Teacher - Special Education

Purpose of the Position

To create an educational program and a class environment that is multicultural, gender‑fair, and disability‑sensitive, is favorable to learning and personal growth in accordance with each student’s ability and is based on a commitment that all students can learn.

Functional responsibilities or knowledge in connection with the issues involved in dealings between the school corporation and its employees require strict adherence to confidentiality.

• A valid Indiana teaching license, certificate, or other legal credentials required for level of assignment.
• Demonstrates continued professional development through coursework, research, and peer participation.
• Has working knowledge of the subject matter, classroom management techniques, current researched best practices and strategies, and students’ learning styles and needs, both academic and affective.

• Acquire knowledge of the goals of the Marion Community Schools and site/School Improvement Plan (SIP) to support and achieve those goals.
• Establish developmentally appropriate instructional and behavioral expectations for students and for him/herself and communicate those to students and their families.
• Create lessons and learning environments that are safe, respectful, and interesting, as well as multicultural, gender‑fair, and disability‑sensitive. Select, adapt, and individualize materials appropriate for diverse student populations and skills.
• Teach students the required curricula using strategies that foster thinking, reasoning, and problem solving.
• Collaborate and communicate regularly with families in making educational decisions and use family and community resources.
• Assess student developmental, cognitive, and social needs and provide developmentally appropriate instruction to meet those needs.
• Regularly assess student learning by using multiple forms of assessment.
• Facilitate positive interactions between students and teacher, student and peers, and student and other adults.
• Model learning and behavior consistent with the expectations for student.
• Evaluate own instructional effectiveness.
• Participate in ongoing and regular staff, team, and individual professional development. Implement the Professional Development Process.
• Collaborate with peers to develop, plan, and implement best practices based on the needs and abilities of the students.
• Participate in site‑based decision making.
• Always keep the student’s needs and rights first and foremost in any educational decision‑making.

Perform other duties and responsibilities as directed by the Building Principal and/or the Superintendent.

• Teacher Code of Ethics.
• Indiana State Department of Education curriculum.
• Marion Community Schools Strategic Plan.
• Staff training and professional development.
• Policies, procedures, and functions of Marion Community Schools Board of Trustees and the Indiana Department of Education.
• Applicable software and applications.

• Plan, organize, and schedule priorities.
• Use independent judgment and initiative in making sound decisions and in developing solutions to problems.
• Discreetly handle confidential and politically sensitive matters.
• Make independent decisions in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Tactfully and courteously respond to requests and inquiries/complaints from the general public and staff.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, and the community.

• Classroom instructional equipment.

• School building and classroom.

• Ability to stand or sit for long periods of time.
• Ability to stoop, bend, climb stairs.
• Must be able to hear and speak clearly.
• Must be able to lift items up to 25 lbs. occasionally.