Special Education - LD Teacher - SY

DEFINITION

The job of Special Education Teacher is done for the purpose/s of developing special education students' success in academics, interpersonal skills and activities of daily living by implementing district approved curriculum; documenting teaching and student progress/activities, outcomes; addressing students' specific needs; providing a safe and optimal learning environment; and providing feedback to students, parents and administration regarding student progress, expectations, goals, etc.

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following tasks, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. This list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by positions in this class.

• Adapts classroom work for the purpose of providing a method to support and/or reinforce classroom objectives.
• Administers first aid and assistance to medically fragile children (e.g. tube feeding, toileting, diapering, etc.) for the purpose of providing appropriate care for children as assigned.
• Advises parents and/or legal guardians of student progress for the purpose of supporting teacher's expectations, developing methods for improvement and/or reinforcing classroom goals in the home environment.
• Assesses students' social needs (e.g. behavioral, motor development, communication, etc.), academic needs, progress, expectations, goals, etc. for the purpose of evaluating students and family requirements, placement and success of the program.
• Collaborates with school personnel, parents and various community agencies for the purpose of improving the quality of student outcomes, developing solutions and planning curriculum.
• Directs instructional assistants, volunteers and/or student aides for the purpose of providing an effective school program and addressing the needs of individual students.
• Instructs students for the purpose of improving their success in academic, interpersonal and daily living skills through a defined course of study.
• Manages student behavior for the purpose of providing a safe and optimal learning environment.
• Prepares teaching materials and related reports (e.g. grades, attendance, anecdotal records, etc.) for the purpose of implementing lesson plans and documenting student progress.
• Reports incidents (e.g. fights, suspected child abuse, suspected substance abuse, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining personal safety of students, providing a positive learning environment and adhering to Education Code, administrative and/or school policies.
• Participates in a variety of meetings for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned, for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.

KNOWLEDGE: Requires knowledge to perform algebra and/or geometry; read a variety of manuals, write documents following prescribed formats, and/or present information to others; analyze situations to define issues and draw conclusions. Specific knowledge required includes age appropriate activities, bilingual (English/Spanish) helpful, pertinent codes, policies, regulations, and/or laws, stages of child development, and a working knowledge of the school system.

SKILLS: Required skills include analytical skills, applying assessment instruments, preparing and maintaining accurate records, promoting a child-centered environment, record keeping, verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to perform multiple technical tasks with occasional skill upgrades.

ABILITY: Ability to schedule a number of activities, meetings, and/or events; gather, collate, classify data; consider numerous factors when using equipment; work with a diversity of individuals or groups; handle varied data; and operate a variety of job-related equipment. Problem solving to analyze issues and create action plans is also required.

SPECIFIC ABILITIES: Include adapting curriculum to meet student needs, changing priorities, addressing learning styles, assessing learning outcomes, communication with students, creating respect, implementing activities that promote learning, classroom management techniques, maintaining confidentiality, meeting deadlines, planning instructional goals/outcomes, setting priorities, utilizing current technology, teamwork, handling detailed information, and coping with frequent interruptions.

Includes working under limited supervision using standardized practices and/or methods; leading, guiding, and/or coordinating others; operating within a defined budget; and utilizing resources from other work units as necessary.

Work is performed in an indoor environment and requires frequent sitting, standing, bending, repetitive motion, vision to monitor, and lifting up to 15 pounds. The role often includes monitoring and physically restraining…