Special Education Teacher

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER
Noble Academy, District #4171
 
 
GENERAL PURPOSE:
To create an educational program, classroom and building environment that is Multicultural/Gender/Ability Fair, is favorable to learning and growth, and is based on a commitment that all children can learn.
 
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:  a valid Minnesota SLD or EBD license, certificate, or other legal credentials required for level of assignment.

• Prior successful experience in a K-8 urban, multicultural education is desirable
• Demonstrates continued professional development through course work, research, peer collaboration, and/or job-embedded staff development.
• Working knowledge of the subject matter, classroom management techniques, current researched best practices and strategies, and as well as students’ learning styles and needs, both academic and affective

 
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
 
        General:

• Acquires knowledge of academic programs and expectations/goals.  Works to support and achieve those goals.

• Establishes developmentally appropriate instructional and behavioral expectations for students and for him/herself and communicates those to students and their families.
• Creates lessons and learning environments that are safe, respectful and interesting as well as Multicultural/Gender/Ability Fair.   Selects, adapts and individualizes materials appropriate for diverse student populations and skills.
• Teaches students the required curricula using strategies that foster thinking, reasoning and problem solving.
• Collaborates and communicates regularly with families in making educational decisions and uses family and community resources to support learning.
• Assesses students’ developmental, cognitive, and social needs, and provides developmentally appropriate instruction to meet those needs.
• Regularly assesses student learning by using multiple forms of assessment.
• Facilitates positive interactions between students and teacher, student and peers, and student and other adults.
• Models learning and behaviors consistent with the expectations for students.
• Assesses own instructional effectiveness through the Professional Development Process (PDP).
• Participates in ongoing and regular staff, team and individual professional development.
• Collaborates with peers to develop, plan and implement best practices based on the needs/abilities of the students.
• Participates in site-based management and shared decision-making.
• Always keeps the students’ needs and rights first and foremost in any educational decision-making.
• Has a working knowledge of and implements the Minnesota State Standards.
• Participates in all school/family events beyond the school day.
• Develops guidelines for safety, the school day classroom behavior and make sure children follow them.
• Organizes desks, bulletin boards, classroom materials, computer stations and other classroom displays as directed by the senior administration.
• Maintain a classroom atmosphere conducive to learning.
• Collaborates with teachers to align them and/or team teaching.
• Follows other duties as assigned by the senior administration.

 
Specifics:

• Works closely with Special Projects and seeks for process to stay in compliance to the State’s requirements
• Develops, maintains, and organizes students’ IEPs and files
• Keeps communication lines open and regular with the senior administration
• Works closely with school psychologist, speech clinician, and occupational therapist in assessing, interventions, collaboration, strategizing, and developing behavior plans for students as needed
• Leads SST Team:  SST meeting, sets agendas, facilitates meetings, provides the student find process and forms, intervention ideas, etc.

 
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Assists the senior administration with marketing the school through the use of banners, flyers, brochures, signs, fundraising events, etc. as needed.
• Ability and willingness to keep records and classroom space organized and easy accessibility.
• Considerable ability to follow through in a timely manner.
• Considerable knowledge of and ability to perform classroom management skills, practices and relationship building
• Considerable skills in teaching others to safely operate office machines and equipment.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing to members of the public, the community, the staff, the students, and the administration.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to deal with a variety of personality types and dispositions in numerous circumstances while maintaining a controlled, tactful, respectful, professional manner.
• Excellent team player skills with a positive attitude.
• Ability to maintain a calm presence in an emergency.
• Ability to think clearly in any situation, determine priorities, and handle multiple tasks.
• Ability to make appropriate decisions quickly.
• Willingness to show initiative in problem solving and team goal achievements.

 
 
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, operate a computer and other office equipment, reach with hands and arms, and must occasionally lift, move and/or support up to 50 pounds (and/or up to adult size body weight with two-to-three person lift). Position can require some degree of physical interaction with students who have difficulty controlling physical behavior.
 
 
Please note that all employees are expected to understand their role as stated herein and understand that this list is not inclusive. All staff must follow through with responsibilities knowing that sometimes they will have to perform tasks assigned by the Superintendent and/or Deputy Superintendent that are not part of their job descriptions. Responsibilities are subject to change with or without notice.
 
Noble Academy is an equal opportunity employer.  Employment consideration is made without regard to race, color, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability marital or veteran status, sexual orientation or any other legally protected statuses.