Teacher

Nexus Family Healing•Manteno, IL

13h•Onsite

About The Position

Nexus Family Healing is hiring a Teacher for the Safe Harbor School at their Manteno, IL location. The Safe Harbor School (SHS) is a private school that serves youth in grades 6-12 receiving treatment at Nexus-Indian Oak. SHS provides a special education curriculum accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement and approved by the Illinois State Board of Education, with credits transferable upon client discharge. The role involves providing educational instruction through a variety of accepted teaching techniques while employing behavior management strategies to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of assigned individual students’ IEPs. The school environment offers small class sizes, full-time Teaching Assistants in every classroom, and support from Behavior and Residential Staff throughout the school day. Nexus Family Healing is a national nonprofit network of mental health agencies with over 45 years of experience restoring hope for children and families through various mental health services, foster care, adoption, and residential treatment. The organization embraces diversity, promotes equity, and fosters inclusion, striving for a workforce that reflects the diversity of the youth and families they serve.

Requirements

Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in an educational discipline is required.
Active teacher’s licensure/certification required.
Valid driver’s license required.
Must meet state regulating agency and Home Office driving requirements.
Must successfully pass an IL DCFS criminal background check.
Must have the ability to build strong relationships with diverse individuals or communities and understand their unique needs and challenges.
Must be open to meeting the cultural needs of individuals or communities, considering factors such as language, traditions, and values.

Nice To Haves

2 years previous teaching experience preferred.
Active teacher’s licensure/certification specialization in the areas of EBD, LD, SED and TMH.

Responsibilities

In cooperation with other members of the school team, assess educational needs and the progress of assigned students.
Provide instruction to assigned students in classes of expertise as assigned.
Prepare lesson plans suitable to the environment, age group and class mix on the assigned subject area(s).
Assist students individually where necessary; serve as a champion and advocate for each student taking a vested interest in the success of each student’s learning, and social and emotional growth.
Remain apprised of the latest and emerging, most widely accepted teaching techniques, in an effort meet the needs of emotionally and behaviorally challenged students within a residential setting.
Provide assessments of progress to academic goals.
Continually look for new approaches to instruction, class content and be responsive to students’ needs.
Collaborate with internal staff and communicate with students, coworkers, and leaders in a respectful and professional manner; lead by example remaining supportive of the Nexus mission, methods and values.
Provide crisis intervention within the classroom setting and apply TCI or approved de-escalation techniques appropriate to the situation at hand; ask for assistance when warranted through appropriate procedures and keep other academic and clinical treatment staff appraised of inappropriate behaviors.
Create a classroom climate that is positive and supportive for both learning and treatment.
Establish and maintain appropriate relationships with students and emphasize student responsibility in the educational program.
Recognize student achievement and provide appropriate reinforcement, acknowledgement and recognition, while redirecting student behavior opportunities and maintaining appropriate boundaries.
Communicate students’ academic and behavioral successes and failures through both written and verbal communication to both fellow educational staff and treatment team staff.
Incorporate cultural diversity into all aspects of educational programming and instruction; attend trainings and other educational opportunities to become better informed and respectful of other cultures.
Ensure confidentiality regarding students is in compliance with all licensing agencies, company policy, COA and HIPAA guidelines.
Develop or assist in developing IEPs, test ability levels and coordinate meetings with other members of the IEP team where appropriate.
Attend faculty/staff meetings, IEP staffings, and participate in additional meetings and training sessions as required; understand and support the Nexus treatment philosophy and modalities.
Additional Duties as assigned.