KEYS Special Education Teacher

Health Connect America•Culpeper, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

KEYS Academy is a network of private special education day schools serving K–12 students across Virginia. Supported by Health Connect America, the schools provide structured, trauma-informed learning environments guided by Safety, Dignity, and Opportunity. Teachers support students with emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs through small classroom settings and individualized instruction. The Special Education Teacher leads a structured classroom and delivers instruction aligned with the Virginia Standards of Learning, school curriculum, and individual IEP goals. The teacher integrates the KEYS for a Big Life Curriculum and Social Thinking framework, supports communication and social-emotional development, and uses evidence-based instruction and positive behavioral supports to promote academic growth and independence. The role also includes student supervision, assessment and progress documentation, special education case management, and collaboration with families, school staff, LEA representatives, and related service providers. The position works under the guidance of the School Director.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Active Virginia teaching license in Special Education; license-eligible candidates are accepted.
Endorsement in Emotional Disabilities, Special Education General Curriculum K–12, or a related Special Education area; an Elementary or Secondary Education endorsement is accepted if the candidate is willing to pursue a Special Education endorsement within the specified timeframe.
Maintain licensure and required certifications throughout employment.
Strong knowledge of special education law and practices, IEP development, and compliance requirements.
Knowledge of behavioral strategies, crisis intervention, and positive behavioral supports.
Ability to develop and implement instruction aligned with Virginia Standards of Learning and individualized IEP goals.
Strong classroom management and structured teaching skills.
Ability to analyze student data and make instructional decisions.
Proficiency with educational technology and online learning platforms.
Clear, professional written and verbal communication skills.
Strong organizational and planning skills.
Ability to build positive relationships with students, families, and colleagues.
Ability to meet state and federal background and clearance requirements.
Ability to complete required trainings within designated timeframes.
CPR/First Aid/AED certification.
Ability to lift up to 25 pounds and move throughout the classroom and school environment as needed.

Responsibilities

Develop and deliver lesson plans aligned with Virginia Standards of Learning, the school curriculum, and individual student IEP goals.
Differentiate instruction to address students’ academic, behavioral, communication, and sensory needs.
Use evidence-based teaching strategies, scaffolding, relationship building, social-emotional interventions, and positive behavioral supports.
Embed communication development and social-emotional learning into daily academic instruction.
Use online instructional platforms, Wilson Reading Systems, and supplemental instructional resources.
Create and maintain a structured classroom schedule and collaboration and debriefing practices with support staff.
Establish and maintain a safe, dignified, predictable, student-centered classroom environment.
Follow classroom management systems and individual Behavior Intervention Keys.
Use learning objectives and structured routines to maximize instructional time and minimize disruptions.
Supervise and support students during arrival, dismissal, transitions, lunch, recreation, community-based activities, field trips, and summer programming.
Support students’ sensory and behavioral regulation needs and reinforce expected communication and social skills.
Establish student performance levels and baseline data; collect and analyze data aligned with IEP goals, social-emotional development, and academic benchmarks.
Conduct formal and informal assessments, use results to adjust instruction, and provide timely, constructive feedback to students and families.
Maintain accurate attendance, grades, progress records, and required reports.
Serve as case manager for assigned students and develop performance levels, transition plans, and IEP goals in accordance with applicable timelines.
Monitor and document progress toward IEP goals and social-emotional learning objectives.
Attend and participate in IEP meetings and parent-teacher conferences.
Collaborate with families, LEA representatives, and related service providers.
Complete incident reports, Power Action Reports, compliance documentation, progress reports, and report cards accurately and on time.
Teach and reinforce the KEYS for a Big Life Curriculum, including helping students identify strengths, set goals, and overcome obstacles constructively.
Incorporate Social Thinking concepts and language into classroom management and instruction; provide instruction and feedback on expected and unexpected behaviors.
Help students understand how their actions affect others, build positive peer relationships, and consider Safety, Dignity, and Opportunity in decision-making.
Follow federal and state laws, school policies, professional ethical standards, confidentiality requirements, and professional communication expectations.
Collaborate with paraprofessionals, administrators, related services staff, and families; participate in required trainings, meetings, and professional development.
Maintain CPR/First Aid/AED certification and complete required crisis intervention, transportation safety, medication administration, ethics, and confidentiality trainings.
Follow school policies for technology use, social media interactions, attendance, and dress code.