Special Education RISE Teacher - IDEA Edinburg College Prep (Immediate Opening)

IDEA Public Schools•Edinburg, TX

About The Position

IDEA Special Education RISE teachers serve students with a range of learning, cognitive, emotional, and physical disabilities, maintaining high achievement expectations and supporting each student in reaching their fullest potential. Teachers instruct students in subjects including Reading, Writing, Math, History, and Adaptive PE, and provide resources, education, training, and emotional support to families to help them plan for their children’s long-term needs. The role includes adapting instruction to student needs; developing and implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs); assessing, tracking, and communicating student progress; coordinating related services; and supporting transitions between grades and after graduation. Teachers implement state standards and IDEA curricula, maintain lesson plans and gradebooks, use technology in instruction and communication, and establish consistent behavior-management practices. They also build productive relationships with students and families, contribute to campus culture, attend meetings and duties, participate in professional development, and may provide tutoring or Saturday school as assigned. The position requires at least 40 hours at school per week. The teacher oversees the daily work and responsibilities of a Special Education Co-Teacher (para-professional) in the RISE classroom. IDEA Public Schools is a multi-state network of tuition-free, Pre-K–12 public charter schools. The organization states that it serves more than 80,000 students in 143 schools across Texas, Florida, and Ohio, and is committed to helping students reach and complete college.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year educational institution.
Valid Texas state certification in Special Education.
Appropriate grade- and subject-band core content certification(s) or a Texas Core Content Competency Worksheet.
Knowledge of curriculum and instruction.
Ability to instruct students and manage student behavior.
Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to adjust and adapt to varied situations in the school environment.
Ability to facilitate Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) meetings.
Strong family engagement and communication skills.
Record of results for students who are academically at risk.
Commitment to IDEA’s mission and the belief that all students can get to and through college.
Demonstrated effective outcomes and results, and willingness to be held accountable for them.
Initiative and willingness to learn from mistakes and improve quickly.
Ability to work with urgency and purpose to drive student outcomes.
Comfort working in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment with ambiguity and change.
Ability to seek and respond well to feedback.
Ability to collaborate across departments and build strong relationships.
High standards of conduct and professionalism, serving as a model for colleagues and students.
Spend a minimum of 40+ hours at school per week.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a Special Education classroom setting with students who have significant disabilities.

Responsibilities

Adapt lessons to meet students’ needs.
Support coordination of related services for students on the teacher’s caseload.
Develop, implement, and update IEPs for students on the caseload.
Assess student performance, track progress, and update goals throughout the school year.
Assess students’ skills and needs to develop teaching plans.
Collect and analyze student data to inform decisions and maximize achievement.
Discuss student progress with parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators.
Prepare and support students’ transitions between grades and after graduation.
Implement state learning standards, IDEA curricula, and assessments to meet academic expectations.
Submit weekly lesson plans two weeks in advance for feedback.
Use formal and informal assessments to track student progress and needs, adjust lesson plans, and update the gradebook weekly.
Communicate student progress to students and families weekly.
Use technology as a communication and educational tool and to manage work-related tasks.
Implement a clear, consistent behavior-management system aligned with campus initiatives while developing students’ character and sense of community.
Help develop a school-wide culture that fosters a productive and enthusiastic learning environment.
Build and maintain cooperative, respectful relationships with students and families.
Host necessary tutoring sessions 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 district, school, and personal learning and development.
Oversee the daily work and responsibilities of a Special Education Co-Teacher (para-professional) in the RISE classroom.
Perform after-school tutoring or Saturday school as needed.

Benefits

Starting teacher salary of $57,500 for 0 years of experience.
Stipends of $500–$4,000 each, based on certifications, credentials, and campus leadership.
Additional performance-based compensation.
Additional hourly compensation for assigned after-school tutoring or Saturday school.
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 8 weeks of paid family leave for the birth or adoption of a child, depending on 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 and unlimited 24/7 telephonic counseling.
Dental and vision plans.
Disability insurance.
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.