Special Education Teacher

Job Summary
The Special Education Teacher plans, leads, facilitates, and provides instruction to maximize student learning in the least restrictive learning environment. This position follows each student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) to ensure appropriate curriculum-based instruction. Conducts student assessments and develops and implements research and evidence-based teaching strategies. This position is also responsible for supervising the classroom Direct Care Providers (DCPs) and will help lead the DCPs in efforts to ensure the students are safe and receive quality care, that instructional programs are implemented effectively, and that the classroom is maintained to meet or exceed licensing regulations and Heartspring standards. Will actively participate in team meetings and for providing quality educational or growth for students and professional development opportunities for staff. Train, manage, supervise and evaluate DCP’s.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Participates on pre-assessment teams to determine necessity for comprehensive student evaluation; initiates, schedules, and attends IEP meetings; works with multi-disciplinary team to diagnose need; structures/implements IEP for each student as identified.
• Provides research and evidence-based specialized instruction to address the instructional goals and objectives contained within each student’s IEP. Provides differentiated instruction based on the student’s individual level of functioning and preferred/necessary learning modalities.
• Assesses student progress and determines the need for additional reinforcement or adjusts to instructional techniques.
• Employs various teaching techniques, methods and principles of learning to enable students to meet their IEP goals.
• Controls classroom and teaches individual behavior through classroom structure, routine, communication opportunities, and individualized behavior methods.
• Adapts and adjusts course content and reading levels to specify skills to be taught; discerns learning styles and means of building memory and study skills.
• Assists individual students in achieving academic, daily living, and social skills learning objectives by working with them individually and in small groups.
• Communicates with parents, guardians, staff and other appropriate stakeholders on course instructional strategies and objectives, students’ grasp of material, outcomes and perspectives for applications of materials learned.
• Receives and reports student progress and inputs student data via computer; negotiates schedules and communicates with all pertinent participants (administration, parents, guardians, students, etc.)
• Utilize positive reinforcement to instruct students in socially acceptable behavior to reduce incidents and maintain order.
• Maintains and updates records of all special needs students that adhere to local, state and federal guidelines to remain compliant.
• Perform all assigned duties and work all scheduled hours during each designated workday, unless the employee has received approved leave. Any deviation from assigned hours must have prior approval from the employee’s supervisor.
• Designs subject-based reinforcement to follow assessments and student’s learning objectives (computer, lab activities, working independently or on group projects, field/community reinforcement).
• Designs a grading system which encourages motivation and participation; collects and enters student data in computer from charts and observations; reports progress on a regular basis as required.
• Provides a positive role model of appropriate and respectful interactions with students and staff.
• Designs classroom rules for student interactions (courtesy and respect for belongings, space and ideas), self-control, working independently, and appropriately gaining the floor; designs systems for handling all the behavior from simple infractions to severe behavior.
• Prepares physical condition of classroom to reflect subject matter to facilitate student learning and maintains a clean and organized classroom.
• Maintains and updates daily records on, but not limited to, student attendance, learning and social needs, assignments, assessments and discipline; supervises DCP’s.
• Manages all job duties with mobility, agility, dexterity, and focused observation necessary to adequately perform the essential duties as described above.
• Demonstrate a positive classroom communication and attitude.
• Ensure all classroom visitors are greeted and made to feel welcome.
• Completes other duties as assigned.
Required Knowledge and Skills
• Collaboration - maintain good working relationships with other DCP’s.
• Communication - comfortable engaging people.
• Constructive Feedback - ability to communicate and coach employees appropriately when they need to be redirected.
• Self-Control – requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive responses, even in very difficult situations.
• Attention to Detail – job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing assigned tasks.
• Dependability – requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and to fulfill obligations.
• Persistence – requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
• Technology – requires the ability to use/operate a standard computer system and hand-held devices.
• Knowledge of Heartspring’s mission, purpose, goals and the role of every employee in achieving each of them.
Educational, Experience, and Licensure Requirements
• Masters in special education or enrolled in a Special Education Degree program with plan of study on file with Heartspring and Special Education Waiver obtained, required.
• Licensed in the State of Kansas to teach level K- 12, required.
• Licensed at the Adaptive Level (Low and High Incident), preferred.
• Prior teaching experience preferred.
• Must successfully complete all required orientation and training conducted by Heartspring staff.
• Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) certification.
• First Aid & CPR certification.
Required Organizational Competencies
• Advocacy: Uses expertise to influence and advocate for improved practice and to advance organizational outcomes.
• Analytical Thinking: Demonstrates the ability to analyze information and use logic to address work-related issues and problems.
• Collaboration: Demonstrates the ability to work productively within and across teams to achieve goals that are customer centered.
• Communication: Applies a customer centered approach to deliver and exchange information that leads to mutual understanding.
• Critical Thinking: Demonstrates ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Expertise: Demonstrates advancing knowledge, skills and abilities in role and in field of practice.
• Integrity: Demonstrates quality of honest, ethical, and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Organizational Advancement: Demonstrates actions that support organizational growth based on a shared understanding of the current and future Heartspring operating environment.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates attitudes, behaviors and orientations that are consistent with the conduct, aims and qualities that characterize Heartspring.
Physical Requirements
• Good physical health and ability to implement behavioral strategies as well as to lift, dress, and position students as needed for self-care and safety.
• Able to perform significant, prolonged, and frequent amounts of walking, standing, sitting, stooping, squatting, bending, twisting, reaching, and kneeling.
• Ability to work outdoors during outdoor student activities.
• Must be able to respond rapidly in emergency situations.
• Able to perform significant, prolonged, and frequent amounts of walking, standing, sitting, stooping, squatting, bending, twisting, reaching, and kneeling.
• Regular lifting of up to 30 pounds.
• Occasional lifting of up to 100 pounds with/without assistance.
Work Environment
• May require use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including masks, gloves, helmets, arm guards and leg guards.
• Occasional exposure to all weather conditions, including heat, cold, wind, rain, and snow/ice.
• Occasional exposure to infectious diseases, parasites, bodily fluid, and blood-borne pathogens.
• Potential exposure to physical contact from clients, including slapping, hitting, punching, kicking, head-butting, and biting.

Heartspring

Benefits Information

Salary Information

Employer Information