Teacher - Special Education (Autism)

Chicopee Public Schools • Chicopee, MA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The primary function of a special education teacher is to deliver the district curriculum in multiple ways that promotes student learning and achievement while accounting for the special and diverse needs of special education students. The teacher is responsible for the organization and structure of his/her assigned classroom and works collaboratively with other teachers, instructors, coordinators, and administration to support the overall needs of the students. This role involves planning and supervising the classroom schedule, developing and implementing curriculum plans, and coordinating the roles of paraprofessionals, cooperating teachers, and others assigned to the classroom. The teacher will facilitate the development of new skills with assigned paraprofessionals, coordinate the schedules of all ancillary personnel, and maintain open communication with each child's case worker and interdisciplinary team members. Identifying needed materials and equipment, direct supervision of paraprofessionals, and responsibility for the education of each student consistent with IEP goals are key aspects of this position. Ongoing assessment of student functioning levels, drafting IEPs and progress notes, and participating in various meetings and in-services are also essential. The teacher will implement required activities/testing/reporting for MCAS, develop communication systems for each child, and maintain ongoing communication with parents/guardians. Regular meetings with consultants and ancillary personnel, as well as communication with nursing staff, are expected. The role may involve physical management of students' educational and personal care needs, including lifting, positioning, and changing, and cooperation with other departments for smooth transitions. Attending continuing educational programs and communicating with parents, medical, nursing, educational, and other disciplines/program consultants are also part of the responsibilities. Maintaining a liaison with students, families, support personnel, and other agencies ensures students' needs are met. The workday may include providing limited personal care to students and may involve being on one's feet for extended periods. Counseling students with adjustment and academic problems and referring them to other services as needed, along with other duties assigned by administration, are also part of the role.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree or Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Education
• Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment including computers, copiers, adding machines
• Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of farce occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, and pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body
• Must be able to stand, crouch and bend over for a long period of time at intervals throughout the day
• Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or composite characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things
• Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments or directions to subordinates or assistants
• Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, forms, newsletters, schedules, manuals, invoices, requisitions, menus, recipes, journals, etc
• Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, evaluations, procedures, charts, surveys, articles, bid specifications, brochures, news releases, handbooks, budgets, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style
• Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence
• Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables
• Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions
• Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including medical, legal, accounting and marketing terminology
• Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; and to apply the principles of algebra and geometry
• Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape
• Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office equipment
• Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as office equipment and hand tools
• Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination
• Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions
• Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations
• Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear.)
• Must be able to communicate via telephone

Responsibilities

• Organization and structure of his/her assigned classroom
• Works collaboratively with other teachers, instructors, coordinators, and administration to support the overall needs of the students
• Plans and supervises the classroom schedule
• Development and implementation of curriculum plans
• Coordinating the roles of paraprofessionals, cooperating teachers and others assigned to the classroom
• Facilitates the development of new skills with assigned paraprofessionals
• Coordinates the schedules of all ancillary personnel involved in the classroom
• Keeps open and ongoing communication with each child's case worker and the other interdisciplinary team members
• Identifies needed materials and equipment pursuant to educational plans
• Direct supervision of paraprofessionals assigned to the classroom
• Responsible for the education of each student consistent with the goals and objectives of the IEP
• Ongoing assessment of each students functioning level
• Drafts IEP and progress notes
• Completion and distribution of progress notes, detailing each students progress towards meeting their IEP goals
• Participation in meetings, IEP meetings, clinics and in-services
• Implementation of all required activities/testing/reporting of MCAS, as directed by state guidelines, regulations and district protocols
• Development of communication systems for each child with guidance of a consultant as needed
• Maintaining ongoing communication with each student's parent/legal guardian regarding his or her educational needs and progress
• Regular meetings with consultants that serve the program
• Regular meetings with ancillary personnel involved with each child
• Regular communication with nursing staff to ensure sound practices and to gain knowledge of the student's continually changing medical status
• Physical management of students educational and personal care needs including lifting, positioning and changing
• Cooperation and flexibility to work with other departments for smooth transitions for the individual going from one department to another
• Attends and participates in continuing educational programs
• Communicates with the parents, medical, nursing, educational and other disciplines/program consultants
• Maintains a liaison with the students, their families, support personnel, and other agencies to assure the student's needs are continually met
• Workday may include providing limited personal care to students
• Duties may involve being on one's feet for extended periods of time
• Counsels students when adjustment and academic problems arise and refers students to other services as
• Other duties as assigned by the principal, administration, or the superintendent of schools
• Prepares class objectives and outlines that align with the district approved curriculum
• Prepares, administers, corrects and analyzes student assessments
• Utilizes the conclusions derived from assessment analysis in developing lessons
• Instructs students on rules of conduct and expected behaviors
• Manages his/her class as well as other students wherever those students may be located whether on campus or off campus events
• Regularly informs parents or guardians of their students academic performance and behavior
• Maintains records, attendance and grades as required by school
• Plans, organizes and delivers differentiated instruction in an appropriate manner consistent with district curriculum
• Provides timely feedback to students, parents, and guardians on evaluations
• Use appropriate techniques and strategies that promote critical, creative, and evaluative thinking skills
• Strives to maintain a learning environment that is both physically and emotionally safe
• Effectively and regularly communicates with fellow staff members and school administration
• Assist in the communication and enforcement of federal and state laws and regulations as well as district policies and procedures
• Works cooperatively with school administration, staff, and special education
• Respects students, parents, guardians and community
• Assists parents with questions and concerns
• Maintain professional relationships with students, parents and guardians
• Respects and embraces students of diverse backgrounds and experiences
• Assist in the protection of students and property
• Assists Principal or Vice Principal in fire and other emergency drills
• Assists the Principal or Vice Principal in the management of students e.g. dismissal, field trips, etc.
• Maintains a high level of personal integrity, confidentiality and a strong work ethic
• Participates in district professional development

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level