Job Title: Teacher Special Education
Department/Group: Teacher - Kindergarten
Position Summary/Purpose: Provide for a safe, effective learning environment which promotes the educational and social growth of all students within the classroom. Teach elementary school subjects to educationally and physically handicapped students. This may include teachers who specialize and work with audibly and visually handicapped students and those who teach basic academic and life processes skills to the mentally impaired.
Starting Salary: Based on Education and Years of Teaching - based on increased negotiated rate higher than last year’s Salary Schedule
Benefits:
- 90% Board Paid Medical Insurance of ANY Available Plan
- 100% Board Paid Single Dental Insurance
- 100% Board Paid Life Insurance (annual salary)
- Flex Savings Accounts
- Sick and personal days
Role and Responsibilities / Essential Job Functions:
Develop and Implement Individualized Education Programs (IEPs):
- Create, monitor, and revise IEPs based on student needs and legal requirements
- Collaborate with parents, administrators, and other specialists to set goals and objectives for each student
Provide Specialized Instruction:
- Tailor lessons and teaching strategies to accommodate students’ unique learning styles and abilities
- Adapt instructional materials and delivery methods, ensuring access to the general education curriculum
Assess Student Progress:
- Evaluate and document student progress through formal and informal assessments
- Use assessment data to adjust teaching strategies and interventions
Classroom Management:
- Create a positive, structured learning environment that supports students' emotional and behavioral needs
- Implement behavior intervention plans (BIPs) and apply classroom management techniques as needed
Collaboration with General Education Teachers:
- Teach and/or Co-teach and provide support in inclusive classrooms
- Advise and assist general education teachers in accommodating and modifying lessons to fit students’ needs
Support Social and Emotional Development:
- Foster students’ social and emotional growth through individual or group activities
- Address issues like social skills, self-regulation, and peer relationships
Family and Community Engagement:
- Maintain open communication with parents/guardians about student progress and challenges
- Participate in meetings with families and stakeholders to discuss students' educational needs and progress
Compliance with Legal and Ethical Standards:
- Ensure that all instructional practices comply with federal, state, and local laws related to special education
- Maintain confidentiality and uphold professional standards in all dealings with students, families, and staff
Professional Development:
- Participate in ongoing training and professional development to stay current on best practices
- Collaborate with colleagues to improve teaching strategies and share insights of progress and challenges
Assistive Technology and Resources:
- When needed, incorporate and manage assistive technology in the classroom to help students access learning
- Identify and utilize additional resources to support students with disabilities
Qualifications and Education Requirements: Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (LBS1) endorsement and/or other required endorsements for the specific teaching assignment
Preferred Skills:
- Staff Portrait Attributes: Empathy, Perseverance, Critical Thinking, Reliability, Collaboration, Cultural Mindfulness, & Accountability
- As a multi-language district, we always prefer staff who are bilingual but it is not required for this position
Working conditions / Environment:
Physical Demands: mobility within the instructional area and throughout the school facility, visual acuity close/distance/depth perception, hearing to receive information, verbal to exchange information. Physical demands often include walking, sitting, bending, twisting, stooping, reaching forward, lifting up to 25 pounds, pushing and pulling. May include attending to the physical needs of students relative to personal hygiene, eating, medical, and therapeutic as identified through the IEP process
Environmental Conditions: indoor climate-controlled school environment and may include being outdoors for extended periods of time throughout the year
Examples of Equipment/Supplies Used to Perform Tasks: technology such as computer and SmartBoard, office supplies, student physical and therapeutic equipment, student communication devices
FLSA Status: Exempt
As an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer, Mannheim School District 83 does not knowingly discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.