based on the needs/abilities of the students.
• Participates in site-based management and shared decision-making.
• Always keeps the students' needs and rights first and foremost in any educational decision-making.
• Has a working knowledge of and implements the Minnesota State Standards.
• Participates in all school/family events beyond the school day.
• Develops guidelines for safety, the school day classroom behavior and make sure children follow them.
• Organizes desks, bulletin boards, classroom materials, computer stations and other classroom displays as directed by the senior administration.
• Maintain a classroom atmosphere conducive to learning.
• Collaborates with teachers to align them and/or team teaching.
• Follows other duties as assigned by the senior administration.

Specifics:

• Works closely with Special Projects and seeks for process to stay in compliance to the State's requirements
• Develops, maintains, and organizes students' IEPs and files
• Keeps communication lines open and regular with the senior administration
• Works closely with school psychologist, speech clinician, and occupational therapist in assessing, interventions, collaboration, strategizing, and developing behavior plans for students as needed
• Leads SST Team: SST meeting, sets agendas, facilitates meetings, provides the student find process and forms, intervention ideas, etc.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Assists the senior administration with marketing the school through the use of banners, flyers, brochures, signs, fundraising events, etc. as needed.
• Ability and willingness to keep records and classroom space organized and easy accessibility.
• Considerable ability to follow through in a timely manner.
• Considerable knowledge of and ability to perform classroom management skills, practices and relationship building
• Considerable skills in teaching others to safely operate office machines and equipment.
• Excellent…