Preschool Special Education Teacher

Atlas Elementary•St. Louis, MO

8d•Onsite

About The Position

In this role, you will work closely and collaboratively with the Head of Support Services, the Director of Special Education, classroom teachers, related service providers, families, and the broader Atlas School team. The Preschool Special Education Teacher supports young children (ages 3–5) with disabilities by providing individualized instruction, implementing evidence-based early childhood practices, and ensuring full compliance with state and federal special education requirements in accordance with IDEA and Section 504. You will serve as a special education case manager, provide direct specialized instruction in inclusive and small-group settings, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and partner with families to support each child's developmental, academic, communication, social-emotional, adaptive, and behavioral growth. Guided by Atlas' mission, you will bring your passion, creativity, and commitment to continuous growth to help every child build a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

Requirements

Hold or be eligible for Missouri certification in Early Childhood Special Education.
Provide an official transcript demonstrating graduation from an accredited undergraduate institution.
Meet all Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) certification requirements.
Pass a background check and complete the Family Care Safety Registry.
Demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States.
Knowledgeable in early childhood special education practices and child development from ages 3–5.
Experienced in developing and implementing IEPs for preschool-aged children.
Skilled in supporting children with diverse developmental needs, including autism spectrum disorder, developmental delays, speech and language impairments, intellectual disabilities, and social-emotional needs.
Familiar with evidence-based early childhood instructional strategies, positive behavior interventions, visual supports, and differentiated instruction.
Knowledgeable of IDEA, Section 504, Missouri First Steps transition requirements, and state special education regulations.
Passionate about early intervention and committed to providing equitable learning opportunities for all children.
A collaborative team member who values strong partnerships with families and multidisciplinary teams.
Creative, patient, flexible, and able to adapt instruction to meet each child's developmental needs.
Reflective, resourceful, and committed to continuous learning and professional growth.

Responsibilities

Plan and deliver developmentally appropriate, play-based, and standards-aligned instruction that addresses each child's unique learning needs.
Adapt curriculum and learning environments to support children with a variety of developmental and learning differences.
Create engaging, hands-on learning experiences that foster language, early literacy, social-emotional development, communication, motor skills, and independence.
Provide individualized and small-group instruction based on each student's IEP goals.
Utilize evidence-based instructional practices for young learners, including visual supports, structured routines, explicit instruction, and positive behavior supports.
Serve as the special education case manager by developing, implementing, monitoring, and revising Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) while ensuring compliance with all state and federal regulations.
Collect and analyze student data to monitor progress toward IEP goals and use data to inform instructional decisions.
Facilitate IEP meetings and collaborate with families, classroom teachers, related service providers, and outside agencies to develop meaningful, child-centered goals.
Support successful transitions into preschool and from preschool to kindergarten through collaborative planning with families and school teams.
Collaborate closely with speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers, school psychologists, and other service providers to ensure coordinated services.
Develop and implement positive behavior supports that promote self-regulation, communication, engagement, and independence.
Partner with families by maintaining ongoing communication, providing resources, and empowering caregivers to support learning at home.
Foster an inclusive classroom culture that celebrates each child's strengths and promotes belonging, curiosity, and confidence.
Grow professionally within a collaborative, innovative, and evolving educational environment.