MIDDLE SCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER

The Foundation Schools•Upper Marlboro, MD

75d•$52,867 - $85,282•Onsite

About The Position

Teachers at The Foundation Schools use special education strategies and techniques to deliver quality instruction, support mastery of the approved curriculum, and promote students’ social, emotional, and cognitive learning. The teacher serves as the primary instructor in a self-contained classroom, understands and implements students’ IEP requirements, differentiates instruction, and modifies curriculum to meet individual needs. The role also involves managing student behavior through established behavior systems, school rules, policies, and procedures. The teacher collaborates with families and school teams, monitors and documents academic and behavioral progress, contributes to IEPs and related plans, and provides a safe, structured, and engaging learning environment. The position requires responding to potential crises and, when necessary, participating in approved student restraints, therapeutic holds, escorts, or seclusions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher is required.
MSDE license or eligibility for an MSDE license in special education and the appropriate grade band is required.
Art and Physical Education teachers must have or be eligible for an MSDE license in the relevant content area.
Ability to use basic office equipment, including a computer, tablet, telephone, fax machine, and copier.
Ability to complete reports and enter data using a variety of computer programs.
Ability to move and carry supplies and perform light, non-repetitive lifting.
Maintain professional relationships and demeanor with students, colleagues, families, and community partners.
Work positively and collaboratively with others.
Meet professional standards for work ethic, attire, attendance, and timeliness.
Demonstrate effective time management, organization, prioritization, and planning skills; use time and resources efficiently and set realistic plans and goals.
Speak clearly and be understood; read and express thoughts in writing.
Possess and demonstrate a high level of mental and emotional balance.
Respond quickly and tactfully to crisis situations and use critical thinking to assess problems.
Work with minimal supervision and meet deadlines.
Physically restrain or assist with student restraints when required.
Possess sufficient mobility to provide instruction and manage student behavior.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree, preferably in education, special education, or a related field.
Two or more years of experience in a special education setting, or experience working with emotionally disabled students or children with autism.
Knowledge of IDEA and its specific application to educating students with special education needs and emotional or other disabilities.
Bilingual Spanish/English abilities.

Responsibilities

Use special education strategies and techniques to provide quality instruction, advance academic progress, and promote students’ social and emotional growth.
Teach academic content using the approved curriculum.
Communicate professionally with parents and guardians about students’ academic and behavioral progress.
Create and implement lesson plans using varied teaching methods, including technology, direct instruction, independent study, and group learning; submit plans within established guidelines.
Adapt the classroom environment, activities, teaching styles, behavior management practices, and lesson plans to students’ varying academic levels and learning styles.
Establish learning expectations and classroom structure that encourage student participation and appropriate behavior.
Use formal and informal observations and assessments to identify student needs, adjust interventions, evaluate instructional effectiveness, and document and modify practices based on data, reflection, and feedback.
Provide a safe, structured, creative, and engaging classroom conducive to learning.
Maintain an accurate classroom instructional inventory.
Apply knowledge of special education laws and regulations, including IDEA, FERPA, COMAR, and DCMR.
Participate in developing and monitoring students’ IEPs, BIPs, and FBAs, and complete required documentation within established guidelines.
Grade student work, maintain grade-book records, and submit grades by deadlines.
Attend and participate in IEP meetings, reentry meetings, and other meetings with families, students, or county representatives; report accurately on academic progress.
Lead the classroom and provide guidance and direction to assigned program assistants and dedicated aides.
Understand how students’ disabilities affect behavior and learning; adapt intervention strategies to their diagnoses and IEP and BIP requirements.
Manage and document student behavior, implement behavior systems and school procedures, and model appropriate behavior.
Identify behaviors that may lead to a crisis, unsafe situation, or classroom disruption and use effective behavior management techniques to limit disruptions.
Supervise students proactively to ensure the safety and security of the school program.
Maintain student confidentiality in accordance with company statements and student-record procedures.
Use verbal de-escalation and the behavior continuum to select the least restrictive necessary interventions; use approved crisis strategies, including participation in seclusions, therapeutic holds, escorts, and restraints when necessary; consistently use and model TACT 2 techniques or classroom behavior management strategies.
Collaborate with teachers, therapists, school leaders, and other team members to identify student and classroom needs and develop or adjust interventions and incentive plans.
Participate in committees, meetings, supervision, and professional development activities.
Model and implement the company’s core values of Teamwork, Work Ethic, Integrity, Respect, and Leadership.
Comply with company policies, rules, protocols, and procedures.
Complete other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Company-paid group term life insurance.
Company-paid accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
Company-paid short-term disability insurance.
Company-paid long-term disability insurance.
Employee Assistance Program.
403(b) retirement plan with up to an 8% employer contribution after one year of service for eligible employees.
Educational funds assistance.
Nine paid holidays.
Paid days leave (PTO).
Extended sick leave.
Scheduled school leave.
Shared-cost health insurance, including prescription and vision benefits.
Shared-cost dental insurance.
Flexible Spending Account plan for medical and dependent care accounts.
Supplemental life insurance.
Supplemental accident, hospital, and critical illness benefits.
Credit union membership.
Free on-site parking.
Professional development programs.