Emerson Elementary - Special Education Teacher (Resource) - 0.5 FTE

Seattle Public Schools; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Seattle Public Schools is seeking a dedicated special education classroom teacher to join our Resource service pathway. You will foster an effective learning environment, adapt learning objectives, and provide instruction, counseling, and supervision aligned with district guidelines and state regulations.

You will collaborate with the building principal, program managers, and specialists to design individualized plans, evaluate progress, and report to families.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; experience with diverse urban student populations is preferred.
• Valid Washington State Teaching Certificate with Special Education Endorsement.
• Experience designing instruction for students with disabilities and adapting curricula.

Responsibilities

• Plan instructional programs and prepare individual lesson plans that meet each student’s needs.
• Use evidence-based instructional methods and materials tailored to students' abilities.
• Establish classroom policies, guide student behavior, and support achievement.
• Consult with students, families, and specialists to support progress.
• Set goals and monitor progress with IEPs and progress reports.
• Direct activities of non-certificated personnel as appropriate.
• Collect and interpret data to develop and evaluate IEPs.
• Attend staff meetings and required professional development.
• Participate in staff committees and related activities.

Skills

Reading and writing proficiency

Oral communication

Behavior management

Lesson planning

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Special Education Endorsement

Job description

Overview of Position

This position is assigned to the Resource service pathway. To learn more about our special education service pathways, please follow this link to the SPS Special Education Department website: https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/special-education/services/placement-and-primary-service-types/. A special education classroom teacher performs under the general direction of the building principal or program manager and with assistance from appropriate staff personnel. A classroom teacher fosters and enhances an effective learning environment; establishes and adapts learning objectives and standards for special education students based upon general District guidelines and the rules and regulations governing special education; provides instruction, counsels, disciplines, and supervises to meet the individual needs of assigned students; and, to evaluate student performance and progress.

Essential Functions

40% Fosters an educational environment conducive to the learning and maturation process of assigned special education students; plans an instructional program designed to meet individual student needs; prepares individual student lesson plans; adapts and modifies programs and plans as necessary.

15% Uses necessary and appropriate instructional methods and materials, which are suited to the well-being of the students and to the nature of the learning activities, program and/or curriculum involved; implements established program or curriculum objectives as adapted and modified for the student population; attends in-service training and continues to improve professional growth through study and experimentation to remain current in methods and techniques for special education instruction.

10% Establishes and implements, in a positive and supportive manner, classroom policies and procedures governing student behavior and conduct; provides guidance, counseling, and discipline to encourage students to meet standards of achievement and conduct; makes referrals for assistance where appropriate.

5% Confers with students, parents or guardians, specialists and other staff: maintaining an open positive relationship as appropriate to provide guidance and evaluation, and to encourage student achievement.

10% Establishes classroom goals and objectives appropriate to the special education student population and their individual education programs, following the rules and regulations governing special education, and in conformance with courses of study specified by State and School District statutes, regulations and guidelines; evaluates and records student progress; prepares reports for parents or guardians.

5% Directs the activities of assigned non-certificated personnel; attends to or directs staff to attend to the physical, emotional, behavioral, medical, or hygienic needs of students as appropriate; monitors conditions and behaviors.

10% Collects and interprets a variety of data; develops, implements and evaluates individual education plans (IEP's); provides reports for administrative purposes; amends documents where appropriate.

5% Attends or participates in all required staff meetings and other activities deemed necessary by the District and/or building principal, in order to accomplish the objectives of the position and for professional achievement

Other Functions

• Serves on staff committees as required.
• Participates in a variety of activities to enhance personal and professional skills.
• Performs related tasks consistent with the scope and responsibilities of the position.
• Attends at least one of two annual Special Education Compliance Professional Development days.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to the building Principal.

Required Knowledge. Skills And Abilities

Knowledge of: Subject areas appropriate to assignment; effective behavior management techniques; effective instructional techniques; rules and procedures for student safety; rules and regulations governing special education.

Skill in: Proficiency in reading, writing, and oral communications; effective communication with parents or guardians in a culturally, racially and economically diverse community; designing and implementing lesson plans for students having a wide range of achievement; adapting curricula and programs to meet the intellectual, social, physical and emotional needs of a population of special education students.

Ability to: Deal with students in a positive and confident manner; be fair and consistent when working with a culturally, racially and economically diverse student population; adapt to change and remain flexible; organize activities; manage student behavior; use good judgment to maintain a safe learning environment; provide instruction and demonstrate techniques; use necessary equipment, computers, machinery, tools, or software; direct assistants; in some positions, administer first aid and CPR; in some positions ,use non-a mal or non-verbal means of communication such as sign language; in some positions, use non-visual instructional techniques such as Braille; in some positions, deal with specific physical and emotional disabilities and associated conditions, such as, severe behavior disorder; attend to various physical and hygienic needs; establish and maintain effective, positive working relationships with students, parents or guardians, specialists, staff and administrators.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Required to deal with a wide range of student achievement and behavior; required to deal with a range of student disabilities, the nature of which depend upon the program involved; required to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and prioritize; may experience frequent interruptions; may occasionally or regularly deal with distraught or difficult students; potentially exposed to ordinary infectious diseases carried by students; may be potentially exposed to student bodily fluids and serious infectious diseases carried by students; in some positions the necessary and appropriate instructional methods may require specific positions and movements, and sufficient stamina and exertions, to demonstrate techniques properly for student safety, or to conduct or direct students; in some positions precautions may need to be taken to prevent or lessen exposure of self and/or students to various materials, fumes, equipment, cutting edges or hot surfaces; may be required in some positions to move, position, or lift students or their special equipment, to restrain students to attend to the personal hygiene of students, or to accompany students outdoors in inclement weather; may teach in a classroom without telephone communication.

Typical Qualifications

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree; academic preparation for or experience in teaching a culturally, racially and economically diverse student population in an urban school system, and teaching reading and adapting instructional techniques and practices for special education students. Specific programs may require additional academic preparation or professional experience, including; working with bilingual students and assisting them in the transition to regular classrooms; implementing programs designed to prevent the dropout of" at risk" students; and, teaching multi-level, open-concept, and main streamed classes; and, establishing and implementing behavior change programs.

Licenses/Special Requirements

Valid Washington State Teaching Certificate with Special Education Endorsement; some positions may require valid first aid and CPR certification; some positions may require a valid Washington State driver's license or a class II driver's license.

Seattle Public Schools benefits are administered by the Washington State Healthcare Authority (HCA) under the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB). Click HERE for an overview of available benefit options.

Eligibility for benefits is determined by the number of hours employees are anticipated to work during the school year (September 1 through August 31). Any employee who is scheduled to work 630 hours or more in a year is eligible for benefits.

Salary Schedule

Please find the salary schedule associated with this role and others like it HERE.

01

Please check ALL endorsement(s) that will appear on your Washington State certificate or will be added to your current or newly issued certificate by the position start date.

• Agricultural Education
• Arts: Visual
• Bilingual Elementary
• Bilingual Secondary
• Biology
• Business and Marketing
• Chemistry
• Counseling
• Dance
• Deaf Education
• Early Childhood
• Elementary Education
• English Language Arts
• English Language Learners
• Environmental and Sustainability
• Family and Consumer Sciences
• Gifted Education
• Health and Fitness
• Humanities: Middle Level
• History
• Library Media
• Mathematics
• Mathematics: Middle Level
• Music: Choral
• Music: General
• Music: Instrumental
• Reading
• Science
• Science: Earth and Space
• Science: Middle Level
• Science: Physics
• Social Studies
• Social Work
• Special Education
• Special Education: Early Childhood
• Technology Education
• Theater
• Traffic Safety
• World Languages: Arabic
• World Languages: Chinese
• World Languages: French
• World Languages: German
• World Languages: Hindi
• World Languages: Japanese
• World Languages: Korean
• World Languages: Latin
• World Languages: Spanish
• Not Applicable - I do not, nor will not hold a Washington State Teaching Certificate/Permit
• I hold an "unendorsed" Washington State Teaching Certificate/Permit

02

Are you a current Seattle Public Schools employee with a certificated contract for the next school year?

• Yes
• No

03

Have you been notified by your supervisor or human resources that you are displaced for the next school year?

• Yes
• No

04

Have you received a binding contingency contract for the next school year?

• Yes
• No

05

Are you a current Seattle Public Schools certificated substitute?

• Yes
• No

06

Are you under contract with a district other than Seattle Public Schools for the next school year?

• Yes
• No
• Required Question