Special Education RISE Teacher - IDEA Lopez Academy (Immediate Opening)

IDEA Public Schools•Odessa, TX

About The Position

IDEA Public Schools is hiring a Special Education RISE Teacher for IDEA Lopez Academy. RISE stands for Reaching Independence through Support and Education. RISE teachers hold students with a wide range of learning, cognitive, emotional, and physical disabilities to high achievement expectations and help them reach their fullest potential. Teachers provide instruction across subjects, including reading, writing, math, history, and adaptive physical education, and support students with intellectual, behavioral, and physical disabilities. They also provide families with resources, education, training, and emotional support to help prepare for their children’s long-term plans. The teacher adapts and delivers instruction, develops and implements Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), monitors student progress, and communicates regularly with students and families. The role also involves collaboration with school staff, facilitating Admission, Review and Dismissal meetings, contributing to a positive school culture, and overseeing the daily work of a Special Education Co-Teacher (para-professional). Staff spend a minimum of 40 or more hours per week at school. Additional duties may include tutoring after school or Saturday school, according to student needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year educational institution.
Valid Texas state certification in Special Education.
Knowledge of curriculum and instruction.
Ability to instruct students and manage student behavior.
Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to adapt to a variety of situations in the school environment.
Ability to facilitate Admission, Review and Dismissal meetings.
Strong family engagement and communication skills.
Record of results for students who are academically at risk.
Commitment to IDEA’s mission and to high expectations for student achievement.
Demonstrated effective outcomes and willingness to be held accountable for them.
Ability to take action, learn from mistakes, and improve quickly.
Ability to work with urgency and purpose in a high-growth environment with ambiguity and change.
Willingness to seek and respond well to feedback and build cross-departmental relationships.
Professional conduct and behavior that models high standards for colleagues and students.
Spend a minimum of 40 or more hours per week at school.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a Special Education classroom with students who have significant disabilities is strongly preferred.
Appropriate grade and subject-band core content certification(s) or a Texas Core Content Competency Worksheet.

Responsibilities

Adapt lessons to meet students’ needs.
Support coordination of related services for students on the teacher’s caseload.
Develop and implement IEPs; assess performance and track student progress.
Update IEPs throughout the school year to reflect students’ progress and goals.
Assess students’ skills and develop teaching plans based on their needs.
Collect and analyze student data to make decisions that maximize achievement.
Discuss student progress with parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators.
Prepare students to transition between grades and after graduation.
Implement state learning standards and IDEA curricula and assessments.
Submit weekly lesson plans two weeks in advance for feedback.
Use formal and informal assessments to monitor progress and learning needs, adjust lesson plans, and update the gradebook weekly.
Communicate students’ progress to students and families weekly.
Use technology as a communication and educational tool to improve achievement and manage work tasks.
Implement a consistent behavior-management system aligned with campus initiatives and support students’ character and sense of community.
Help develop a school-wide culture that fosters a productive and enthusiastic learning environment.
Build cooperative, respectful relationships with students and families.
Host tutoring sessions as needed to meet students’ needs.
Participate in weekly manager check-ins, grade-level meetings, before- and after-school duties, and school-wide meetings and functions.
Participate in summer, year-long, school, district, and personal learning and development.
Oversee the daily work and responsibilities of a Special Education Co-Teacher (para-professional) in the RISE classroom.
Provide families with resources, education, training, and emotional support.

Benefits

Starting teacher salary of $63,500 for candidates with zero years of experience.
Stipends ranging from $500 to $4,000 each based on certifications, credentials, and campus leadership.
Additional performance-based compensation.
Additional hourly compensation for after-school tutoring or Saturday school when assigned.
Medical plan with the majority of the employee premium covered and the majority of costs for a spouse/domestic partner and children subsidized.
Eligible staff may receive up to eight weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, subject to tenure and caregiver designation.
Tuition reimbursement of up to 50% of qualifying tuition, capped at $5,250 per year and subject to manager discretion and budget availability.
Employer-paid mental and behavioral health support, including five face-to-face counseling sessions per year, unlimited 24/7 telephonic counseling, and other work-life services.
Dental and vision plans.
Disability and life insurance.
Parenting benefits.
Flexible spending account options.
Generous vacation time.
Referral bonuses.
Professional development.
403(b) plan.
Relocation allowance may be offered, if applicable.