Day to Day Substitute Special Education Teacher

South Fayette Township School District•McDonald, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Day to Day Substitute Intermediate School Special Education Teacher creates a differentiated, structured, and organized special education program that supports students’ learning and personal growth. The teacher builds rapport with students, motivates them to develop academic skills in accordance with their abilities, communicates with families and service providers, collaborates with colleagues, and uses student data to guide instruction. The role teaches academic subjects according to each student’s IEP and the district’s approved curriculum or special education alternative curriculum. It includes individualized and small-group instruction, one-to-one programming, planning and adapting lessons, supporting functional independent living skills, and coordinating classroom schedules and community-based work activities. The teacher also manages special education documentation and meetings, progress monitoring, assessments, behavior supports, paraeducators, and communication with families and school staff. This day-to-day substitute assignment is needed every day for approximately 16 to 20 days. Compensation is $125 per day. Performance is evaluated by, among others, the Director of Student Support Services and communicated to the Superintendent for review.

Requirements

Valid Pennsylvania Elementary teaching certificate, K–6 or PK–4.
A 3.0 or higher QPA.
Proof of ongoing professional or educational experience.
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
Experience with computer and technology literacy, including interactive whiteboards, laptops, iPads, and apps.
Experience working with students with life-skill and autistic needs.
Experience with PA Alternate Eligible Content.
Experience collecting and analyzing progress-monitoring data.
Experience with the co-teaching model, inclusion practices, and differentiation strategies.
Experience with academic, emotional, social, and behavioral interventions.
Experience using special education data-management software.
Experience with Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

Nice To Haves

Valid Pennsylvania Special Education certificate, N–12 or PK–8, strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Teach academic subjects in accordance with students’ IEPs and the district’s approved curriculum or special education alternative curriculum.
Develop lesson plans and instructional materials using the Understanding by Design framework; provide individualized and small-group instruction adapted to each student’s IEP.
Use real-world, project-based learning activities to encourage independent thinking and expression.
Write and revise student IEPs and Positive Behavior Support Plans as needed and at least annually; write reevaluation reports, NOREPs, and IEP invitation letters.
Coordinate and attend IEP meetings with parents and appropriate staff.
Develop and implement Positive Behavior Support Plans in accordance with students’ IEPs.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary and IEP team members to determine and implement appropriate student support services.
Establish and maintain classroom behavior standards and a functional learning environment, including learning centers, displays, rules, and expectations.
Evaluate students’ academic and social growth, maintain records, and prepare qualitative and quantitative progress reports.
Communicate regularly with parents about student progress and the school program through conferences, calls, emails, progress reports, and other means.
Identify student needs and collaborate with professional staff to assess and address health, attitude, and learning problems.
Integrate technology into classroom instruction and lesson plans to support students with disabilities.
Maintain professional competence through district-provided and self-selected professional development.
Prepare budget information, requisition books and instructional aids, and maintain inventory records.
Supervise students during assigned out-of-classroom activities.
Administer Pennsylvania state assessments, including PSSAs and PASA, as appropriate to students’ IEPs, and administer individual achievement tests to monitor progress.
Participate in curriculum development, faculty committees, and sponsorship of student activities as required.
Collect extended school year data and quarterly annual progress-monitoring data tied to IEP and Positive Behavior Support Plan goals and objectives, for distribution with report cards.
Run an individualized classroom program with one-to-one instruction; create a classroom master schedule and individual lesson plans, reinforcement, and reteaching activities.
Incorporate functional independent living skills into student schedules, including cooking, housekeeping, social, recreational, health, money-management, vocational, and behavior-management skills.
Coordinate community-based work activities.
Communicate effectively with regular education staff, related services staff, parents, and administration.
Oversee paraeducators assigned to the classroom, provide classroom-specific training, and develop their activity schedules.
Ensure Medicaid/ACCESS written language is included in IEPs and obtain required parent signatures on forms.
Attend department meetings, serve on department committees, and perform other job-related responsibilities as assigned by the building principal or Director of Student Support Services.