VISION: We will create an academic home for advanced and creative learning, cultivate personal and standards-based excellence and leadership 1 SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER JOB DESCRIPTION Educational Requirements: Bachelor s Degree or Higher; Colorado Licensure required, Gifted Education Endorsement preferred All teachers must meet the requirement of a "highly qualified teacher" as mandated by the No Child Left Behind Law. Requirements are as follows: A. Must have obtained a Bachelor's degree or higher; B. Must have demonstrated competency in the core academic subject area(s) that he/she teaches by passing a content area test or enough hours to be equivalent to a major (24 semester hours). The core academic areas are English; Reading or Language Arts; Mathematics; Science; Foreign Languages; Social Studies (Civics, Government, Economics, History, Geography); the Arts (visual arts, Drama, Music). C. The 3rd requirement, as mandated for public school employees, is state certification/licensure in special education. This requirement is not waived for Special Education Teachers at a charter school. AcademyACL will have preference for special education teachers who also hold gifted education endorsements. Candidate should have concentrations, research, and/or experience and be prepared to continue to develop skill and expertise, in: - Special Education (and Remedial Instruction techniques) - Curriculum & Instruction - Gifted Education/Twice-Exceptional Education - Colorado s Response to Intervention (RtI) & MTSS Process Position Start Date: Typically, August 1 Pay Periods: monthly Curriculum Training Dates: TBD Reports To: The Lead Teacher, Dean of Student Support, and Academy Director Required Skills: - Excellent written and oral communication skills - Excellent people-skills that include advocacy, teamwork, co-teaching, and conflict resolution skills - Initiative and Attention-to-detail that actively seeks and meets legal requirements for accommodations, modifications, scheduling, identification, and special education needs - Consistent implementation of high standards for educational ethics and best practices - High capacity in all academic content areas for teaching kindergarten through eighth grade students - Awareness and skill with both academic and social-emotional needs of twice-exceptional students - Ability to use proven methods to help students increase achievement, including the tiered response and support systems as mandated by Colorado and directed by Colorado Springs District 11 - Effective teamwork with special education and the work of school psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech/language pathologists, school nurses, and other such specialists - Personal Growth Mindset that welcomes and applies coaching feedback and celebrates goals Direct Reports: All classroom teachers report up through a structure of Lead Teachers/Team Leaders for Divisions, Specialized Student Services, and Finance and Operations. The Academy Director determines the appropriate structure, such as Teaching Teams for Divisions I, II, and III; Divisions IV and V; Encore Team; Student Support Team, and Office Team.
Job Summary: The Special Education Teacher is expected to provide a highly challenging, highly supportive gifted education program that meets the vision and the mission of AcademyACL under the guidance of the Academy Director. The Special Education Teacher is entrusted with the educational support of students with federally mandated Individual Education Plans for educational, physical, and other handicaps as well as additional students who are being monitored in a tiered response process. Special education teachers are also expected to build relationships with other students in the teaching team and within the school as appropriate, and to support other teachers in the mission of the Academy. This teacher is expected to contribute to a highly supportive and highly challenging school climate that supports academic achievement and the needs of the whole child. Within these broad areas, and working with the educational and administrative structure of the Academy, the Special Education Teacher position will include the following responsibilities: Area of Excellence: Academic Performance & Accreditation Status measures the purpose of AcademyACL as an academic home for advanced and creative learning. This includes expectations from the State of Colorado for Standards & Instructional Planning, Best First Instruction, Assessment, and Tiered Support for students. At AcademyACL this process emphasizes both excellence in academics as well as the social-emotional growth of students. Special Education teachers are responsible for: Academic Excellence: Assessments: Responsible for administering and interpreting results of ability and achievement assessments, using accurate testing procedures and developing continual improvement of student academic performance in collaboration with other teachers Behavior Modification: Responsible to teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement Best Practices: Responsible to instruct students using research-based instructional methodologies and techniques (including techniques for twice-exceptional students, and for improving sensory-motor and perceptual-motor development, memory, language, and cognition) Celebrations: Responsible for showcasing the academic performance and progress of his/her students Co-Teaching & Planning: Responsible for team- and co-teaching with other teachers for integrated lessons/units with themes in Encore and Core subjects and other faculty as appropriate to promote the educational, physical, and social/emotional development of students Curriculum: Responsible for implementing Curriculum as outlined by AcademyACL Curriculum Guide and planning curriculum and other instructional materials to meet students needs, considering such factors as physical, emotional, and educational abilities Data: Responsible for analyzing student achievement data, and using data to drive and adjust instruction Differentiation: Responsible for ensuring that effective, ongoing differentiation is in place for both remedial and advanced learning needs, within every teaching opportunity Field Trips & Expeditions: Responsible for planning and implementing Expeditionary Learning opportunities with Division Team (including an overnight stay in Division II, overnight trip in Divisions III-V) that align with specific Colorado Content Standards and AcademyACL Lifeskills standards Living Skills: Responsible to instruct students in daily living skills required for independent maintenance and economic self-sufficiency, such as hygiene, safety, and food preparation as necessary Portfolio (Students): Responsible for providing information as needed for a cumulative portfolio for each student with select samples of student work that demonstrates strengths and growth over time Portfolio/Planner (Teacher): Responsible for maintaining a teacher portfolio with evidence of effective, standards-based lessons, best-practice instructional strategies, and documentation of student growth on standardized and alternative measures Progress: Responsible to observe, evaluate, and prepare reports on progress of assigned students Real World Connections: Responsible to select and teach reading material and math problems related to everyday life of the individual student, as appropriate Staffings: Responsible to facilitate staffings concerning Individual Education Plans, to confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers and others to develop IEPs. Standardized Testing: Responsible for using accurate, ethical standardized testing procedures 2
Student Plans: Responsible for maintaining students special education Individual Education Plans, and Personal Learning Plan Goals each reporting period; and connecting to Individual READ Act Plans, Advanced Learning Plans, Section 504 Plans, and classroom needs as appropriate Tiered Support: Responsible for implementing, facilitating, monitoring, and supporting a tiered intervention process to maximize student support and achievement within school design Social-Emotional Growth - Curriculum: Responsible for ensuring that AcademyACL Lifeskills lessons are taught daily, reinforced throughout the day, and communicated to parents in a positive, collaborative manner - Continuum of Expectations: Responsible for ensuring that AcademyACL students are supported on a continuum that is adjusted for their individual growth needs - Capturing Kids Hearts: Responsible for ensuring that CKH strategies are consistently in place for a consistently positive approach to working with students, parents, and colleagues Area of Excellence: School Operations includes expectations from the state of Colorado for Leadership, Culture and Climate, Educator Effectiveness, and Continuous Improvement. AcademyACL bases the success of its school operations as an outcome of its Values (the importance of: awareness of student-need, family partnerships, staff teamwork and expectations, professional development, curricular programming, instructional and differentiation techniques, integration of technology, classroom management and safety, and community connections). Leadership Each Classroom and Special Education Teacher is responsible for using Leadership Skills (encouraging the heart, modeling the way, inspiring a shared vision, challenging the process, and encouraging others to act, Kouzes & Posner ) within his/her role as Teacher: Encourage and support others as they contribute to the vision & mission of the school Model positive collaboration and effective teaching strategies, and actively Enable teammates, students, families and others to act in positive and productive ways o Welcome and cultivate various family and community volunteer partnerships o Communicate positively and effectively in both written and oral forms with the Academy Director, Teaching Team, Parents, Administrative Staff and the Community PTO/PAACL: Responsible for supporting positive relationships with PAACL Channels: Responsible for maintaining positive and effective parent communication channels (newsletter, message boards, setting office hours and meeting times, et cetera) Data and Support: Responsible for ensuring that families receive timely communication on specific areas in which students are struggling and excelling on Colorado content standards, and providing specific ways in which families can support their students towards content mastery Conflict Resolution: Responsible for ensuring all families are aware of channels to resolve conflicts, and implementing pro-active strategies to prevent, reduce and resolve conflicts in productive ways Model effective teaching strategies and strengthen one s own practice through the use of the designated teacher evaluation tool and rubric (such as iobservation) o Demonstrate a passion for gifted education as well as the needs of all students Contribute to a shared vision for academic and operational excellence Challenge systems, processes, ideas and methodologies that are not working for the needs of children in positive, supportive and productive ways 3
Within Leadership in particular, the Special Education Teacher will: Coordinate additional support personnel and ensure that Individual Education Plan deadlines and requirements are met within homeroom and other classrooms Ensure that accommodations, modifications, and other documentation is correctly recorded for standardized testing and other requirements in a timely and efficient manner 4 Culture, Climate & Learning environment: - After-School Functions: Responsible for attending/supporting occasional after-school community functions (2-6 specific events are required for all teachers, as designated by Academy Director) - Capturing Kids Hearts : Responsible for implementing schoolwide classroom management strategies - Community Connections: Responsible for accurately and effectively representing the mission of AcademyACL to the community, individually or with field trips and students - Decorum: Responsible for using and supporting appropriate decorum throughout the building, including following staff dress code and timeliness expectations - Discipline: Responsible for implementing and documenting Level I student discipline within classroom o Teamwork: Responsible for supporting the discipline process in other Team classrooms o o Interventions: Responsible for recording/contributing to Levels II and III behavior interventions Communication: Responsible for communicating to Lead Teacher, Academy Director and/or designee when support for serious and/or repetitive behavior is needed - Facilities: Responsible for supporting maintenance of the classrooms on teaching team and general use areas in the building; may be asked to support simple maintenance on school grounds - Guest Teachers: Responsible for ensuring that guest/substitute teacher folders are consistently, effectively updated, and guest/substitute teachers are scheduled for absences, with contingency plans - Positive Tone and Environment: Responsible for using positive language and tone of voice that sets students up for success attempts to prevent serious conflicts from occurring o Responsible for maintaining a safe, comfortable environment o Responsible for maintaining an accurate inventory of materials in classroom o Responsible for maintaining cleanliness and disease-prevention guidelines - Safety: Responsible for maintaining the secure, safe educational environment of classroom, hallways, playground, and related areas, including the adherence to one s own duty roster and ensuring that substitutes for a particular duty are scheduled as needed - Team Processes: Responsible for supporting the Lead Team in the assignment of students to classes Educator Effectiveness: - Instructional Strategies: Responsible for implementing, learning, and increasing own skill with specific best practice, instructional strategies in general and gifted education (Domain 1, observation framework) - Planning and Preparing: Responsible for planning and preparing effective lessons based on Colorado standards, AcademyACL Curriculum Guide, and a pre/post assessment cycle (Domain 2, observation framework) - Growth Plan: Responsible for developing and updating one s own professional growth plan goals, pursuing additional trainings and support needed, and contributing to the growth of other faculty through Professional Learning Community meetings, staff meetings, observations and feedback to other teachers, mentorships, et cetera. (Domain 3, observation framework) o Documentation: Responsible for providing updates to one s own personnel file (stored with the Business Manager) with additional trainings, certification renewals, et cetera. - Collegial and Professional Behavior: Responsible for handling conflicts with students, families, staff members and others in a positive and professional manner by using the AcademyACL conflict resolution process, following expectations within the employee handbook, staff social contract, and encouraging others to do so as well (Domain 4, observation framework)
Continuous Improvement: 5 - Committees: Responsible for working on a committee to further the vision and mission of the school (such as Student Data Committee, Culture Building Committee, Family and Student Support Team, etc). - Curriculum Map: Responsible for contributing to the AcademyACL curriculum map - Management Information System: Responsible for using appropriate use of software and web accounts for the educational process, and protecting confidential student and staff passwords - Reports: Responsible for supplying information necessary for reports due to Colorado Springs District 11 and the Colorado Department of Education o Responsible to ensure that a final copy of each grade report is kept in the permanent file - Strategic Plan: Responsible for contributing ideas and feedback for the AcademyACL development plan - Student Records: Responsible for maintaining accurate documentation/files of students - Technology: Responsible for using technology for instruction, assessment, communication, and reports - Unified School Improvement Plan (UsIP): Responsible for participating in the development, knowing, supporting, and implementing strategies identified in the annual UsIP created by AcademyACL. - Visitors: Responsible for maintaining effective learning environments that portray themselves accurately and clearly to visitors, including the training of student classroom greeters, and welcoming visitors Area of Excellence: Financial Health & Accountability measures the fiscal health of AcademyACL as a sustainable program and includes the school budget, volunteer support and hours collected, contributions and donations received, and conservation of resources such as time, materials, and energy. Finance and Accounting: - Budget: Responsible for contributing to plans and maintenance of the Special Education budget - Fundraising: Responsible for supporting AcademyACL fundraising activities as appropriate - Purchasing: Responsible for completing Requests for Authorization of Funds as needed to purchase supplies, equipment and other materials according to the allotted budget, and knowing that pre-approval is required and sales tax is not reimbursable - Resources: Responsible for supporting the conservation of resources in his/her classroom and relevant areas of the building, including utilities, photocopying and consumption of supplies o Substitute Teachers: Responsible to use the Substitute Teacher Process effectively - Volunteer Hours: Responsible for recording and reporting volunteer hours provided as needed Other Responsibilities: Physical Requirements: This job requires a high activity level with movement throughout the building, active involvement with student activities including jogging, dancing and jumping, support for janitorial tasks as needed (including things such as cleaning tables, vacuuming, and light lifting of boxes with classroom materials), and personal contact with children who may be seated on the floor or at low tables. This job also requires emotional stamina and personal stress management to maintain a positive approach with students, parents and colleagues throughout the entire school day, including students with very high energy and possibly low impulse control, and students, parents, and colleagues who demonstrate intensities that can accompany gifted behaviors. Other Position Requirements: This is a ten-month position, paid in a twelve-month cycle, which requires more than 40 hours per week, on atwill employment basis [see below]. Full-time teachers are required to be on-campus from 7:40 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with the addition of staff meetings, family-teacher conferences, and any applicable off-campus meetings or trainings during or beyond the regular school day. No extended travel will be required; however, attendance at state (Beyond Giftedness, CAGT) and national (NAGC) conferences on gifted education may be required. Local travel may be required to attend additional trainings.
6 Compensation and Benefits Available: Starting entry-level salary begins at $33,000. Benefits include dental insurance, health insurance, Public Employees Retirement Association membership (PERA), professional development opportunities, holidays, sick leave, and vacation time. Opportunities for flex time (outside contact hours with students) may be available at the discretion of the Academy Director. A stipend, depending on qualifications, may be available for additional responsibilities such as: Lead Teacher. The Academy Director, in coordination with the Business Manager, will allocate additional bonus monies for teachers, as described in the Employee Handbook. In a given school year, the Special Education Teacher may have specified hours to spend on special education, and specified hours to support the tiered support or Section 504 process as needed, with weekly leadership and support for homeroom teachers, at the direction of the Lead Teacher or Academy Director. As members of the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA), AcademyACL employees do not contribute to, nor receive, Social Security benefits. At-Will Employment All employment, in every position, at AcademyACL is under At-Will Employment status. Colorado follows the legal doctrine of "employment-at-will" which provides that in the absence of a contract to the contrary, neither an employer nor an employee is required to give notice or advance notice of termination or resignation. Additionally, neither an employer nor an employee is required to give a reason for the separation from employment. No AcademyACL employee shall be authorized by the AcademyACL Board of Directors to provide or convey any employment agreement that does not follow expectations for at-will employment. Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning complies with all state and federal statutes, rules and regulations and is an equal opportunity employer. Job Description Agreement Position: Special Education Teacher Dated: I have reviewed and understand the above Job Description, believe it to be accurate and complete, and I agree that I can successfully fulfill each duty or task. I also agree that the Academy Director or Board of Directors retains the right to change this job description at any time, and that under terms of At-Will Employment neither myself nor AcademyACL as the employer will be required to give a reason for the separation from employment. This Job Description is effective until revised and properly approved. Classroom Teacher Date Academy Director Date Last updated: March 9, 2015