Jr Special Education Teacher

Meridian CUSD 223 is seeking a Jr High Special Education Teacher at Meridian Junior High School

MERIDIAN COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 223 JOB DESCRIPTION TEACHER

Position Title:
Teacher

Reports to:
Building Administration

Mission Statement of District:
To instruct and assist students to be self-directed learners, collaborative workers, complex thinkers, quality producers and community contributors.

• Valid and properly registered Professional Educator License, issued by the Illinois State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, with appropriate endorsement(s) for specific teaching assignment.
• Evidence of physical fitness and freedom from communicable disease.
• Successful completion of criminal background check.

• Possess effective oral and written communication skills.
• Able to comprehend and follow written and verbal instructions.
• Physically and emotionally able to perform job responsibilities.
• Skilled in the use of office computer equipment, related software applications, and other standard office machines.
• Able to gather data, compile information, prepare reports and use to improve performance.
• Able to make procedural decisions and judgments.
• Able to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Able to attend to detail.
• Able to perform multiple concurrent tasks.
• Able to set goals and establish methods for achieving goals.
• Knowledge in content area and accompanying pedagogy.
• Knowledge of resources available to best support personal and student growth.

• Implement the District's philosophy of education and instructional goals and objectives.
• Create a classroom environment conducive to learning and student growth and appropriate to the physical, social, and emotional development of students.
• Establish and maintain high standards and expectations for academic performance and student behavior needed to achieve a positive learning atmosphere in the classroom.
• Establish effective and professional rapport with students and parents that earns their respect.
• Motivate students to develop skills, attitudes and knowledge needed to provide a good foundation for learning in accordance with each student's ability.
• Meet and instruct assigned classes/student(s) in the location and at the time designated and complete duties in a timely manner.
• Make adequate preparation for daily instruction, including plans for substitutes, and provide for individualized and small group instruction in order to adapt the curriculum to the needs of each student.
• Select and requisition textbooks and instructional aids; maintain required inventory records.
• Guide the learning process toward the achievement of curriculum goals by:
  • Establishing and communicating clear objectives to students.
  • Gathering information and data about students to improve instructional performance.
  • Setting instructional outcomes of high rigor aligned with overall instructional goals and standards.
  • Monitoring student progress to inform instruction. Consistently assess student achievement through formal and informal testing.
  • Asking effective and appropriate questions to deepen student learning, allowing them to make connections, and critically think.
  • Engaging students in critical learning.
  • Creating a classroom culture reflecting high expectations and the importance of learning.
  • Keeping students engaged to the task at hand consistently.
  • Designing coherent instruction by coordinating knowledge of content, students, and resources.
  • Designing student assessments to align with instructional outcomes that can be used to measure student growth from pre- to post-assessment.
  • Participating actively in a Professional Learning Community with colleagues by:
    • Attending staff meetings and in-service meetings as required.
    • Creating, sharing, and analyzing data with team or departmental colleagues.
    • Participating in curriculum development programs and in the selection of materials and equipment to support instruction.
• Report suspected child abuse/neglect cases as required by statute and board policy and notify immediately appropriate personnel of evidence of substance abuse, child abuse, child neglect, severe medical or social conditions, potential suicide or individuals appearing to be under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or anabolic steroids.
• Work cooperatively with other school personnel in the identification, diagnosis, referral and remediation of individual students with specialized needs, assessing and helping students solve health, attitude, and learning problems.
• Meet, as required, with students, parents, administrators, and/or consultants.
• Create a stimulating, attractive, organized, functional, healthy, effective and safe classroom, with proper attention to the visual, acoustic, and thermal environments; including functional and attractive displays, bulletin boards and interest centers.
• Display the highest ethical and professional behavior and standards when working with students, parents, school…