Special Education Teacher, Functional Life Skills (FLS) - Talbot Community School

Job Description

Title:

Special Education Teacher / Case Manager, Functional Life Skills - Talbot Community School

Position Overview:

Portland Public Schools is looking for a collaborative Special Education Teacher for the Elementary Functional Life Skills (FLS) program at Talbot Community School. The FLS program serves students with significant intellectual disabilities, and some of the students in the class have significant physical needs as well. The FLS Teacher will provide case management and specially designed instruction to the students in the program, as well as consultation and collaboration with other professionals who serve the students.

Successfully leading a team of program staff is required, as is the ability to create positive relationships with students, parents, and colleagues. Previous experience as a special educator, particularly in an FLS or other specialized program, as well as experience with special education case management responsibilities (such as conducting IEP meetings and writing IEPs and Written Notices), is highly preferred.

• Serves as the special education case manager for the students served on their caseload
• Maintains accurate and complete records as required by law, PPS policy and administrative regulation
• Creates a classroom environment that provides for student involvement in the learning process and enables each student to achieve learning objectives
• Provides instructional programming to meet the needs of all students including students with disabilities
• Establishes learning objectives consistent with an appraisal of student needs, requirements of PPS curricula framework, and knowledge of human growth and development
• Takes all necessary and safety precautions to protect students, equipment, materials and facilities
• Establishes relationships with colleagues, students, parents and community which reflect recognition of and respect for every individual
• Appraises their own effectiveness and demonstrates successful application of skills and information acquired to increase effectiveness; strives to maintain and improve professional competence
• Participates in school management and shares responsibility for the total school program
• Attends staff meetings and serves on staff committees as required
• Performs related work as required

• An unwavering respect for FLS students and a belief in their capacity to learn, grow, and achieve IEP goals
• Knowledge of legal requirements and processes for students with disabilities, including writing IEPs and managing Written Notices within legal time frames
• Understanding of the teaching/learning process for students with moderate to severe disabilities, including multiple disabilities
• Demonstrated ability to develop working knowledge of PPS curriculum, techniques for integrating curriculum, PPS policies, and effective instructional practices
• Ability to develop and deliver standards-based, specially designed instruction (SDI) across curricular disciplines and grade levels, that meet varied individual needs
• Ability to lead therapeutic and instructional team, balancing being responsive to staff needs while making decisions grounded in best practice, data, IEPs, and legal requirements
• Understanding of the teaching/learning process for students with disabilities, specifically students within the functional life skills classroom
• Ability to provide instruction that reflects multiple perspectives and multicultural education.
• Ability to infuse technology into curricula
• Ability to work effectively with administrators, colleagues, central office and school based staff, students, parents and community
• Excellent oral and written communication and human relations skills
• Willingness to reflect on personal implicit bias and a commitment to challenging personal perspectives and deepening self-awareness
• Knowledge of positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS)

• Bachelor's degree in an applicable field of special education from an accredited college or university
• Experience working with behavioral disabilities, experience with standards-based experiential and/or expeditionary learning preferred
• Certified in CPI and/or Safety Care or able to be certified
• Experience with Acuity, Google suite, preferred
• Combinations of applicable education, training, and experience, which provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform effectively in the position, will determine salary

• Ability to perform physical tasks associated with implementing PSPs and ITPs
• Ability to physically assist students (lift up to 35 pounds) to support students to perform adaptive living and self-care skills, if assigned to work with non-ambulatory students
• Frequent bending, walking, running, and lifting of objects/equipment up to 35 pounds may be required; whenever a staff member is responsible for more than 35 pounds of a student's weight, additional staff will be required to lift the student safely…