Instructional Specialist, Special Education

School District of Philadelphia•Philadelphia, PA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

For the Pre-Kindergarten specialty, assists schools and teachers with special education students in creating a consistent implementation of the schools’ core curriculum for Pre Kindergarten and the Pennsylvania’s Early Learning Standards. Supports and facilitates the continuity of differentiated and rigorous instruction of students by working with school administration, teachers and staff. Plans, delivers and assists teachers and school teams in effective teaching and student engagement to increase student achievement. Ensures that the proper educational tools are used to meet the specialized needs of the student population served. Provides professional development support based on teacher or school site needs and uses ongoing instructional best practices to meet the needs of individual teachers and students.

Requirements

Master’s degree program from an accredited college or university.
Five years of full-time, paid, professional appointed prekindergarten classroom or site based teaching experience which has included supporting teachers in improving instructional practices.
Possess a valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Instructional II special education certificate for PreK-8.
Must have at least three years of teaching experience with preschoolers.
Demonstrated knowledge of: the modern methods, principles and practices of special education.
Demonstrated knowledge of: all aspects of the content and implementation of the core curriculum, strategies guide.
Demonstrated knowledge of: best instructional practices and federal and state guidelines.
Demonstrated knowledge of: periodic assessments and on-going informal assessments and strategies to support students based on the results.
Demonstrated knowledge of: site visit protocol for walks for learning.
Demonstrated knowledge of: current research regarding communities of learners, instructional practices linked to student achievement, differentiated instruction, mentoring, coaching and emergent technologies.
Demonstrated knowledge of: increasing achievements for all students.
Demonstrated knowledge of: collecting, analyzing and using data.
Demonstrated knowledge of: the use of technology to access students’ assessment results.
Demonstrated knowledge of: all aspects of the content and implementation of the PA Early Learning Standards.
Demonstrated ability to: ensure that the instructional needs of students with mental and physical challenges are met.
Demonstrated ability to: provide interventions (strategy groups, conferencing, small groups, etc) based on formal and informal assessment results and support differentiation.
Demonstrated ability to: design and facilitate school and/or early childhood site led workshops for staff development incorporating assessments and interventions into current curriculum as well as regulatory topics.
Demonstrated ability to: build relationships and help teachers feel comfortable with and understand instruction.
Demonstrated ability to: communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Demonstrated ability to: establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Responsibilities

Serves as a member of the Early Childhood Team and participates in regular Walk Throughs of Pre-Kindergarten classes in schools, off-sites, and community-based child care partner sites.
Analyzes teaching practices, support schools, early childhood centers and teachers, to attain high quality instructional practices, and provide professional development support based on teacher, school, or early childhood site needs.
Provides on-going, daily informal and formal classroom assessments and instructional best practices to meet the needs of individual student in attaining educational excellence.
Assist parents and staff through the Early Intervention referral process.
Debriefs with teachers, school leadership teams, partner directors, and Early Childhood staff to analyze and support the instructional practices in schools and/or early childhood sites.
Plans and administers (in collaboration with the central and academic offices) the implementation of instructional strategies to support academic achievement.
Develops, designs and delivers professional development for central and academic offices, principals, leadership teams, teachers, classroom assistants, and partner staff based on the needs of schools, early childhood sites and teachers.
Visits schools, partner sites, and classrooms and provides support to improve instructional and assessment strategies for special education students, outside of the Walk Throughs.
Ensures that therapeutic techniques are integrated into the classroom activities as advised by speech, occupational and physical therapists.
Ensures that students in need of early intervention services are identified; provides training and information on early intervention strategies and techniques for teachers; maintains and disseminates resource information to teachers, staff and families.
Encourages a continuous exchange of ideas and maintains a relationship with the assigned academic division.
Develops strategies that connect curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development for effective data driven interventions to improve teaching and learning.
Supports teachers in delivering on-the-spot, in-classroom data-driven instruction.
Supports teachers in creating interventions (strategy groups, conferencing, small groups, etc) based on formal and informal assessment results.
Supports teachers and schools in the use of SchoolNet, PELICAN, and Pennsylvania’s Early Learning Network to obtain on-going periodic assessment results on their students and how to best use the results to deliver differentiated instruction.