Job Description Overview: Under the direction of the school principal and Director of Special Education, the special education teacher plans and provides for appropriate learning experiences for students with disabilities in a variety of educational settings. The person in this position is responsible for creating a flexible program and learning environment that provides specialized instructions for students with disabilities, such that the students benefit from the general education curriculum to the greatest extent possible when supported with supplemental aides, accommodations, and other needed supports.
Provide direct and indirect instructional support to students in a positive environment
Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory
Instruct students in academic subjects using a variety of techniques to meet students' varying needs and interests
Administers state, local and individualized assessments as required and use the results of those assessments to guide instruction
Teach socially acceptable behavior, as determined by the students’ individualized education programs (IEPs) by employing techniques in an overall positive behavioral support system
Modify the general education curriculum for students with disabilities based upon a variety of instructional techniques and technologies
Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining an environment conducive to learning for all students
Meet with parents to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their individualized educational needs
Confer 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
Maintain accurate and complete student records and prepare reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations
Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students
Develop plans for effective communication, monitoring, and follow-up of students in inclusive classroom settings
Provide crisis intervention, as needed, for students and those in inclusive classrooms
Assist in collection of progress monitoring data for providing appropriate classroom interventions
Implement interventions consistent with the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)
Serve as the case manager and/or member of a multidisciplinary team as appropriate
Assist in preparation of data for local, state, and federal reports
Maintain professional competence by participating in staff development activities, curriculum development meetings, and other professional opportunities
Participates cooperatively with the appropriate administrator to develop the method by which he/she will be evaluated in conformance with district guidelines
Performs other duties as may, from time to time be assigned by the supervisor
Must have the use of sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with students, other faculty, staff, and parents as normally defined by the ability to see, read, talk, hear, handle, or feel objects and controls
The position also entails significant walking, bending, standing, stooping, and possible physical interventions in order to maintain a safe learning environment
Assignment may require the ability to physically move students or equipment weighing up to 50 lbs. and position students in specialized equipment, and/or change diapers as needed
The employee should have the physical capabilities to perform all job functions