Special Education Teacher

West Ada School District•MERIDIAN, ID

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Special Education Teacher leads students toward the fulfillment of their potential for intellectual, emotional, social, and psychological growth and maturation. This role involves planning and implementing an instructional program tailored to individual student needs, guiding the learning process, and establishing clear learning objectives. The teacher adapts teaching methods and materials to meet diverse student needs, stays current with research-based teaching methodologies, and creates a purposeful learning environment. Responsibilities include organizing classroom materials, setting positive examples, assessing student accomplishments through formal and informal methods, providing progress reports, assigning homework, and administering standardized testing. The teacher also serves as a member of the Building Study Team to diagnose learning needs and prescribe programming, identifies educational, social, and developmental needs, and participates in Special Education team meetings. Communication and collaboration with colleagues, students, and parents/guardians are key, involving active listening, patience, and participation in parent-teacher conferences. The teacher assists in upholding school rules, establishes classroom discipline, monitors student conduct, addresses inappropriate behavior, and confers with stakeholders to resolve student issues. Planning and supervising teacher aides and volunteers, maintaining accurate records (attendance, progress, materials), and taking precautions to protect students and equipment are also essential. This position reports to the principal, may supervise aides and volunteers, and performs other assigned duties.

Requirements

Proper certification, as required by the State of Idaho, for position to which the teacher is assigned.
Approval as a finalist through the district's screening process.
Capable of accomplishing identified Performance Responsibilities.
Must be able to communicate proficiently in English including both verbal and written communication with adults and students.
Ability to read and understand work-related materials.
Ability to speak and communicate clearly in lessons to students as well as communications with peers, supervisors, patrons, and parents/guardians.
Able to accomplish simple mathematical concepts including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Ability to observe and monitor student activities and conduct throughout the instructional day.
Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to discern verbal conversation and to communicate effectively on the telephone and in person.
Sufficient visual acuity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to comprehend written work and assessments, prepare and review documents, and organize documents and materials.
Sufficient manual dexterity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to perform repetitive hand/wrist/arm motions and to operate a computer and office equipment.
Sufficient personal mobility, flexibility, and balance, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to work in an office environment, lifting or moving objects that weigh up to 25 lbs.
Job tasks require, with or without reasonable accommodation, climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, and grasping.
Must have a valid Idaho Driver's license and a vehicle to drive and/or must provide own transportation for job-related activities.

Nice To Haves

Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with others.
Contribute to the development of a positive school climate.
Accept a share of responsibility for co-curricular activities as assigned.
Abide by the Code of Ethics for the Teaching Profession as established by the Idaho State Board of Education, the Board Policies and procedures of the District and the terms and provisions of the Standard Teachers' Contract.
Comply with the requirements of Idaho Code with regard to teacher conduct, including but not limited to the manner in which suspected instances of child abuse or suspected student suicidal tendencies are addressed.
Adhere to confidentiality with regard to student information.
Attend faculty meeting and conferences as directed by the Building Principal and participation in in-services activities and other professional growth opportunities.
Establish and maintain good working habits including punctuality.
Implement the beliefs, mission statement, objectives and parameters of the District's strategic plan.

Responsibilities

Plans and implements an instructional program that meets the individual needs, interests, and abilities of students.
Guides the learning process toward the achievement of curriculum goals and establishes clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects.
Adapts teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
Remains current with researched-based teaching methodology and implements such where appropriate.
Creates a purposeful learning environment that is appropriate to the maturity and interest of students.
Organizes classroom materials such as handouts, audio-visuals, and computer-related lessons.
Assesses the accomplishments of students on a formal and informal basis and provides progress reports.
Assigns related homework and develops and administers formal and informal testing to ascertain student progress.
Serves as a member of the Building Study Team in diagnosing specific learning needs of students and prescribing special programming.
Identifies the educational, social, and developmental needs of students.
Participates in Special Education or related team meetings as requested.
Communicates and collaborates with colleagues, students, and parent/guardians on a regular basis.
Assists in upholding and enforcing school rules, administrative regulations, and Board Policy.
Establishes rules for classroom discipline and observes student conduct and maintains classroom order and discipline.
Addresses observed inappropriate student conduct both within the classroom and in other school settings.
Confers with parents, guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators in order to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
Plans and supervises teacher aides and volunteers as assigned.
Maintains accurate, complete, and correct records as required by law, district policy, and administrative regulation.
Takes all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities.
Is responsible for the knowledge of school evacuation procedures and lock-down procedures and the ability to implement those procedures independently in emergency situations.