Special education teacher for grades job description

About Mastery:

We believe educational inequity is the most pressing social problem facing our country and the civil rights issue of our day. Mastery exists to help solve this problem. Our ultimate goal is to create a model urban school district that serves all students with excellence. We are organized around one driving mission: All students learn the academic and personal skills they need to be truly prepared for postsecondary success and able to pursue their dreams. To fulfill this mission, we attend to the whole child - academically and emotionally - matching high expectations for students with high levels of support.

Mastery Charter Schools is a nonprofit network of more than 24 schools serving over 14,000 students in Philadelphia and Camden. We are the largest turnaround school operator in the nation and have been lauded by President Obama and the US Department of Education for our ability to dramatically boost academic achievement in historically low-performing schools.

We know neighborhood schools matter, all students deserve access to a great education, and the people in our buildings can grow and develop sustainably to make the biggest impact possible in this work.

Mastery's Equity Vision:

We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to achieving our mission.

We strive to be an anti-racist school district that eliminates the inequities in academic achievement that limit our students' choices; that cultivates classrooms where every student is affirmed, supported, and held to high expectations; and that nurtures a diverse organization where students, staff, and families are valued, respected, and included.

This role is eligible for up to $5,000 in bonuses as well as up to $5,000 for relocation expenses!

The Opportunity:

At Mastery, all means all. Nearly one quarter of our students have individualized education plans (IEPs) to help ensure they get the educational opportunities they need. As a Secondary Special Education Teacher you will work with a team of teachers, case managers, school leaders, and central office support staff to help push the boundaries of what's possible for your students academically, emotionally, and physically while also developing your craft. Along with managing student IEPs you will deliver research-based interventions and monitor progress across a series of systems we've designed and tailored to deliver the best outcomes for students and accelerate your own professional growth. At Mastery, we have a robust response to intervention program and we are excited for you to bring your enthusiasm, skills, and experiences to the team.

In our 7th-12th Grade interventions, we use Read to Achieve, Reading Plus, Read 180, Fundations, Guided Reading, Wilson Reading System, Just Words, and Sonday System to support our readers who are struggling and both Transmath and Do the Math to support our mathematicians.

Across the Mastery network our Specialized Services Programming spans from an itinerant to supplemental level of support. Our preference is for our students with IEPs to spend the minimum amount of time in self-contained classrooms and our school-based and central office-based Specialized Services Team members help our Special Education Teachers and Classroom Assistants build a comprehensive level of support. We strive to maximize our teacher-to-student ratio in our Special Education programs and have multiple classrooms across our network specifically tailored for students who are English Language Learners, students with Autism Support needs, students with Emotional Support needs, students with Multiple Disability needs, and students with Life Skills needs. At Mastery we value Continuous Improvement and want to ensure you learn and grow in your craft so we have professional development or peer collaboration time built into our calendar every Wednesday.

Duties and Responsibilities:Drive student achievement and set high expectations for all students Commit to professional growth, self-reflection, a receptiveness to feedback, and a desire to continuously improve Implement rigorous and appropriate lesson plans, assignments, and assessments in cooperation with Mastery school-based leadership and curricular resources developed by Mastery's central office Academic TeamWork closely with school leaders to analyze student assessment data to measure progress and use data to inform instruction Collaborate in grade level teams to discuss student work, share best practices, plan events for joy and humor, and ensure student mastery of standards Engage families in their children's education by building relationships and maintaining regular communication Demonstrate genuine interest, belief, and care for students' personal and academic success Respond positively and effectively to challenges with a solutions-oriented resiliency
Education, Experience, and Skills:Bachelor's degree required with a record of personal, professional, and/or academic achievement Teacher certification - completed or in process Demonstrated expertise in subject area Outstanding instructional skills driven by data and delivered through rigorous and engaging strategies
Mastery Charter Schools is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. We offer a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth.

UPDATE AS OF MAY 2022 - Please review Mastery's Health and Safety Plans here to learn about our approach to vaccination and testing as well as our response to COVID-19 for the 2021-22 school year. For ongoing positions, Mastery roles are designated as in-person, with regular on-site responsibilities, unless otherwise noted. As such, Employees must be able to support Mastery Schools' academic plan and business strategies on-site - at a Mastery campus - as required.

Exceptions to this requirement will be considered on an individualized basis.

Position: 4th Grade Special Education Teacher

Reports to: Director of Special Education

Compensation: Competitive Salary and Robust Benefits

Location: Chicago, IL

Northwestern Settlement is a dynamic and innovative leader in creating transformation opportunities for children and families to disrupt generational poverty. All programs nurture, educate and inspire so that families can take personal responsibility for their futures and attain self-sufficiency and reach aspirations. The Special Education Teacher will prepare scholars to succeed by delivering rigorous academic instruction, providing opportunities to exceptional experiences, partnerships with parents, and providing social and emotional supports to scholars and families.

Key Duties/Responsibilities

• Teach scholars in a pull-out and/or push-in setting using a modified curriculum to best meet the needs of the scholars according to their IEPs
• Design and implement instructional lessons that are targeted to meet the academic needs of students with exceptional needs and to meet their annual IEP goals and quarterly benchmarks
• Utilize a variety of learning styles in instructional activities to ensure all students are actively engaged in meaningful learning experiences
• Consult with classroom teams, Case Manager, and Dean of Special Education to ensure Special Education compliance is always up-to-date and instructional expectations are being met
• Use a data-driven approach to modify/adapt instructional plans in order to maximize student learning.
• Monitor/track individualized student goals and assumes responsibility for meeting individualized student goals
• Provide testing accommodations to scholars on caseloads for classroom and state-wide assessments
• Work with classroom teaching teams to write quality IEPs that include current instructional data as well as meaningful goals that will help scholars achieve in and outside of the classroom
• Participate in weekly professional development, Sped department meetings, meetings with Deans, and additional professional development and collaboration to improve outcomes for all our scholars
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned

Ideal Skills/Traits

• A strong desire to become a better teacher by joining our Rowe Elementary School team
• Able to work collaboratively with colleagues including general education teachers, related service providers, the IEP team, the Leadership Team, and other Special Education teachers
• Committed to building relationships with families in pursuit of providing the best education for Diverse Learners
• Experience with teaching and differentiating ELA and math curriculum aligned to the Common Core Standards
• Experience with writing IEPs and participating in IEP meetings
• Experience developing and modifying long-term plans, units and assessments using cross-curricular data
• Demonstrates success in raising the achievement levels of traditionally under-served scholars

Education/Experience

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in education, Master’s degree preferred
• Hold a current Illinois Professional Educator License; LBS1 endorsement required
• Minimum of 2-3 years teaching experience required, Special Education experience preferred

Position Type

Full-time

Compensation

Compensation will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. We offer a robust health benefits package. In addition, all staff members are equipped with the tools needed to succeed, including a dedicated workspace, laptop, email, high-speed internet access, and all necessary supplies.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

Northwestern Settlement is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status or any other characteristic or classification protected by law.

Reports to: Principal / Director of Special Education

OVERVIEW

Prodeo Academy, a network of public charter schools serving the Twin Cities, is a meaningful education solution that is closing the opportunity gap through data-driven instruction in a culture based on a foundation of five core values: Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Development, and Enthusiasm. Shared expectations around these values enhance the opportunity for our scholars to reach their full potential. We are looking for team members committed to helping our students access greater opportunities, achieve future success, and contribute to the vitality of our community.

VISION FOR POSITION

Educate, plan, teach, facilitate and evaluate students with special education needs according to local, state, and federal regulations and guidelines.

POSITION FUNCTIONS

% of time

30%-65%

Select, plan, and deliver appropriate instructional activities for special education students that meet IEP goals and objectives and align with state standards.

+ Monitor student progress according to IEP goals and make instruction changes when appropriate; report student progress to parents regularly.

+ Coordinate curriculum and teaching procedures with other general and special education staff members.

+ Attend and participate in scheduled activities such as open houses and parent conferences.

+ Supervise students according to an established schedule.

+ Work with support staff, classroom teachers, and administration in dealing with student concerns in and outside of the teacher classroom.

20%-50%

Ensure Due Process requirements are met.

+ Participate in interdisciplinary child study team and make appropriate referrals, assessments, eligibility, and diagnosis recommendations.

+ Accurately administer and interpret diagnostic assessment instruments, behavioral observations, and/or reports appropriate for the area of training.

+ Case manages students with disabilities and coordinates the development of Individual Education Program (IEP) evaluation plans, positive behavior support plans, and assessments for special education eligibility.

+ Complete and distribute due process paperwork in a timely and accurate manner.

5%-15%

Communicate and collaborate with parents, teachers, support staff, administrators, and outside professional agencies professionally.

+ Communication occurs regarding the needs of students with disabilities, including but not limited to student progress, curriculum and instructional needs, and concerns.

+ Engage in department, site, and district initiatives through building staff meetings, department meetings, and grade-level meetings.

5%

Professional Development. Attend and participate in staff meetings for staff development, administrative details, and curriculum projects.

JOB OUTCOMES

+ Project a positive, cooperative, and respectful attitude with community members, parents, students, and other employees.

+ Maintain a positive and professional education environment at all times

+ Educate students to reach their full potential academically, emotionally, physically, and socially.

+ Case manage special education students according to their IEPs and state and federal regulations, rules, and laws.

SKILLS

+ Demonstrated flexibility and experience in effectively solving challenging problems through a positive, collaborative approach

+ Expert-level written and oral communication skills

+ Strong interpersonal and team-building skills

+ Excellent organization skills and consistency in meeting deadlines

+ Demonstrated initiative and skills in the following areas: relationship and community building, educational leadership, communication, conflict resolution, creativity, problem-solving, decision-making, and time management

+ Entrepreneurial outlook and commitment to Prodeo Academy's mission

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

+ Education required: BA/BS degree

+ Certification/Licensure Required: Licensure in the area of teaching assignment

+ Record of exemplary results with students with disabilities

+ Experience in behavior management techniques

+ Knowledge and application of assessment tools and due process procedures

COMPENSATION

Salary for this position is competitive and commensurate with experience.

Prodeo Academy is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin. We are committed to hiring a diverse and multicultural staff and encourage applications from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.