We are currently searching for qualified and dedicated individuals to serve as Special Education teachers in the Alternative Education Settings (AES) room for the 2024-2025 academic year at our PK-7 campus. This position demands exceptional adaptability to tailor educational methods to diverse student needs within an Alternative Education Setting. The ideal candidate will exhibit profound patience and resilience, coupled with robust behavioral management skills to ensure a safe and engaging learning environment. Empathy and understanding are crucial, as these roles involve significant interaction with students who may have experienced various challenges. Successful candidates will be team-oriented, demonstrating a collaborative spirit and the ability to work effectively with a multidisciplinary team to enhance student outcomes. We also value innovative problem-solving abilities and a strong commitment to ongoing professional development to stay abreast of the latest strategies in special education. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a substantial impact on students in a specialized educational setting, requiring dedicated professionals who are eager to adapt and thrive in a dynamic environment.
Alternative Education Settings (AES) are specialized educational environments designed to meet the unique needs of students who require distinct support structures outside of traditional classroom settings. In AES, the focus is on providing personalized instruction and behavioral interventions tailored to students with diverse learning and behavioral challenges. These settings often cater to students who have not thrived in conventional educational environments due to various reasons, including behavioral issues or special education needs that require more focused attention and specialized approaches. The AES environment is structured to ensure that all students receive the necessary academic and behavioral support to succeed, promoting both their educational progress and emotional well-being. AES employs a variety of instructional techniques and resources, ensuring that education is accessible and effective for each student, regardless of their background or challenges.
Work Hours: 7:10 AM to 3:40 PM (193 days)
Job Roles:
- Provide students with appropriate learning activities and experiences in the subject area(s) assigned to help students fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, physical, and social growth.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Meet Texas “highly qualified” standards.
- Texas Teacher Certificate appropriate for level and subject area of assignment (required for ESL/Bilingual, SPED and preferred for other subjects).
Knowledge and Skills:
- Knowledge of curriculum and instruction.
- Ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral forms with all levels of management, both internal and external to the campus.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships both internal and external to the district.
- Proficient in using computers, including district-specific databases, spreadsheet and word processing software; additionally skilled in operating calculators, copy machines, and telephones.
- Ability to use effective interview techniques, effective public speaking skills, and problem-solving skills.
Key Responsibilities:
- Plan a program of study that, as much as possible, meets the individual needs, interests, and abilities of the students.
- Create a classroom environment that is conducive to learning and appropriate to the maturity and interests of the students.
- Prepare lessons that reflect accommodations for individual differences.
- Prepare for classes assigned and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisor.
- Encourage students to set and maintain standards of classroom behavior.
- Guide the learning process toward achieving curriculum goals. At SST Schools, establish and clearly communicate objectives for all lessons, units, and projects to students.
- Employ a variety of instructional techniques and instructional media consistent with the physical limitations of the location provided, and the needs and capabilities of the individuals or student groups involved.
- Strive to implement, by instruction and action, the district’s philosophy of education and instructional goals and objectives.
- Assess the accomplishments of the students on a regular basis and provide progress reports as required.
- Refer students for evaluation by district specialists as required.
- Take necessary and reasonable precautions to protect the students, equipment, materials, and facilities.
- Maintain accurate, complete, and correct records as required by law, district policy, and administrative regulations.
- Assist the administration in implementing all policies and rules governing student life and conduct.
- Develop reasonable rules of classroom behavior. Maintain order in the classroom in a fair and just manner.
- Make provisions for being available to the students and to the parents for education-related purposes when required.
- Plan and supervise purposeful assignments for teacher aide(s) and volunteer(s) and, cooperatively with department heads, evaluate their job performance.
- Maintain and improve professional competence.
- Participate in district and campus staff development.
- Attend staff meetings and serve on staff committees.
- Maintain a professional relationship with colleagues.
- Establish and maintain open lines of communication with students, parents, and community members.
- Prepare and submit lesson plans in a timely manner in the platform the school utilizes.
- Maintain a minimum number of grades in the Gradebook in a timely manner.
- Meet the mentor teacher regularly (if new teacher).
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Work Environment and Physical Requirements:
- Light Work: may require occasional light lifting.
- Occasional night and weekend activities required.
- Position is in an office setting and may involve prolonged work at a desk in one location.
- Moderate travel is required.
Special Education Teacher Duties:
- Attends Special Programs Trainings and Meetings at cluster and campus level.
- Conducts weekly meetings with general education teachers of special population served under mainstream.
- Assists campus coordinator in the timely referral, evaluation and ARD process.
- Assists campus coordinator in preparing special education paperwork: ARD, FIE, IEP, Modifications etc.
- Assists campus coordinator in collecting updated IEPs and sending these to parents every nine weeks.
- Along with the coordinators, completes Special Education Student Transfer Steps including folder check for Sp. Ed. in a timely manner.
- Assists campus coordinator in completing all ARD process (from scheduling to mailing the ARD paperwork to the parents) in a timely manner.
- Assists the campus coordinator in completing transition procedures and paperwork for students.
- Implements appropriate Special Education services based on related IEP and ARD paperwork.
- Assists campus coordinator in dissemination of modifications, accommodations and IEPs to the related teachers and personnel in a timely manner.
- Participates in making appropriate state assessment decisions in ARD and implements necessary modification/accommodations.
- Collaborates with the gen ed teachers on development of intervention plan for the students in Tier III.
- Attends SST meetings if needed.
- Monitors special education student's IEP and BIP progress.
- Attends the MDR meetings.
- In coordination with the campus discipline committee, assists appropriate handling of discipline issues for Special Education and 504 students.
- Maintains the corresponding documentation for Sp. Ed. Services (sign ups, schedules, modified lesson plans, assignments, and logs) in a well-organized manner.
- Observes the student and provides input for entry and exit COSF ratings.
This detailed job description covers various aspects of the roles, responsibilities, and expectations for a Special Education Teacher, ensuring that candidates are well-informed about what the position entails.
- Salary Placement: Based on professional and teaching experience with a STEP increase of $250 for each year of approved experience. Maximum step is 30.
- Additional Stipends:
- Tier I Experience Stipend:
- Teachers on steps 5-9 receive an additional $1,000 annually.
- Tier II Experience Stipend:
- Teachers on steps 10-30 receive an additional $2,000 annually.
- Advanced Degrees: Additional annual stipends of $1000 for a Master’s degree and $2500 for a Doctoral degree.
Job Types: Full-time, Contract, Temporary
Pay: $58,000.00 - $65,500.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Grade school specialties:
- Elementary school
- Middle school
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday
Education:
Experience:
- Teaching: 1 year (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- Teaching Certification (Required)
- Special Education Certification (Required)
Work Location: In person