General Education Teacher - Pathway to Special Education Teacher

General Education Teacher – Pathway to Special Education Teacher (Job )

Position Type: Licensed Special Education / Special Education Teacher
Date Posted: 6/8/2025
Location: Gibson City-Melvin Sibley CUSD #5
District: Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Community Unit School District #5

In order to be considered for this opportunity, the two courses required for the Short-Term Approval must be completed in Summer or Fall of 2022. If hired, the teacher would fill a Special Education position for the 2022‑23 School Year, working as a Long‑Term Substitute (paid at $200/day) for the Fall of 2022 and moving to a Full‑Time Teacher under the Short Term Licensure for Spring of 2023.

OR if candidate has already completed coursework required for Short‑Term Approval then immediate hiring as full‑time employee is required.

If candidate did not complete coursework required for Short‑Term Approval as part of an undergraduate program then applicants must be willing to:

• Apply to a program prior to Spring semester.
• Register for courses that would be required for Short‑Term Approval (one course in the survey of exceptional children and another in one of the other areas required for the endorsement). If a course has already been completed through prior coursework, the course would not need to be taken again. Applicant would need to work with a college/university enrollment specialist in order to determine the proper courses required (for a maximum of two) for the Fall of 2021.
• After course completion, apply for the Short‑Term Approval through ISBE.
• Teach as a Long‑Term Substitute filling a Special Education Teacher position for Fall of 2021 while completing the initial coursework required to get the Short Term Licensure approval.
• Teach as a Special Education Teacher in GCMS CUSD #5 under the Short‑Term Approval while earning the full LBSI endorsement within three years.

If accepted for this position, coursework reimbursement for all required courses will be covered by GCMS CUSD #5. An agreement to teach in Special Education at GCMS CUSD #5 first as a Long‑Term Substitute and then under the Short-Term Approval and for a period of three years following the full LBSI endorsement must be signed. More details about course fee coverage and the agreement to teach in Special Education will be provided upon hire.

For more information about the Short‑Term Approval, please go to

The Special Education Teacher is responsible for providing high quality instruction based on frequent assessment and data analysis, and providing services through a structured and supportive environment that provides for student growth. Consultation with general education teachers and related service personnel, serving as case manager, and training and monitoring of teaching assistants are also priorities.

• Collaborate with general education staff, related service personnel, parents, teaching assistants and students to ensure each student on caseload receives an appropriate comprehensive education.
• Coordinate the IEP process which includes but is not limited to writing the IEP, facilitating IEP meetings, monitoring and ensuring the provision of services, participating in the eligibility determination process and maintenance of accurate and up to date records for all students on caseload.
• Assess students’ performance through formal and informal measures and use data for instructional decision making and IEP goal planning.
• Design clear, well‑organized and relevant instruction that is aligned to the general education curriculum, common core standards, students’ needs, ability levels, interests, classroom performance and assessment results.
• Establish and maintain a learning environment where students are engaged in meaningful learning experiences, staff functions as a team, and decision making is student-centered and individualized. Provide a positive model of appropriate and respectful interactions.
• Provide direct instruction to students as written in the IEP.
• Complete progress monitoring of academic and functional goals.
• Consult and collaborate with staff members about student needs and progress to implement necessary accommodations…