Special Education Teacher; General Curriculum

Job Summary

To provide direct and consultative instructional and behavioral support to students in accordance with their Individualized Education Program.

• Complies with all School Board Policies and State Laws relative to special education or general education classroom operations.
• Maintains confidentiality of the students in their care, including student records, as well as student actions and behaviors in the school environment.
• Employs special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.
• Instructs students in academic subjects using a variety of techniques such as phonetics, multisensory learning, and repetition to reinforce learning and to meet students' varying needs and interests.
• Taught socially acceptable behavior, as determined by the students' individualized education programs (IEPs) by employing techniques in an overall positive behavioral support system.
• Modifies the general education curriculum for students with disabilities based upon a variety of instructional techniques and technologies.
• Plans and conducts activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
• Selects appropriate diagnostic tools, is familiar with administrative procedures, and can interpret results for parents and professionals.
• Establishes and enforces rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining an environment conducive to learning for all students.
• Meets with parents to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their individualized educational needs.
• Confers with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, and other professionals to develop individualized education programs (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, and social/emotional development.
• Maintains accurate and complete student records and prepares reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
• Establishes clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicates those objectives to students.
• Develops plans for effective communication, monitoring, and follow‑up of students in inclusive classroom settings.
• Provides crisis intervention, as needed, for students and those in inclusive classrooms.
• Assists in collection of data for providing appropriate classroom interventions.
• Serves as a member of a multidisciplinary team as appropriate.
• Engages in continued professional development to stay up to date in the development of education for students with disabilities and to continue professional growth in their field of education.
• Maintains professional competence by participating in staff development activities, curriculum development meetings, and other professional opportunities.
• Performs other duties as the supervising administrator may assign.

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, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified, to perform the essential functions.

• A valid Virginia teaching license in the area of teaching responsibility and successful student teaching or teaching experience required.
• Knowledge of medical aspects of children with disabilities and the implication for instruction is required.
• Knowledge of resources and techniques needed to integrate children with disabilities into the least restrictive environment.
• Alternatives to the above qualifications may be found acceptable and appropriate by the School Board or Superintendent.

Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time; exhibit manual dexterity, hear and understand speech at normal levels; speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly; physical agility to lift up to 25 pounds; to bend, stoop, climb stairs, walk and reach overhead.

The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.