Special Education Teacher

Summary: Provide supervision of classroom instruction to students with disabilities in a safe, structured environment. Develop and review lesson plans that increase the level of student independence and academic achievement. Participate in student conferences with other stakeholders and provide meaningful input on each student’s progress, needs, and goals.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following: Other duties may be assigned

• Develops individualized lesson plans that support the students’ progress toward goals.
• Considers emotional, physical, and educational levels of development.
• Maintains accurate student and classroom records through data collection.
• Supervises paraprofessionals and models effective instructional practices.
• Instructs students, using evidence-based special education strategies and techniques to improve sensory and perceptual-motor development, language, cognition, and social-emotional development  
• Uses lessons that incorporate best practices, accommodations, and equipment that best meet the individual needs of students, including age-appropriate and functional curricula as needed.
• Provides consistent reinforcement to learning and continuous monitoring of progress

• Completes annual training hours required by ESA as well as the training needed to maintain license
• Attends scheduled staff meeting

• Implements classroom-wide behavior supports and as needed, individual behavior management plans based on effective data collection methods
• Directs and maintains well-organized routines and schedules

• Communicates professionally and effectively with students, parents, and other staff members.

• Works with the Director to develop and implement a personal, professional growth plan annually.
• Develops appropriate educational objectives and goals for each student
• Participates in Summer EIDT programming and develops appropriate goals/objectives for each student
• Plans and directs classroom duties of paraprofessionals ensures accountability, skills and provides the director with feedback for annual performance evaluations
• Serves on individual student planning committee meetings.
• Assists with planning and organizing special events
• Maintains a safe, organized, and efficient building, while ensuring classrooms have the materials that are needed to provide instruction for all students.

• Evaluates students with appropriate measures to determine their present levels, progress, and areas of weakness.

• Conduct parent-teacher conferences
• Keep the Director informed of any issues related to the students’ academic, social and behavioral progress and report concerns immediately to the Director.

• Arrive before students and be prepared for the instructional day.

• Maintain good attendance. If you are unable to come to school due to illness or emergency, call the Director as soon as possible.

• Dress appropriately and professionally for the responsibilities of a teacher/leader.
• Provides mentoring to teachers as requested by Director.

Compliance/HIPAA:

While performing the duties of this position the teacher will comply with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations pertaining to Easterseals Arkansas.

The employee has access to all client-protected health information of the individuals directly served by this person, except psychotherapy notes.  Employees will not attempt to access any other protected health information unless otherwise approved by Supervisor or Privacy Officer.

Supervisory Responsibilities:                                                 

Supervises teaching assistants in the classroom regarding the educational needs of clients. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.

Qualifications:

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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:                                               

 Master’s in Education or Education related field. Teaching License required.  Certification in Special Education preferred.  Individuals completing an Alternate Licensing Plan will be considered.   Three or more years of experience as a classroom teacher preferred.

      Competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, management, and supervisory skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Knowledge of best practices and curriculum for early childhood education and development and the inclusion and role of therapy and other related fields in the programming and service delivery for each child.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, technical procedures, statutes, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to present to groups and answer questions – both in person and via video conference.
• Strong computer skills to use electronic health management platform, email, calendar, word, excel, video conferencing, and presentation software.
• Strong orientation to deadlines and detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work with and support children with a diverse range of abilities
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively with employees and families at diverse levels.
• Ability to develop both the members of a team as well as the team itself.
• Demonstrated commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusiveness.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

Valid Arkansas Driver's License

Arkansas Teaching License/Certification

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands, and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to sit and climb or balance. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds with assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Easterseals Arkansas has designated this position as a “non-safety sensitive” position under the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment.