Affective Needs Teacher

Laradon•Denver, CO

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Laradon is seeking a passionate Special Education Teacher focusing on Affective Needs students. This role is crucial in supporting, developing, and empowering individuals, particularly within the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) population. The ideal candidate will make a difference in an individual's everyday life and thrive in a supportive, collaborative work environment with ample developmental opportunities. The focus of this position is on social, emotional, and behavioral regulation for students with Serious Emotional Disabilities (SED), autism, or trauma, who may exhibit aggression or high anxiety. The goal is to help students develop coping skills, emotional regulation, and behaviors necessary to succeed in a less restrictive environment. The role often involves working in a self-contained, structured, or "safe" classroom, sometimes requiring crisis management, with key focus areas including de-escalation, behavioral interventions, social skills training, and therapeutic support. As Laradon is a small employer with a collaborative team environment, employees must be physically present in school to perform job functions.

Requirements

Current Colorado Department of Education License in Special Education or BA and willingness to attend an Alternative Licensure Program.
One year experience working with children with developmental disabilities and/or emotional/behavioral disorders preferred.
Two years’ teacher experience preferred.
Knowledge of Applied Behavioral Analysis.
Excellent communication skills and flexibility.
Must possess desire to mentor and teach Laradon team members, subordinates and peers.
Valid driving license, good driving record, and reliable personal transportation.
Physical requirements include the ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force; physical condition to enable walking, standing, sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling; stamina to be on feet and active for full workdays.
All school employees are required to provide physical behavior support which includes physical management (training provided upon hire); may be subject to extensive aggressive and non-compliant behavior from special needs students.
Must be able to pass a pre-employment physical and CBI/FBI Federal background check.

Nice To Haves

Current Colorado Department of Education License in Special Education or BA and willingness to attend an Alternative Licensure Program (ask about Tuition Reimbursement options).

Responsibilities

Promote a learning environment in which all students thrive; classroom instruction that is tailored to students’ strengths and needs and prepares students for their next transition.
Other duties as assigned.
Maintain regular and punctual attendance.
Drive students as necessary for program needs.
Provide direct supervision and leadership for classroom paraprofessionals.
Work collaboratively with other professionals to meet the needs of individual students across learning environments.
Complete required documentation and maintain records.
Actively engage parents, guardians, and community agencies in the IEP process.
Develop and maintain data collection systems for IEP goals. Delegate data collection to paraprofessionals and service providers as needed.
Serve as special education case manager, leading the multidisciplinary IEP process, facilitating IEP meetings, and meeting required timelines.
Provide specialized instruction services based on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in both group and individual settings that include skill acquisition plans to teach functional skills.