High School Special Education Teacher

Job Description 

Position:  High School Special Education Resource Teacher or Teacher Consultant
Position Status: Full-Time or Part-Time options, Flexible Hours/Days
Location: Kalamazoo Covenant Academy
Annualy Salary: $44,100 (Bachelors degree) or $49,100 (Masters degree)

Professional Supervisor: Supervisor of Academic Progress
Administrative Supervisor: School Leader

General Description: The Covenant Academies Foundation operates year-round charter High Schools offering a traditional High School diploma to dropout and at-risk students ages 16-22. The Special Education Teacher works collaboratively with students and teachers to provide specially designed instruction, accommodations and modifications for secondary students eligible for Special Education services under IDEA, evaluates and assesses student progress, follows state and federal mandated due process procedures, functions as the IEP Caseload Manager to assigned students, uses various methods to provide instruction to students on their caseload (ie. push-in, pull-out, team teaching, etc).

Primary Responsibilities

• Understands, accepts, and abides by the Covenant Academies Foundation philosophy and mission statement in all his/her school activities

• Demonstrates a belief in all students ability to succeed and meet high expectations

• Assumes responsibility for the development and implementation of specific objectives to meet the needs of each individual student

• Provide individualized, research-based specialized instruction to address the instructional goals and objectives contained within each student's IEP

• Use baseline assessment data, progress monitoring tools and communication from the IEP team to develop and support appropriate educational plans and continued use of progress monitoring to produce data to  determine the need for additional reinforcement or adjustments to instructional techniques

• Engage in various teaching techniques, methods and principles of learning to enable students to meet their IEP goals

• Judges the relative success of student  instruction in terms of demonstrated student learning; adjust activities according to evidence of student learning

• Develop and implement annual Individualized Educational Program (IEP) plans for students to include: gathering and use of updated data, present levels of educational performance, Special Education needs, instructional goals and objectives, and the Special Education and related services required to meet those goals

• Collaborate and consult with educational professionals and community service providers (i.e., social services, public health, medical providers etc.) regarding the needs of students; coordinate the delivery of Special Education services in each student's IEP, including related services

• Create a learning environment conducive to learning and appropriate to the maturity and interests of the students

• Write measurable, relevant, and age appropriate IEP goals with a focus on B-13 Transition and provide timely progress monitoring

• Communicate clearly and consistently with students, school staff and families

•  Provides consultation to classroom teachers regarding classroom adaptations, instructional modifications, adaptive equipment, behavior modification plans and other similar instructional interventions to meet the needs of students with disabilities

• Complete Special Education documentation regarding students' specially designed instruction as required by law, district policy and administrative regulations using updated data as obtained from progress monitoring

• School activities - Teachers are required to attend and participate in such other activities as directed by the School Leader and/or Supervisor of Academic Progress such as: staff meetings (before or after school hours), assessment windows, open houses, graduations (2 per year), etc. 

• Uses computers and other technology provided to assist students

• Acts in accordance with the professional duties and directives as given by the Supervisor of Academic Progress, and meets administrative and mission expectations as set forth by the School Leader 

• Has read and agreed to abide by the policies, directives, and guidelines as stated in all Covenant Academies Foundation manuals pertinent to the position

Essential Skills 

• Must possess servant leadership qualities and demonstrate excellent customer service skills, both in verbal and written formats, to all stakeholders

• Ability to understand the needs of dropout, homeless and youth with extreme barriers that the academy serves with sensitivity and compassion

• Ability to work collaboratively with other teachers to interpret and produce numeric representations of student data, and use it to drive instructional decisions

• Receptive to professional learning on a regular basis 

• Ability to embrace change and adapt to ensure excellent student outcomes and growth

• Ability to impact student achievement through mentoring, motivation, and monitoring practices

• Competency in the administration and interpretation of academic ability testing

• Ability to use technology for documentation and preparation of professional materials

• Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices and procedures of Special Education and specialty area and the principles and methodology of effective teaching of students with disabilities

• Ability to communicate assessment results, in written and oral forms, to parents and professionals

• Ability to prioritize tasks, allocate time, and maintain schedule flexibility

Qualifications

• BA or BS Degree

• Valid Special Education teaching certificate/license as well as Highly Qualified (HQ) with endorsement in at least one area of Special Education

• Satisfactory completion of criminal history check

• Valid Driver's License 

• Excellent oral/written communication skills

• Must be able to pass a background check

• Proficient in technology, including Google Suite for Education

• Passion for working with at-risk youth in a hybrid learning setting

This job description is a summary of the responsibilities, duties, knowledge, skills, experience, abilities and qualifications associated with this position. It is not an exhaustive list and may be changed at any time.

Covenant Academies Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any otherwise qualified employee or applicant for employment with respect to hire, tenure, terms, conditions or privileges of employment because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, marital status, disabilities or other legally protected status.