Special Education Teacher at KNDMS (25/26 School Year)

KIPP Colorado•Denver, CO

51d•$65,015

About The Position

The Special Education Teacher is the instructional leader of their student caseload and is directly responsible for driving student outcomes and creating an exceptional student experience. Teachers drive the educational mission of KIPP Colorado schools by developing daily instruction aligned with our academic program that enables students to make significant academic growth each year. The Special Education Teacher plans instruction, organizes learning activities, internalizes and intellectually prepares for lessons, grades equitably and consistently, and implements with fidelity all accommodations and modifications for students’ IEPs, BIP’s, 504 Plans, and MTSS interventions. The Special Education Teacher at KIPP Colorado holds full responsibility for creating and cultivating a culturally responsive classroom community that is warm-demanding, including upholding school-wide expectations, managing tier 1 behaviors, and contacting families proactively and responsively. Special Education Teacher Teachers support the campus-wide community and whole school systems through active presence at daily duties, including but not limited to: arrival duty, dismissal duty, lunch duty, threshold presence at transitions, hallway / bathroom duty, and coverage for staff absences. The position is a 10-month academic position and is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This position reports to a member of the school leadership team.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree (required)
Special Education License or TEE through CDE (required)
Ability and willingness to fulfill all state and federal guidelines to meet Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) criteria (required)
Ability to work during after-school, evening, and weekend meetings and events at the school (required)
A full understanding and Commitment to an Exceptional Student Experience (more about that HERE) (required)
Commitment to and experience with youth of various cultural and economic backgrounds
Outstanding organizational skills and high attention to detail; outstanding written and oral communication skills
Ability to manage the ambiguity and multiple priorities inherent in an entrepreneurial environment
Proactive problem solver who demonstrates initiative and teamwork
Strong work ethic coupled with an enthusiastic and passionate approach to one’s work
Multi-faceted, multi-skilled, resourceful and willing to do whatever it takes to help the school reach a level of academic excellence
High level of detail orientation and sound excellent organizational skills
Strong communication, feedback and facilitation skills
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Articulate, professional demeanor with strong self-confidence and initiative.
Entrepreneurial mindset, with the creativity and versatility to work productively in a fast-paced environment
Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, high-energy environment with a proven ability to meet and complete multiple deadlines and tasks with meticulous attention to detail.
Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop productive working relationships with stakeholders across functional and organizational lines
Passionate commitment to KIPP Colorado mission and to high standards of excellence

Nice To Haves

Spanish bilingual (preferred)
At least 2 years of teaching experience (highly preferred but not required)

Responsibilities

Believe deeply in the mission, values, and Race, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (RIDE) commitments of KIPP Colorado Schools and that all children can and will learn
Assume personal responsibility for student achievement
Read, internalize, and adhere to the KIPP Colorado Policies and Procedures manual and guidelines
Provide an active presence, strategic supervision, and intentional monitoring to ensure student safety and engagement in rigorous learning (regardless of my role and its proximity to students)
Take ownership for the development of your craft and engage actively in coaching sessions (meet 1-2 times every 1 or 2 weeks (depending on need and role) with a manager, receive coaching, implement all provided feedback, engage in active practice, etc.)
Commit to being prepared. Such as: internalizing and preparing for lessons, preparing for O3s/coaching, preparing for meetings, coaching, PD, reading and internalizing written communication, etc.
Meet professional obligations including and not limited to meeting deadlines and honoring schedules
Consistently leverage existing professional tools, including but not limited to Google Suite (google documents, etc.) and Microsoft Suite (including but not limited to your KIPP Colorado email, Teams chat / meetings, Teams phone, and Microsoft Outlook calendar)
Maintain strong attendance each day and be on time to all responsibilities
Collaborate with colleagues and seek feedback in the spirit of continuous improvement
Reflect on professional practices to meet individual professional development goals
Actively participate in professional development, grade level, and department meetings
Actively engage and implement in all school-wide and Org wide professional development
Serve as a positive, contributing member of a grade team or functional team, collaborating with colleagues to tackle common challenges and implement org and grade-wide initiatives
Share candid, solutions-oriented feedback with peers and leadership on a regular basis, assuring that feedback is shared directly with the intended recipient. Ensure that feedback is focused on improving outcomes and experiences for students
Assist with both student and staff recruitment and engagement- including events, home visits, calls home, and other determined and related requirements
Know that your role, professional development, org wide meetings, etc. may require you to travel around Denver to other KIPP Campuses, our Home Office, or other KIPP or PD events
Assist with other duties as assigned (such as but not limited to, lunch duty, arrival/dismissal duty, bathroom duty, hallway duty, school support duties, etc.)
Develop, monitor, and evaluate the effectiveness of special education programs and other student supports (Intervention, 504, ELL, etc.)
Maintain IEPs, 504s, Evaluations, and ELL programs; ensure services are delivered with fidelity
Liaison with parents via trainings, meetings, and consultations
Provide case management for Special Education caseload and provide instruction to students receiving special education supports
Ensure accurate and timely completion of IEP, BIPS, and FBAs
Ensure students receive their minutes (pull-out and push-in dependant upon student needs), accommodations, and modifications in collaboration with gen ed teacher
Support classroom teachers with understanding student support plans and requirements
Develop standards-based unit plans and daily lesson plans
Design and deliver rigorous, backwards-planned lessons
Design and implement assessments that are aligned with daily objectives
Grade student material and provide students with feedback and support
Plan rigorous lessons that include a focus on lesson internalization
Use the adopted curriculum with fidelity
Use data to adjust short- and long-term plans in order to meet students’ learning needs
Believe deeply in the mission of KIPP Colorado Schools and that all children can learn
Establish and maintain relationships with students and families based on trust and respect
Approach practice with a sense of urgency to maximize instructional time
Establish and maintain high expectations for academic work and classroom behavior
Establish and reinforce rules and consequences to maintain a positive, focused classroom
Meet professional obligations such as meeting deadlines and honoring schedules
Participate in active presence and strategic supervision and monitoring to ensure student safety and engagement in rigorous learning
Complete MLE coursework and certification requirements (required for most roles)
Partner with the Assistant Principal of Special Services and Special Education Teachers to ensure proper implementation of 504s, BIPs, IEPs, safety plans, accommodations, modification, and language support for students
Enforce positive behavior systems and monitor behavior data
Attend designated school functions outside of school hours (Back to School Night, Report Card Conferences, Community Events, etc.)
Perform necessary support duties including (but not limited to) bus, lunch, and dismissal duties,chaperone field trips. Participate in parent meetings, conferences, and periodic evening events
Develop strong relationships with the families of students through home visits, participation in school events and phone calls home
Communicate regularly with families about academic progress and behavior
Be accessible by school cell phone for homework help and student emergencies beyond regular school hours
Participate in daily duties (i.e. breakfast, lunch, dismissal) to support school operations
Maintain accurate records, grade books, and data tracking systems
Assist with both student and staff recruitment
Other duties as assigned

Benefits

Competitive Market Salary: Starting salary for this role begins at $65,015 and is commensurate with experience. There is no cap on the years of experience that you bring to this role
Excellent Healthcare Plan: 100% of employee-only monthly premium paid by KIPP Colorado and options for family enrollment and coverage, through United Healthcare
Time Off !!!: More than 6 weeks of annual vacation and Paid Time Off (PTO)
Based on hire date, employees are eligible for up to 8 days of Paid Time Off (PTO)
All employees receive summer break through an organization-wide closure, based on work location and position
Access to parental and medical leave: includes 6 weeks paid and 6 weeks unpaid for a total of 12 weeks (after your first year)
Career Trajectory: Access to opportunity to move up, across schools, and grow your career during weekly coaching sessions to refine your craft
Mental Health Care: Immediate and ongoing access to mental health support through our Employee Assistance Program
Equipment provided: laptop
Participation in the Colorado PERA retirement program, including a PERA 401k option
Relocation reimbursement (when applicable)
Most schools offer various stipend opportunities
Wellness reimbursement
Voluntary employee, spousal, and child life insurance
Voluntary long term disability insurance
Voluntary short term disability insurance
Optional Basic Life and AD&D Insurance