Special Education Teacher - Significant Support Needs

Laradon•Denver, CO

1d•$64,000 - $84,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Special Education Teacher provides special education, pre-vocational, and daily living training to dually diagnosed adolescents receiving services in Laradon’s School. The teacher creates a learning environment in which students can thrive, provides instruction tailored to their strengths and needs, and prepares them for their next transition. Instruction is provided in group and individual settings and includes skill acquisition plans for functional skills. The teacher serves as a special education case manager, leading the multidisciplinary IEP process, facilitating meetings, and meeting required timelines. The role includes developing and maintaining data collection systems for IEP goals, delegating data collection when appropriate, completing required documentation, and keeping records. The teacher also collaborates with professionals across learning environments, engages parents, guardians, and community agencies in the IEP process, and provides direct supervision and leadership to classroom paraprofessionals. This is an on-campus role. School employees must be physically present to perform their duties, and may need to drive students for program needs. Employees provide physical behavior support, including physical management after training, and may encounter extensive aggressive or non-compliant behavior from students. The school year runs from August through May, with an Extended School Year from June through August and 176 student contact days. The listed schedule is Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The position is based at Laradon, 5100 Lincoln St., Denver, Colorado 80216. Compensation is $64,000–$84,000, based on experience and education.

Requirements

Current Colorado teaching certification/license in special education, or ability to enter an Alternative Licensure Program or apply for a Special Education Temporary Authorization (SETA); the posting also describes a Colorado Department of Education special education license or a bachelor’s degree and willingness to attend an alternative licensure program.
Excellent communication skills and flexibility.
Desire to mentor and teach Laradon team members, subordinates, and peers.
Valid driver’s license, good driving record, and reliable personal transportation.
Ability to pass a pre-employment physical and CBI/FBI Federal background check.
Ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force and to walk, stand, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; stamina to remain active on one’s feet for full workdays.
Ability to provide physical behavior support, including physical management after training, and to work with students who may display aggressive or non-compliant behavior.

Nice To Haves

One year of experience working with children with developmental disabilities and/or emotional/behavioral disorders preferred.
Two years of teaching experience preferred.
Knowledge of Applied Behavioral Analysis.
Special Education Generalist and Elementary Education endorsements.

Responsibilities

Provide special education, pre-vocational, and daily living training to dually diagnosed adolescents.
Promote a learning environment in which all students can thrive and provide instruction tailored to their strengths and needs to prepare them for their next transition.
Provide specialized instruction based on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in group and individual settings, including skill acquisition plans for functional skills.
Serve as special education case manager and lead the multidisciplinary IEP process, facilitate IEP meetings, and meet required timelines.
Develop and maintain data collection systems for IEP goals, delegating data collection to paraprofessionals and service providers as needed.
Complete required documentation and maintain records.
Actively engage parents, guardians, and community agencies in the IEP process.
Work collaboratively with other professionals to meet individual students’ needs across learning environments.
Provide direct supervision and leadership for classroom paraprofessionals.
Drive students as necessary for program needs.
Provide physical behavior support, including physical management, after training.
Maintain regular and punctual attendance.
Perform other duties as assigned.