Lower School Co-Teacher

IDEAL School of Manhattan•New York, NY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The IDEAL School of Manhattan is seeking a talented, warm, and creative Lower School Teacher who believes in fostering the potential for excellence in all students, equipping them with the academic and social-emotional skills necessary to lay the foundation for continued success. Lower School classes at IDEAL work in an integrated, co-teaching model, which partners a general educator and a special educator to provide a rigorous, student-centered, differentiated, collaborative educational experience within the context of an inclusion classroom. The co-teaching model at IDEAL’s Lower School ensures a low student-teacher ratio and allows teachers to organize flexible groups and to challenge, inspire, and support all learners in the classroom. Most classrooms are also assigned one or two associate teachers who facilitate the inclusion experience for a student in the school’s Dylan program, while also playing a supporting role in the larger classroom. IDEAL expands the definition of diversity to include learning styles, and thus candidates should demonstrate the ability to teach a range of learners and to scaffold lessons with note-taking guides, visual aids, and other supports to promote the success of a range of learners. Lower School is a time of profound growth and change as students master emergent academic skills, become accustomed to classroom and school-wide routines, form a greater understanding of themselves and others, and develop and sustain meaningful friendships. IDEAL educators are tasked with supporting this growth inside and outside the classroom in a consistent, nurturing way; encouraging students to take the healthy risks necessary to learn new things about themselves and the world around them every day.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in General Education, Special Education or similar field
Experience leading whole class instruction

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree in Education or similar field
Prior experience in an independent school preferred
Orton-Gillingham-based literacy instruction training and experience preferred
Minimum of three years of relevant school-based experience preferred
Have a commitment to inclusive education and have the skills and passion to inspire, nurture, and challenge students with a range of interests, experiences, readiness-levels, and learning styles
Have proven skills in classroom management, helping to create a respectful, safe, and nurturing community where all students feel comfortable expressing their full identity and are inspired to celebrate the full identities of their peers
Work to deeply understand the strengths and challenges of students and ensure that all students are challenged and supported across disciplines
A growth mindset and collaborative, flexible spirit
A willingness to ensure students are nurtured, challenged, and inspired across disciplines

Responsibilities

Collaborate as a member of a co-teaching partnership in an inclusive classroom, to plan and differentiate curriculum, establish classroom routines, and support all students
Apply expertise in child development and the pedagogy of early and mid-childhood education for typically developing students as well as those with special needs
Partner with other educators, therapists, and additional professionals on the implementation of support strategies
Research and integrate contemporary and innovative curricula, texts, and technology into instruction
Create and implement tiered lesson plans incorporating differentiated instructional methods and outcomes to engage and inspire students with varied abilities and learning styles
Contribute to CSE meetings and yearly goal reviews
Communicate regularly, via verbal and written communication, with all constituencies, including students, faculty, administration, and families
Attend and participate in weekly faculty meetings, team meetings, committee meetings, school functions, and professional development activities during and after school hours as needed, appropriate, and assigned
Meet deadlines for progress reports and other administrative tasks within a school setting
Contribute broadly and fully to the spirit and life of our students, community, and mission
Uphold the mission, philosophy, principles, policies, and procedures of IDEAL
Performs other related duties as assigned