High School Functional​/Life Skills Special Education Teacher

High School Functional/Life Skills Special Education Teacher

Job Description

High School Functional/Life Skills Special Education Teacher

Note:

The original description contains duplicate boilerplate content and formatting that has been removed for clarity. The following preserves the core job information.

School of the Osage, in partnership with our students, families and community, will equip all learners to reach their maximum potential for a lifetime of success.

Type of Position

Category: Certified

Reports to: Building Principal

Degrees required or preferred:

A minimum of Bachelor’s Degree with emphasis in Cross-Categorical Special Education. A graduate degree and experience is preferred. Valid Missouri Teacher Certification and/or appropriate Missouri Certification for academic field.

A valid Missouri teaching certificate and complete transcript(s) of college credit must be on file for each teacher before the beginning of each new school year. It is the duty of each teacher to possess a valid certificate that covers the academic year, (the teaching assignment/s and all other areas listed on the certificate). The teacher must assure that all professional development requirements and other DESE requirements are met to keep certification current.

Job Duties:

• Provide specialized instruction for students grades 9-12/age 21
• Design and implement individualized education programs (IEPs) focused on functional life skills, academics, social skills, communication, and vocational training for students with cognitive/neurodevelopmental disabilities. This includes practical daily living skills, household management, food preparation, and safety awareness
• Develop community and school-based employment instruction opportunities for skill generalization
• Conduct individualized student assessments and interpret results
• Facilitate IEP meetings in order to develop appropriate goals and objectives
• Collaborate with general educators, paraprofessionals, related service providers, and parents to coordinate comprehensive support
• Administer required MAP-A or EOC assessments per IEP designation
• Assess student progress using appropriate functional assessment tools and data collection methods
• Collect data daily/weekly with progress monitoring documentation every 3 weeks minimum
• Complete all required paperwork and meetings within established timelines
• Supervise and give guidance to all paraprofessional(s) assigned to your classroom or working with students on your caseload to implement instructional programs and provide student support
• Create and maintain a structured, positive learning environment accommodating diverse needs
• Maintain regular parent/guardian communication regarding progress and home strategies

• Experience with community-based instruction preferred
• Training in specialized methodologies relevant to the population
• Knowledge of transition planning and vocational training approaches
• Experience with data-based decision-making and progress monitoring
• Familiarity with sensory integration techniques

Performance Expectations:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Directly responsible to the principal of his/her building
• Expected to develop lesson plans and instructional materials as part of a planned learning experience to motivate students
• Responsible for organizing his/her classroom in a manner to assure optimal teaching and learning
• Responsible for establishing all reasonable classroom rules and regulations for the conduct of the students
• Responsible for the discipline of students, but shall consult with the Principal, when needed
• Expected to manage instructional time effectively and maintain a high level of student time-on-task
• Expected to monitor student performance in a variety of ways: oral, written, and other forms of informal and formal assessments
• Expected to evaluate student academic growth, maintain accurate records, prepare progress and grade reports, and communicate frequently with parents on individual student progress
• Maintain a school atmosphere in which character, self-reliance, responsible behavior, and a positive self-image are of prime importance
• Complete all reports as required, including student evaluation, inventories, orders, curriculum work, and lesson plans
• Attend faculty meetings, in-service meetings, team meetings, grade level/department meetings as required
• Supervise students in out-of-class activities as required
• Share in sponsorship of student activities and participate in faculty/community committees
• Supervise teaching assistants, paraprofessionals, student teachers, and volunteers when applicable
• Responsible for utilizing data and diagnostic information to develop and revise goals, objectives, and assessments to assure student needs are met at the…