Special Education Teacher, Elementary School

Special Education Teacher, Elementary School – $5,000 Sign-on Bonus

Location:

Lake Villa, IL

Starting Salary: $55,814 – $83,721 / year (based on experience) + $5,000 Sign-on Bonus. Environment:
Special Education Program – Elementary School.

Spectrum Center Schools and Programs, a growing, dynamic organization with a social mission to offer hope, is seeking a Special Education Teacher to join our award‑winning team and perform meaningful work in a culture that welcomes innovation, encourages creative expression and offers limitless potential for personal and professional satisfaction.

We’re looking for passionate, solution‑focused educators who thrive in a collaborative, dynamic environment and bring creativity, patience, a sense of humor, and an unwavering commitment to student growth. Let’s talk!

• Creating an inclusive, collaborative environment that actively involves students, parents, colleagues, and administrators in the educational process.
• Establishing a classroom climate built on mutual respect, fairness, and clear expectations, emphasizing social development, personal accountability, and positive group interactions by modeling Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS).
• Implementing and consistently reinforcing school‑wide and classroom‑specific PBIS strategies, behavior expectations, reward systems, and appropriate consequences.
• Tracking and documenting student progress, maintaining accurate student files, and generating comprehensive reports detailing student achievements and activities.
• Delivering differentiated and targeted instruction individually or collaboratively in a co‑teaching environment to effectively meet IEP‑specified educational goals.
• Adapting and modifying curricular content and instructional approaches to accommodate the diverse learning styles and capabilities of students, providing guidance to instructional staff on differentiation methods.
• Utilizing varied and engaging instructional methods, resources, and educational software to effectively respond to and support diverse student needs and interests.
• Managing student caseload responsibilities, including developing, updating, and implementing individualized education plans (IEPs), goals, and interventions.
• Preparing detailed daily lesson plans and organizing instructional materials that align with curriculum standards and individual student objectives.
• Maintaining an organized, safe, and welcoming classroom environment, managing supplies, furniture, and resources effectively according to established procedures.
• Staying informed on current research‑based instructional practices, trends, and developments in special education and subject‑specific areas to continually enhance teaching effectiveness.
• Responding openly and constructively to feedback from formal evaluations and informal observations, actively pursuing ongoing professional growth.
• Supporting the school community by performing additional duties as assigned, contributing positively to the overall success of the educational program.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in education, special education or a closely related field of study.
• Licensed currently or in the process of obtaining an IL Professional Educator License (PEL).
• Licensed currently or in the process of obtaining a Learning Behavior Specialist (LBS1) credential.
• Prior experience working with curriculum development, differentiation and instruction, preferably in an alternative, special education and/or behavioral health program setting.
• Prior experience and/or knowledge in special education services and compliance, particularly for students with learning disabilities, emotional disorders, and/or challenging behaviors.
• Prior experience and/or highly knowledgeable in working with students with individualized education plans (IEP’s).
• Proven success in developing and implementing effective education plans for students with diverse needs.
• Proficiency in providing motivation and having critical conversations with students that help move them toward realistic goals.
• Advanced oral and written communication, organization, conflict resolution, multitasking, problem solving, and decision‑making…