Special Education Teacher

Rocketship Special Education Teacher (Moderate/Severe)

At Rocketship Public Schools, we believe in the infinite possibility of human potential. We believe that every student deserves the right to dream, to discover, and to develop their unique potential and it is our responsibility and our privilege to unleash the potential inside every Rocketeer we serve. Our non-profit network of public elementary charter schools propels student achievement, develops exceptional educators, and partners with parents who enable high-quality public schools to thrive in their community.

We are a collective of parents, teachers, leaders, and students working together to transform the future for underserved communities across our country. At Rocketship Public Schools, we are unleashing potential.

Rocketship Special Education Teachers (Moderate/Severe), also known as Education Specialists, play a critical role in ensuring that every student has access to an excellent, inclusive education. The Education Specialist supporting students with moderate to severe support needs provides individualized academic, functional, behavioral, communication, and social-emotional support to students with significant disabilities.

This role serves students with a range of support needs, including students with intellectual disabilities, autism, multiple disabilities, communication needs, behavioral needs, and adaptive skill needs. Education Specialists work closely with students, families, general education teachers, paraprofessionals, school leaders, and related service providers to ensure students receive appropriate instruction, services, accommodations, modifications, and supports aligned to their Individualized Education Programs.

At Rocketship, we believe in the power of inclusive education. Education Specialists support students in general education settings whenever appropriate, while also providing individualized instruction in small-group, pull-out, and specialized settings based on student needs. This role requires strong collaboration, thoughtful behavior support, effective case management, and a deep commitment to helping students make meaningful growth.

Education Specialists manage an assigned caseload at a single school site and are responsible for developing compliant IEPs, facilitating IEP meetings, monitoring student progress, supporting paraprofessionals, and ensuring services are delivered in accordance with IDEA, state law, and Rocketship expectations.

Education Specialists report to the Principal or Assistant Principal.

• Provide individualized, small-group, push-in, and pull-out instruction to support students with moderate to severe support needs.
• Support students in making meaningful progress toward academic, functional, communication, behavioral, social-emotional, and adaptive goals outlined in their IEPs.
• Deliver instruction in functional academics, adaptive skills, communication, and foundational academic skills aligned to student needs and applicable standards.
• Support students' access to grade-level content, school routines, classroom participation, and inclusive learning opportunities whenever appropriate.
• Implement accommodations, modifications, supplementary aids, services, and individualized supports as outlined in students' IEPs.
• Use curriculum, instructional materials, assistive technology, and communication supports, including augmentative and alternative communication systems when appropriate.
• Collaborate with general education teachers to promote meaningful inclusion and ensure students receive consistent support across settings.
• Lead, support, and coach paraprofessionals to ensure high-quality implementation of student supports, accommodations, modifications, behavior plans, and instructional strategies.
• Use student data, progress monitoring, and team input to adjust instruction and support student growth.

• Manage an assigned IEP caseload in accordance with IDEA, state law, and school/network expectations.
• Draft, write, and maintain high-quality, legally compliant IEPs.
• Facilitate and participate in IEP meetings, including annual reviews, reevaluations, amendments, and other required meetings.
• Ensure online IEP systems and school-based files are accurate, organized, timely, and compliant.
• Monitor student progress toward IEP goals and provide required progress updates.
• Collaborate with school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other related service providers to support evaluations, services, and programming.
• Review and interpret assessment information to help identify student strengths, areas of need, and appropriate services and supports.
• Communicate regularly with families and team members regarding student goals, accommodations, services, progress, and support needs.
• Maintain compliance with timelines, service delivery requirements, documentation expectations, and confidentiality requirements.