Required Certification(s): NJ Certificate of Teacher of Students with Disabilities, Middle School Certificataion grades 6-8
[Additional certifications required, dependent on grade level/subject(s) being taught.]
Reports to: Principal, Executive Director Summary Special education teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. They adapt general education lessons and teach various subjects, such as reading, writing, and math, to students with mild and moderate disabilities. They also teach basic skills, such as literacy and communication techniques, to students with disabilities.
Primary Function: Instruct assigned pupils in accordance with curriculum adopted by The Center School.
Major Duties and Performance Responsibilities (not exhaustive) Content Area - The Middle School Special Education Teacher will serve grades six through eight and be required to teach language arts literacy, mathematics, science, social studies and world languages.
- Assess students’ skills to determine their needs and to develop teaching plans.
- Adapt lessons to meet the needs of students.
- Plan, organize, and assign activities that are specific to each student’s abilities.
- Teach and mentor students as a class, in small groups, and one-on-one.
- Prepare and help students transition from grade to grade
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
- Assign and grade class work and homework.
- Organize and lead activities designed to promote physical, mental and social development.
- Demonstrate competence in subject field(s) assigned.
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment - Implement the school’s goals, objectives, and policies, and the state's goals and requirements.
- Implement personal, building, and department goals.
- Instruct students as outlined in the school approved curriculum.
- Create lessons and instructional opportunities taking into consideration the planning process, classroom environment, and instructional needs of the students.
- Administer standardized ability and achievement tests, collect data, interpret results, and determine students’ strengths and areas of needs.
- Create and administer performance-based assessments in order to evaluate students’ learning progress and use data to drive instruction.
- Create a positive image of the school and promotes the best learning and teaching climate possible.
- Create a classroom environment that is conducive to learning and appropriate to the maturity, interests, and special needs of students.
- Employ instructional methods and materials that are most appropriate for meeting stated objectives.
- Prepare for classes assigned and develops lesson plans related to established curriculum and IEP goals and objectives.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
Professional Development - Utilize the school approved evaluation process for self-reflection and personal growth.
- Attend school-sponsored professional development opportunities.
- Seek professional development opportunities outside of the school district for areas of professional interest or need.
- Attend all mandated school-wide ½ day professional development days.
School-wide/Building Procedures - Follow policy and procedures related to school safety practices.
- Follow policies and procedures as outlined in the Center School staff policy manual.
- Conduct extra help sessions as needed.
- Implement guidelines and procedures as outlined for school trips and other functions off school grounds.
- Attend special events held to recognize student achievement, and school-sponsored activities, functions, and events connected to the position.
- Perform student supervision duties such as, but not limited to, assisting in hall duty, cafeteria monitoring, recess monitoring, bus arrival and dismissal procedures.
- Plan, attend, supervise class projects, field trips, guest speaker visits, and other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from those activities.
- Establish and maintain, with the support of administrators, standards of pupil behavior appropriate to school code of conduct and Center School student policy manual.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by state laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
- Ability to verbally and physically de-escalate acting out students using approved CPI training methods.
- Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials in order to prevent injuries and damage.
Special Education: - Demonstrate competence in special education and the academic subject field(s) assigned.
- Implement IEPs, assess students’ performance and growth, and track progress.
- Provide instruction to classified pupils in accordance with each pupil's individualized education program.
- Assess the academic and behavioral status of students on a regular basis and provides progress reports, PLAAFPs, and report card grades as required per scheduled dates and timetables established by the school and in student individual education plans.
- Attend IEP meetings.
- Assist in developing Individualized Education Program (IEPs) and updating IEPs for students.
- Create and adapts lesson plans to address students’ learning needs and abilities as identified in IEPs and assessment measures of growth and proficiency.
- Collaborate on student’s progress with parents/guardians, teachers, counselors, and administrators.
Communication - Maintain parent/guardian communication in accordance with school policy and building protocol.
- Attend staff meetings at the department, school, and administrative levels.
- Work closely with administrators and counseling department staff regarding student scheduling problems, changes, and student progress.
- Meet and collaborate with curriculum coordinators.
- Meet with other staff to discuss students’ needs and progress.
- Confer with parents/guardians, teachers, counselors, support staff, and administrators to resolve students’ behavioral and academic problems or challenges.
- Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings to achieve student IEP goals and objectives.
- Serve on committees as required.
Equal Opportunity Statement The Center School believes that equal opportunity for all employees is important for the continuing success of our organization. Accordingly, this nonprofit will not discriminate against an employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, veteran status or non-job related factors in hiring, promoting, demoting, training, transfers, layoffs, terminations, recommendations, rates of pay or other forms of compensation. Opportunity is provided to all employees based on qualifications and the requirements of the job.
It is the policy of the Center School to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified individuals without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, religion, creed, age, disability that can be reasonably accommodated without undue hardship, military status, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, refusal to submit to a genetic test or make available the results of a genetic test to an employer, or any other legally protected classification under federal, state, or local law. Our equal employment opportunity philosophy applies in all personnel actions including recruiting, hiring, training, transfer, promotion, job benefits, pay, performance evaluation, discipline, and dismissal.