Special Education Teacher (SY 26-27)

Mission Statement
Uplift's mission is to create and sustain public schools of excellence that empower each student to reach their highest potential in college and the global marketplace and that inspire in students a life-long love of learning, achievement, and service in order to positively change their world.

Primary Purpose:
Provide students with appropriate educational activities and experiences that will enable them to fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, physical and social growth. Help students develop the skills necessary to be a productive member of society.

Summary:
Provide special education students with appropriate learning activities and experiences that will enable them to fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, physical and social growth. Develop student ability level instructional materials through modified curriculum and prepared lesson plans. Conduct work in self-contained, team, departmental or itinerant capacity as necessary.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Instructional Strategies

• Work in conjunction with students, parents, and other members of staff to develop IEPs through the ARD Committee process for each student assigned.
• Design, write and use instructional, therapeutic or skill development programs for assigned students and ensure written plans are available for review.
• Ensure comprehension of learning styles and student needs are met through creation and implementation of appropriate instructional and learning strategies, activities, materials, and equipment.
• Collaborate with classroom teacher on student IEP to ensure all modifications are met and help special education students in regular class when appropriate.
• Participate in ARD Committee meetings on an ongoing basis.
• Design instructional activities by using data from students learning styles assessment.
• Ensure IEP guidelines are met when presenting subject matter.
• Use an assortment of media and techniques to meet the needs and capabilities of each student assigned.
• Produce and oversee the teacher aide and volunteer assignments.
• Employ technology practices to strengthen the instructional process.

Growth and Development

• Produce formal and informal testing to evaluate student success.
• Oversee or ensure personal care, medical care and feedings of students as stated in IEP.
• Manage and care for all extracurricular duties as assigned. Sponsor outside activities approved by charter principal.
• Serve as an example for students, support mission of charter.

Classroom Management

• Prepare classrooms to enhance learning and aid in the physical, social, and emotional development of the students.
• Control student behavior and implement discipline plan. This includes handling crisis and physically restraining students as necessary according to IEP.
• Collaborate with the classroom teachers regarding student behavior management programs according to IEP.
• Collaborate with charter and outside resource people regarding education, social, medical, and personal needs of students.
• Ensure necessary and reasonable measures are taken to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities.
• Provide input on books, equipment, and material selection.

Communication

• Ensure good communication rapport with parents, students, principals, and teachers through conferences.
• Create and maintain professional relationships with colleagues, students, parents, and community members.
• Present information accurately through clear communication skills.

Other

• Enrich job skills through professional development activities.
• Keep up to date and abide by federal, state and charter policies for special education teachers.
• Gather, manage, and file all reports, records and other documents required.
• Be active in faculty meetings and assist in staff committees as required.
• Maintain accurate Time & Effort records of program activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES