Elementary Special Education Teacher (SY 26-27)

Explore Schools • New York, NY

41d • $62,710 - $93,636 • Onsite

About The Position

Explore Schools is a network of public charter schools providing nearly 1,700 students in Brooklyn with the outstanding education they deserve. Our goal is to provide students with curriculum and instruction that is both standards-aligned and culturally responsive. Our approach is designed to provide the conditions that nurture students as critical thinkers and natural problem-solvers. As an organization we are committed to engaging in work that disrupts and roots out systems and structures that perpetuate white supremacy. We intentionally seek to build and maintain a diverse and talented team that reflects the backgrounds and experiences of our students and creates an inclusive environment for all employees.
We believe that all children can learn when immersed in a rich environment full of high expectations, rigorous academics, and caring, committed adults. We believe equity and excellence are not mutually exclusive—we can meet the needs of all students in our schools, while actively engaging parents and driving toward excellent academic results. We believe it is both our privilege and responsibility to help close the opportunity gap in the Brooklyn community.
You are a special educator with experience teaching diverse learners, including students who have individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in grades K-5. You are ready to provide targeted, data-driven and individualized instruction to diverse learners. You prioritize student engagement, critical thinking, and relationship building in the classroom. You have demonstrated that you are a reflective practitioner willing to go above and beyond to meet the needs of your students while educating the whole child.
Nearly 20% of our students receive special education services. As an Elementary Special Education Teacher, you will work with our students with disabilities by providing data driven support through differentiated and specialized instruction. You will be expected to manage the following daily:

Requirements

• Dedicated to working in communities that have historically been underserved and under-resourced
• Committed to thoughtfully engaging in identity work necessary to take a culturally responsive approach to pedagogy and relationship-building with students and colleagues
• Exceptional dedication and intentionality to achieve results and make growth in your own practice and in related student outcomes
• Ability to cultivate a positive classroom culture through building relationships with students and using classroom management strategies to promote safety and inclusion of all students
• Classroom presence: you are clear and precise when sharing new content with students and can effectively lead students through inquiry-based class discussions
• Ability to adapt scripted curriculum
• Detail-oriented and highly organized
• Bachelor’s degree required
• Classroom teaching experience required; 2 years strongly preferred

Nice To Haves

• New York State Teaching Certification, preferred
• Special Education Certification, preferred
• Master’s Degree in Education, strongly preferred

Responsibilities

• Provide targeted small group instruction to students throughout the day and/or co-teach
• Provide a range of instructional, management, and assessment strategies to meet the different needs of students
• Provide direct service to students to help them achieve their IEP goals
• Collaborate and consult with with grade level teams across content areas in order to support the needs of all learners
• Plan and deliver differentiated, universally-designed instruction in order to ensure all students meet rigrous acdemic standards
• Participate in MTSS structures
• Maintain compliance for students on caseload, including participating IEP meetings, writing IEPs and progress monitoring, and communicating with families around student performance
• Use Responsive Classroom approach to cultivate a positive classroom culture including, but not limited to, morning meeting, teacher language, interactive modeling, and other related practices
• Attend and actively participate in all meetings including PLCs, grade level meetings, and PD sessions
• Assist with non-instructional supervision of students, such as arrival/dismissal, hallway monitoring, substitute teaching, lunch and playground duty, or supervision of extracurricular activities
• Actively engage in identity work and necessary conversations in order to dismantle white supremacy culture

Benefits

• A competitive and comprehensive benefits plan, covering up to 95% of the cost for employees and their families. Other benefits include dental and vision plans, employer paid disability and life insurance, parental leave benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time and paid holidays, professional development, continuing education scholarships, referral bonuses, employee assistance program (EAP), childcare assistance, a 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching, and more!
• Flexible and reflective leadership: dedicated to staff development, team cohesion, and shared responsibility for decision-making, development, and team-wide priorities
• Driven and passionate colleagues who contribute to a professional and collaborative work environment
• Opportunities to sit on various committees and participate in initiatives central to key organizational decisions and strategic planning
• Professional development: weekly PD, year-round retreats and trainings, and ongoing coaching by professionals
• Continued education support: staff are eligible to receive scholarship funds towards qualifying towards role relevant New York State certification costs, higher education tuition, and professional development
• A flexible work environment with the ability to choose your work location during non-student hours 1-3 days a week when possible, all within a structured 45-hour work week.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees