Special Education Teacher

About Us:

A Step Up Academy (ASUA) is a leading institution dedicated to providing specialized education for students with autism spectrum disorders. Our mission is to create a supportive and nurturing learning environment that promotes academic, social, and emotional growth for every student. We are currently seeking a passionate and dedicated Special Education Teacher to join our team and contribute to the success of our students.

Position Overview:

As a Special Education Teacher at ASUA, you will play a crucial role in creating an inclusive and supportive educational environment for students with autism spectrum disorders. You will work collaboratively with a team of professionals to implement individualized education plans (IEPs), facilitate skill development, and foster a positive and engaging learning experience.

Position: Special Education (Lead) Teacher (Lower School, Grades Pre-K-3rd)

Reports to: Director of Educational Programming

Status: Full Time

Job Summary: The Lead Teacher will work with students with Autism in a highly structured, managed, and organized educational setting of up to 8 students per caseload. This includes in-person and virtual settings. Teachers will utilize curriculum options designed to meet the needs of each individual student and will ensure that lessons and teaching methods are modified appropriately for each student while maximizing small group instruction and inclusion with general education peers. Students will be taught using current research and practice in applied behavior analysis, along with research-based educational programming aligned to the state standards with the goal of preparing students for maximum success.

Certifications and Qualifications:

Pennsylvania Certification in Special Education (Public or Private School)

Current (dated within a year)

Act 34, 114, and 151 clearances

Essential Duties:

• Provide autistic support case management for a caseload of up to 8 students.
• Teacher will be responsible for providing direct instruction to students and modifications to student assignments, supplemental materials to support students with academic assignments, overseeing and facilitating daily schedules, implementing and ensuring fidelity with positive behavior support plans, one-to-one instructional support, and collaborating with various professionals on behalf of each student to ensure academic success, including management of support staff within the classroom. Specific duties Include, but are not limited to:
• Responsible for planning instruction for all students in the classroom (building or virtual) in accordance with ASUA’s curriculum and student’s IEP goals with a specific focus on differentiated instruction designed to meet the individual needs of each student in all content areas.
• Supervise assistant teacher and/or instructional assistants in the building or virtually by providing direction on programming and data collection for all students.
• Communicate in a timely and professional manner with parents though written, electronic, or telephone methods.
• Implement Positive Behavior Support Plans for students under direction of Associate Head of School.
• Provide direct instruction to students in one-to-one and small group settings
• Write compliant and effective IEPs for caseload students, with support from the Director of Educational Programming.
• Attend, participate in, and facilitate IEP and Student Progress meetings for caseload students.
• Complete Student Progress Summaries for meetings (every 8 weeks for each student).
• Complete Trimester IEP Progress Reports (3 times per year).
• Complete Trimester Academic Reports (3 times per year)
• Ensure data is collected on all behavior and academic goals.
• Ensure daily communication logs are completed daily for all students.
• Update IEP at a Glance for students after IEP updates.
• Provide adaptive/self-help skill instruction for students according to their individual needs/IEP goals or SDI, instruction on skills includes but not limited to potty training, brushing teeth, feeding, and dressing skills.
• Collaborate with related service providers (speech, OT, PT, Vision, behavior, etc) to ensure generalization of skills and implementation/use of assistive technology.
• Ensure timely completion of all IEP compliance job duties (IEP writing, revisions, and meetings, RRs, goal data collection, progress reports) and manage all case management duties as required.
• Travel between campuses as needed and directed.
• Duties can be performed in the building, community, or in other off-campus locations.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

• To read and abide by the Employee Handbook including updates and changes.
• To attend all mandatory meetings, including those that fall outside of regularly scheduled school hours and as described in the Employee Handbook.
• This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. The Teacher will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other related duties as assigned by the Head of School, Director of Educational Programming, Associate Head of School, or other appropriate administrator.

Competencies Required:

• Strong understanding, planning, implementation and assessment of classroom instruction.
• Ability to engage students through a variety of instructional strategies.
• Competence in assessing student progress towards IEP goals and objectives and ability to write a quality review of records and IEP based on student progress and performance
• A firm understanding of all current legislation surrounding Special Education and any changes made to it.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to follow established policies and procedures.
• Able to work independently and effectively with other team members.
• Good team player and very reliable in working without close supervision.

Physical Requirements:

Sitting, standing, lifting and carrying (up to 50 pounds), reaching, squatting, climbing stairs, kneeling, and moving light furniture may be required. Adequate vision and hearing ability for monitoring children’s verbal and non-verbal responses. Ability to provide a quality behavioral and speech/language model for students and staff.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

License/Certification:

• Pennsylvania Special Education Teaching Certificate (Required)

Work Location: In person