Middle School Special Education Teacher - Kindezi West

The Special Education Teacher provides instruction for students with disabilities to support learning, decreased behavioral challenges and increased student achievement.

Reports to: Principal

School support: Special Education Lead Teacher (SELT)

Network support: Director of Exceptional Education Services

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Instruction

• Instruct students with disabilities through lectures, discussions, visual aids, instructional strategies and other effective teaching methods for student comprehension. ? Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, and professionals to develop individual educational plans (IEP) designed to promote students' educational, physical, and social development.

• Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.

• Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.

• Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.

• Administers various types of assessments to monitor student’s comprehension of the material.

• Administer and/or supports state and local testing processes and policies.

• Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement instruction.

• Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.

• Assists students with assistive technology devices, including communication devices, switches and orthopedic devices needed for sitting, walking, or standing.

• Performs various administrative duties such as taking attendance, organizing the classroom, and responding to emails and phone calls from parents, school administrators, and staff in a timely manner.

• Modify the general education curriculum for special-needs students, based upon a variety of instructional techniques and technologies.

• Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their resource needs.

• Attends in-person faculty meetings, teacher training workshops and educational conferences to maintain and improve professional competence.

• Maintain accurate, complete, and correct student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.

• Assists administrators and other staff members in the orderly, expedient and safe transition of students from one location to another.

• Complies with all requirements for mandatory reporting of child abuse, illegal harassment, breaches of ethics, or any criminal activity of which the employee becomes aware.

• Performs other duties as assigned by an appropriate administrator or their representative.

Professionalism

• Actively participate in instructional coaching sessions, professional development, and lesson planning clinics

• Be prompt and present daily; eager to participate in parent meetings, and other school functions that require student supervision after hours.

• Develop meaningful relationships with students and their families by keeping them informed on education-related issues and school events

• Openly collaborate with ALL staff members: partner teacher, network content teams, grade level team, special area teachers, school assistants, operational staff, etc.

• Performs other duties as assigned by the appropriate administrator

KEY ATTRIBUTES:

• Values that align with the Kindezi model and goals

• Demonstrated commitment to increasing student achievement and supporting the social-emotional needs of students

• Dedicated, reflective thinker with a growth mindset

• High academic expectations; Believes that all students deserve an equitable education experience no matter their circumstances.

• Exemplar instructional best practices,

• Mentoring support

• Strong relationship building skills

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Be a United States citizen or otherwise have authorization to work in the United States

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education (2.5+ GPA) (in special education is preferred)

• Have the ability to pass an Atlanta Public Schools background check and obtain a GaPSC-issued clearance certificate

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS:

• Active Level 4 teacher certification issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission highly preferred, or have reciprocity eligibility in Special Education

WORK EXPERIENCE:

• 2+ years of teaching experience or related educational experience providing services to students with disabilities preferred

COMPENSATION/BENEFITS:

• Compensation aligned with The Kindezi Schools’ salary schedule for teachers (years of experience and certification level calculated)

• Teacher Retirement System (TRS) pension, 403b plan, paid time off, health, vision, and dental insurance, employer-paid life insurance, and short and long-term disability benefits

JOB CLASSIFICATION:

• Work Days: 202 (191 work days and 11 paid holidays)

• Salaried, Full-Time, Exempt