VISION: We will create an academic hme fr advanced and creative learning, cultivate persnal and standards-based excellence and leadership 1 SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER JOB DESCRIPTION Educatinal Requirements: Bachelr s Degree r Higher; Clrad Licensure required, Gifted Educatin Endrsement preferred All teachers must meet the requirement f a "highly qualified teacher" as mandated by the N Child Left Behind Law. Requirements are as fllws: A. Must have btained a Bachelr's degree r higher; B. Must have demnstrated cmpetency in the cre academic subject area(s) that he/she teaches by passing a cntent area test r enugh hurs t be equivalent t a majr (24 semester hurs). The cre academic areas are English; Reading r Language Arts; Mathematics; Science; Freign Languages; Scial Studies (Civics, Gvernment, Ecnmics, Histry, Gegraphy); the Arts (visual arts, Drama, Music). C. The 3rd requirement, as mandated fr public schl emplyees, is state certificatin/licensure in special educatin. This requirement is nt waived fr Special Educatin Teachers at a charter schl. AcademyACL will have preference fr special educatin teachers wh als hld gifted educatin endrsements. Candidate shuld have cncentratins, research, and/r experience and be prepared t cntinue t develp skill and expertise, in: - Special Educatin (and Remedial Instructin techniques) - Curriculum & Instructin - Gifted Educatin/Twice-Exceptinal Educatin - Clrad s Respnse t Interventin (RtI) & MTSS Prcess Psitin Start Date: Typically, August 1 Pay Perids: mnthly Curriculum Training Dates: TBD Reprts T: The Lead Teacher, Dean f Student Supprt, and Academy Directr Required Skills: - Excellent written and ral cmmunicatin skills - Excellent peple-skills that include advcacy, teamwrk, c-teaching, and cnflict reslutin skills - Initiative and Attentin-t-detail that actively seeks and meets legal requirements fr accmmdatins, mdificatins, scheduling, identificatin, and special educatin needs - Cnsistent implementatin f high standards fr educatinal ethics and best practices - High capacity in all academic cntent areas fr teaching kindergarten thrugh eighth grade students - Awareness and skill with bth academic and scial-emtinal needs f twice-exceptinal students - Ability t use prven methds t help students increase achievement, including the Respnse t Interventin Prcess (RtI) as mandated by Clrad and directed by Clrad Springs District 11 - Knwledge and effective use f the cnnectins with special educatin and the wrk f schl psychlgists, ccupatinal therapists, physical therapists, speech/language pathlgists, schl nurses, and ther such specialists Direct Reprts: All classrm teachers reprt up thrugh a structure f Lead Teachers/Team Leaders fr Divisins, Specialized Student Services, and Finance and Operatins. The Academy Directr determines the apprpriate structure, such as Teaching Teams fr Divisins I, II, and III; Divisins IV and V; Encre Team; Student Supprt Team, and Office Team. Jb Summary: The Special Educatin Teacher is entrusted with the educatinal supprt f students with
federally mandated Individual Educatin Plans fr students with educatinal, physical, and ther handicaps as well as additinal students wh are being mnitred in a tiered respnse prcess as needed. Special educatin teachers are als expected t build relatinships with ther students in the teaching team and within the schl as apprpriate, and t implement and supprt ther teachers in the missin f the Academy. This teacher is expected t cntribute t a highly supprtive and highly challenging schl climate that supprts academic achievement and the needs f the whle child. Within these brad areas, and wrking with the educatinal and administrative structure f the Academy, the Special Educatin Teacher psitin will include the fllwing respnsibilities: Area f Excellence: Academic Perfrmance & Accreditatin Status measures the purpse f AcademyACL as an academic hme fr advanced and creative learning. This includes expectatins frm the State f Clrad fr Standards & Instructinal Planning, Best First Instructin, Assessment, and Tiered Supprt fr students. At AcademyACL this prcess emphasizes bth excellence in academics as well as the scial-emtinal grwth f students. Special Educatin teachers are respnsible fr: Academic Excellence: Assessments: Respnsible fr administering and interpreting results f ability and achievement assessments, using accurate testing prcedures and develping cntinual imprvement f student academic perfrmance in cllabratin with ther teachers Behavir Mdificatin: Respnsible t teach scially acceptable behavir, emplying techniques such as behavir mdificatin and psitive reinfrcement Best Practices: Respnsible t instruct students using research-based instructinal methdlgies and techniques (including techniques fr twice-exceptinal students, and fr imprving sensry-mtr and perceptual-mtr develpment, memry, language, and cgnitin) Celebratins: Respnsible fr shwcasing the academic perfrmance and prgress f his/her students C-Teaching & Planning: Respnsible fr team- and c-teaching with ther teachers fr integrated lessns/units with themes in Encre and Cre subjects and ther faculty as apprpriate t prmte the educatinal, physical, and scial/emtinal develpment f students Curriculum: Respnsible fr implementing Curriculum as utlined by AcademyACL Curriculum Guide and planning curriculum and ther instructinal materials t meet students needs, cnsidering such factrs as physical, emtinal, and educatinal abilities Data: Respnsible fr analyzing student achievement data, and using data t drive and adjust instructin Differentiatin: Respnsible fr ensuring that effective, nging differentiatin is in place fr bth remedial and advanced learning needs, within every teaching pprtunity Field Trips & Expeditins: Respnsible fr planning and implementing Expeditinary Learning pprtunities with Divisin Team (including an vernight stay in Divisin II, vernight trip in Divisins III-V) that align with specific Clrad Cntent Standards and AcademyACL Lifeskills standards Living Skills: Respnsible t instruct students in daily living skills required fr independent maintenance and ecnmic self-sufficiency, such as hygiene, safety, and fd preparatin as necessary Prtfli (Students): Respnsible fr prviding infrmatin as needed fr a cumulative prtfli fr each student with select samples f student wrk that demnstrates strengths and grwth ver time Prtfli/Planner (Teacher): Respnsible fr maintaining a teacher prtfli with evidence f effective, standards-based lessns, best-practice instructinal strategies, and dcumentatin f student grwth n standardized and alternative measures Prgress: Respnsible t bserve, evaluate, and prepare reprts n prgress f assigned students Real Wrld Cnnectins: Respnsible t select and teach reading material and math prblems related t everyday life f the individual student, as apprpriate Staffings: Respnsible t facilitate staffings cncerning Individual Educatin Plans, t cnfer with parents, administratrs, testing specialists, scial wrkers and thers t develp IEPs. Standardized Testing: Respnsible fr using accurate, ethical standardized testing prcedures Student Plans: Respnsible fr maintaining students special educatin Individual Educatin Plans, and Persnal Learning Plan Gals each reprting perid; and cnnecting t Individual READ Act Plans, Advanced Learning Plans, Sectin 504 Plans, and classrm needs as apprpriate 2
Tiered Supprt: Respnsible fr implementing, facilitating, mnitring, and supprting a tiered interventin prcess t maximize student supprt and achievement within schl design 3 Scial-Emtinal Grwth - Curriculum: Respnsible fr ensuring that AcademyACL Lifeskills lessns are taught daily, reinfrced thrughut the day, and cmmunicated t parents in a psitive, cllabrative manner - Cntinuum f Expectatins: Respnsible fr ensuring that AcademyACL students are supprted n a cntinuum that is adjusted fr their individual grwth needs - Capturing Kids Hearts: Respnsible fr ensuring that CKH strategies are cnsistently in place fr a cnsistently psitive apprach t wrking with students, parents, and clleagues Area f Excellence: Schl Operatins includes expectatins frm the state f Clrad fr Leadership, Culture and Climate, Educatr Effectiveness, and Cntinuus Imprvement. AcademyACL bases the success f its schl peratins as an utcme f its Values (the imprtance f: awareness f student-need, family partnerships, staff teamwrk and expectatins, prfessinal develpment, curricular prgramming, instructinal and differentiatin techniques, integratin f technlgy, classrm management and safety, and cmmunity cnnectins). Leadership Each Classrm and Special Educatin Teacher is respnsible fr using Leadership Skills (encuraging the heart, mdeling the way, inspiring a shared visin, challenging the prcess, and encuraging thers t act, Kuzes & Psner ) within his/her rle as Teacher: Encurage and supprt thers as they cntribute t the visin & missin f the schl Mdel psitive cllabratin and effective teaching strategies, and actively Enable teammates, students, families and thers t act in psitive and prductive ways Welcme and cultivate varius family and cmmunity vlunteer partnerships Cmmunicate psitively and effectively in bth written and ral frms with the Academy Directr, Teaching Team, Parents, Administrative Staff and the Cmmunity PTO/PAACL: Respnsible fr supprting psitive relatinships with PAACL Channels: Respnsible fr maintaining psitive and effective parent cmmunicatin channels (newsletter, message bards, setting ffice hurs and meeting times, et cetera) Data and Supprt: Respnsible fr ensuring that families receive timely cmmunicatin n specific areas in which students are struggling and excelling n Clrad cntent standards, and prviding specific ways in which families can supprt their students twards cntent mastery Cnflict Reslutin: Respnsible fr ensuring all families are aware f channels t reslve cnflicts, and implementing pr-active strategies t prevent, reduce and reslve cnflicts in prductive ways Mdel effective teaching strategies and strengthen ne s wn practice thrugh the use f the designated teacher evaluatin tl and rubric (such as iobservatin) Demnstrate a passin fr gifted educatin as well as the needs f all students Cntribute t a shared visin fr academic and peratinal excellence Challenge systems, prcesses, ideas and methdlgies that are nt wrking fr the needs f children in psitive, supprtive and prductive ways In particular, the Special Educatin Teacher will: Crdinate additinal supprt persnnel and ensure that Individual Educatin Plan deadlines and requirements are met Culture, Climate & Learning envirnment:
- After-Schl Functins: Respnsible fr attending/supprting ccasinal after-schl cmmunity functins (2-5 specific events are required fr all teachers, as designated by Academy Directr) - Capturing Kids Hearts : Respnsible fr implementing schlwide classrm management strategies - Cmmunity Cnnectins: Respnsible fr accurately and effectively representing the missin f AcademyACL t the cmmunity, individually r with field trips and students - Decrum: Respnsible fr using and supprting apprpriate decrum thrughut the building, including fllwing staff dress cde and timeliness expectatins - Discipline: Respnsible fr implementing and dcumenting Level I student discipline within classrm Teamwrk: Respnsible fr supprting the discipline prcess in ther Team classrms Interventins: Respnsible fr dcumenting and cntributing t strategies fr Levels II and III behavir interventins Cmmunicatin: Respnsible fr cmmunicating t Lead Teacher, Academy Directr and/r designee when supprt fr serius and/r repetitive behavir is needed - Facilities: Respnsible fr supprting maintenance f the classrms n teaching team and general use areas in the building; may be asked t supprt simple maintenance n schl grunds - Guest Teachers: Respnsible fr ensuring that guest/substitute teacher flders are cnsistently, effectively updated, and guest/substitute teachers are scheduled fr absences, with cntingency plans - Psitive Tne and Envirnment: Respnsible fr using psitive language and tne f vice that sets students up fr success attempts t prevent serius cnflicts frm ccurring Respnsible fr maintaining a safe, cmfrtable envirnment Respnsible fr maintaining an accurate inventry f materials in classrm Respnsible fr maintaining cleanliness prcedures in line with the Academy s diseasepreventin guidelines - Safety: Respnsible fr maintaining the secure, safe educatinal envirnment f classrm, hallways, playgrund, and related areas, including the adherence t ne s wn duty rster and ensuring that substitutes fr a particular duty are scheduled as needed - Team Prcesses: Respnsible fr supprting the Lead Team in the assignment f students t classes Educatr Effectiveness: - Instructinal Strategies: Respnsible fr implementing, learning, and increasing wn skill with specific best practice, instructinal strategies in general and gifted educatin (Dmain 1, bservatin framewrk) - Planning and Preparing: Respnsible fr planning and preparing effective lessns based n Clrad standards, AcademyACL Curriculum Guide, and a pre/pst assessment cycle (Dmain 2, bservatin framewrk) - Grwth Plan: Respnsible fr develping and updating ne s wn prfessinal grwth plan gals, pursuing additinal trainings and supprt needed, and cntributing t the grwth f ther faculty thrugh Prfessinal Learning Cmmunity meetings, staff meetings, bservatins and feedback t ther teachers, mentrships, et cetera. (Dmain 3, bservatin framewrk) Dcumentatin: Respnsible fr prviding updates t ne s wn persnnel file (stred with the Business Manager) with additinal trainings, certificatin renewals, et cetera. - Cllegial and Prfessinal Behavir: Respnsible fr handling cnflicts with students, families, staff members and thers in a psitive and prfessinal manner by using the AcademyACL cnflict reslutin prcess, fllwing expectatins within the emplyee handbk, staff scial cntract, and encuraging thers t d s as well (Dmain 4, bservatin framewrk) Cntinuus Imprvement: - Cmmittees: Respnsible fr wrking n a cmmittee t further the visin and missin f the schl (such as Student Data Cmmittee, Culture Building Cmmittee, Family and Student Supprt Team, etc). - Curriculum Map: Respnsible fr cntributing t the AcademyACL curriculum map 4
- Management Infrmatin System: Respnsible fr using apprpriate use f sftware and web accunts fr the educatinal prcess, and prtecting cnfidential student and staff passwrds - Reprts: Respnsible fr supplying infrmatin necessary fr reprts due t Clrad Springs District 11 and the Clrad Department f Educatin Respnsible t ensure that a final cpy f each grade reprt is kept in the permanent file - Strategic Plan: Respnsible fr cntributing ideas and feedback fr the AcademyACL develpment plan - Student Recrds: Respnsible fr maintaining accurate dcumentatin/files f students - Technlgy: Respnsible fr using technlgy fr instructin, assessment, cmmunicatin, and reprts - Unified Schl Imprvement Plan (UsIP): Respnsible fr participating in the develpment, knwing, supprting, and implementing strategies identified in the annual UsIP created by AcademyACL. - Visitrs: Respnsible fr maintaining effective learning envirnments that prtray themselves accurately and clearly t visitrs, including the training f student classrm greeters, and welcming visitrs 5 Area f Excellence: Financial Health & Accuntability measures the fiscal health f AcademyACL as a sustainable prgram and includes the schl budget, vlunteer supprt and hurs cllected, cntributins and dnatins received, and cnservatin f resurces such as time, materials, and energy. Finance and Accunting: - Budget: Respnsible fr cntributing t plans and maintenance f the Special Educatin budget - Fundraising: Respnsible fr supprting AcademyACL fundraising activities as apprpriate - Purchasing: Respnsible fr cmpleting Requests fr Authrizatin f Funds as needed t purchase supplies, equipment and ther materials accrding t the alltted budget, and knwing that pre-apprval is required and sales tax is nt reimbursable - Resurces: Respnsible fr supprting the cnservatin f resurces in his/her classrm and relevant areas f the building, including utilities, phtcpying and cnsumptin f supplies Substitute Teachers: Respnsible t use the Substitute Teacher Prcess effectively - Vlunteer Hurs: Respnsible fr recrding and reprting vlunteer hurs prvided as needed Other Respnsibilities: Physical Requirements: This jb requires a high activity level that includes mvement thrughut the building, active invlvement with student activities including jgging, dancing and jumping, supprt fr janitrial tasks as needed (including things such as cleaning tables, vacuuming, and light lifting f bxes with classrm materials), and persnal cntact with children wh may be seated n the flr r at lw tables. This jb als requires emtinal stamina and persnal stress management t maintain a psitive apprach with students, parents and clleagues thrughut the entire schl day, including students with very high energy and sme with lw impulse cntrl, and students, parents, and clleagues wh demnstrate intensities that typically accmpany gifted behavirs. Other Psitin Requirements: This is a ten-mnth psitin, paid in a twelve-mnth cycle, which requires mre than 40 hurs per week, n atwill emplyment basis [see belw]. Full-time teachers are required t be n-campus frm 7:40 a.m. t 3:30 p.m., with the additin f staff meetings, family-teacher cnferences, and any applicable ff-campus meetings r trainings during r beynd the regular schl day. N extended travel will be required; hwever, attendance at state (Beynd Giftedness, CAGT) and natinal (NAGC) cnferences n gifted educatin may be required. Lcal travel may be required t attend additinal trainings.
Cmpensatin and Benefits Available: Starting Salary begins at $33,000. Benefits include dental insurance, health insurance, Public Emplyees Retirement Assciatin membership (PERA), prfessinal develpment pprtunities, hlidays, sick leave, and vacatin time. Opprtunities fr flex time (utside cntact hurs with students) may be available at the discretin f the Academy Directr. A stipend, depending n qualificatins, may be available fr additinal respnsibilities such as: Lead Teacher. The Academy Directr, in crdinatin with the Business Manager, will allcate additinal bnus mnies fr teachers, as described in the Emplyee Handbk. In a given schl year, the Special Educatin Teacher may have specified hurs t spend n special educatin, and specified hurs t supprt the tiered supprt r Sectin 504 prcess as needed, with weekly leadership and supprt fr hmerm teachers, at the directin f the Lead Teacher r Academy Directr. As members f the Public Emplyees Retirement Assciatin (PERA), AcademyACL emplyees d nt cntribute t, nr receive, Scial Security benefits. At-Will Emplyment All emplyment, in every psitin, at AcademyACL is under At-Will Emplyment status. Clrad fllws the legal dctrine f "emplyment-at-will" which prvides that in the absence f a cntract t the cntrary, neither an emplyer nr an emplyee is required t give ntice r advance ntice f terminatin r resignatin. Additinally, neither an emplyer nr an emplyee is required t give a reasn fr the separatin frm emplyment. N AcademyACL emplyee shall be authrized by the AcademyACL Bard f Directrs t prvide r cnvey any emplyment agreement that des nt fllw expectatins fr at-will emplyment. Academy fr Advanced and Creative Learning cmplies with all state and federal statutes, rules and regulatins and is an equal pprtunity emplyer. Jb Descriptin Agreement 6 Psitin: Special Educatin Teacher Dated: I have reviewed and understand the abve Jb Descriptin, believe it t be accurate and cmplete, and I agree that I can successfully fulfill each duty r task. I als agree that the Academy Directr r Bard f Directrs retains the right t change this jb descriptin at any time, and that under terms f At-Will Emplyment neither myself nr AcademyACL as the emplyer will be required t give a reasn fr the separatin frm emplyment. This Jb Descriptin is effective until revised and prperly apprved. Classrm Teacher Date Academy Directr Date Last updated: March 9, 2015