Special Education Teacher

Special Education Teacher

Title:

Special Education Teacher

Directly Responsible To:
Building Principal

Desired

Minimum Qualifications:

• Valid Teaching Certificate with Special Education endorsements.
• Demonstrates an understanding of child and adolescent developmental issues.
• Ability to relate to and work with children and/or adolescents.
• Ability to write reports and business correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from students, parents, staff, and the community.
• Ability to handle stressful situations.
• Ability to work cooperatively as a team member with staff and administration.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of employment and student matters.
• Ability to effectively manage time and responsibilities.

Essential Functions & Duties:

• Plans and develops course of study suitable for special education students for curriculum delivery that meets all state and federal requirements.
• Conducts and directs Child Study Team (CST) meetings and assists in development of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
• Attends and participates in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings, IEP meetings, and other meetings as required.
• Develops individually or collaboratively with classroom teachers for the presentation of specific lesson plans, using a variety of means.
• Provides an appropriate educational program for each student.
• Instructs individuals and groups in special education skill areas.
• Plans curriculum, lessons, and special education programs and teaching methods.
• Monitors students' progress in and outside special education room.
• Maintains regular contact with parents of students.
• Prepares assignments and tests for in-school preparation and homework.
• Evaluates student progress based on work output and observation, determines goals, objectives, and directions.
• Prepares report cards, educational records, IEP forms, classroom observation records, and other forms.
• Consults with other professionals and teaching staff regarding progress of students and related educational matters.
• Monitors, assists, corrects, and grades student performances either individually or collaboratively with classroom teachers.
• Maintains order individually or collaboratively with classroom teachers in the classroom and administers discipline when necessary to achieve proper behavior.
• May prescribe detention, or loss of playground privileges in cases of student misconduct.
• Shares with other teachers and aides lunchroom duties and responsibility for monitoring halls and recess periods.
• Counsels special education and regular education students when academic difficulties or behavioral problems arise.
• Keeps records of academic performance, attendance, and social acclimation.
• Conducts standardized tests in accordance with District policies and law.
• Reports on all aspects of student development for school records and parents; conducts parent-teacher conferences on both a regularly scheduled and an as-needed basis.
• Consults with other professionals, where there appears to be evidence of learning disabilities or problems of social adjustment.
• Coordinates decisions with parents concerning any specialized intervention which appears warranted.
• Shares facilities and provides basic maintenance, troubleshooting, computer education and usage among staff and students.
• Reports cases of suspected child abuse according to state law.
• Complies with Board policies, rules, regulations, and directives.
• Recommends promotion and/or placement of students in appropriate classroom situation for ensuing year.
• Participates in faculty meetings, educational conferences, professional training seminars, and workshops.
• Supervises students, classroom aides, paraprofessionals and volunteers.

Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works inside. The employee must be able to meet deadlines with time constraints and is required to work in a stressful environment. The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being, and work output of students. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, walk, and stand; travel from building to other sites; twist at neck and waist; kneel. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. May be required to lift or move up to 20 pounds.

Mental/Motor Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee rarely performs routine work. The employee frequently exercises flexibility (ability to shift from one task to another). Guidance and reinforcement are infrequently available. The employee frequently works within time constraints and maintains attentiveness intensity. The employee is frequently involved in social interactions which require oral and written communications.