Middle School Special Education Teacher

Anova Education; Woodbury (TN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

A Tennessee educational institution is seeking a qualified Special Education Teacher to provide instruction to students according to state guidelines and school standards. Applicants must hold a valid teaching license and demonstrate effective communication skills. This role involves maintaining relationships with parents and participating in IEP meetings. The position emphasizes adherence to ethical standards and participation in staff development.

Qualifications

• Must possess a valid state teaching license.
• Demonstrate competency as outlined by performance standards.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students and parents.
• Alternatives to the above qualifications may be found appropriate and acceptable by the Principal, SPED Supervisors, or Director of Schools.

Responsibilities

• Provide instruction to assigned students.
• Maintain positive relationships with parents and community.
• Participate in IEP and evaluation meetings.
• Record accurately the number of students present and absent each day in the manner prescribed by the Board, Director of Schools, and Principal.
• Follow the Tennessee curriculum standards and local course of study, the rules and regulations of the state, the policies of the local Board, and the administrative procedures at the school and system level.
• Maintain positive relationships with the home, parent(s) and the community.
• Keep parent(s) duly informed of the child’s progress (through a variety of methods) and hold conferences with parents and appropriate others as necessary.

Skills

Teaching License

Competency in current job assignment

Ability to follow curriculum standards

Effective communication skills

Education

State Teaching Certification

Job description

Job Summary

To give instruction to the students in the areas assigned by the Board, Director of Schools, Principal, and Supervisor of Exceptional Learners.

Qualifications

• All teachers shall be licensed in accordance with state law and the regulations of the Tennessee Department of Education. Such license shall be on file in the Director of Schools Office prior to beginning employment.
• It is the responsibility of the employee to secure a certificate and to maintain its validity. If a teacher’s license lapses, the Director of Schools shall immediately suspend the teacher without pay pending disposition of the matter.
• All teachers shall demonstrate competency based on the current job assignment and performance standards as outlined in the appropriate state model for local evaluation.
• Alternatives to the above qualifications may be found appropriate and acceptable by the Principal, SPED Supervisors, or Director of Schools.

Reports To

Building level administrator, Supervisor of Exceptional Learners.

FLSA Status

Exempt: Employees primarily performing work that is not subject to overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Nonexempt: Employees primarily performing work that is subject to the overtime provisions of the FLSA.

Supervises

Student(s), SPED Educational Assistants.

Scope of Responsibility / Essential Functions

• Provide full, willing and helpful cooperation in carrying out all reasonable instructions or extra assignments given by the principal before, during and after the school day.
• Provide instruction to the students in the areas assigned by the Board, Director of Schools, Principal and Special Education Director.
• Prepare for and participate in IEP and evaluation meetings for students with disabilities.
• Record accurately the number of students present and absent each day in the manner prescribed by the Board, Director of Schools, and Principal.
• Follow the Tennessee curriculum standards and local course of study, the rules and regulations of the state, the policies of the local Board, and the administrative procedures at the school and system level.
• Maintain positive relationships with the home, parent(s) and the community.
• Keep parent(s) duly informed of the child’s progress (through a variety of methods) and hold conferences with parents and appropriate others as necessary.
• Report any reasonable suspicions related to a child’s health or welfare as a result of abuse or neglect to the appropriate state/community agency, as well as to the principal and Supervisor of Exceptional Learners.
• Abide by the Tennessee Teacher Code of Ethics.
• Participate in appropriate and required staff development sessions at the school and/or system level.
• Follow the appropriate complaint/grievance process: report concern to the principal first, then to the Complaint Officer for the system, the Director of Schools, and finally to the Board.
• Report all accidents/injuries on the required form to the principal in a timely manner.
• Properly supervise children at all times.
• Keep a current class record and submit it to the principal upon request and at the end of the year.
• Keep a complete cumulative record of each child.
• Maintain a clean, orderly, safe classroom.
• Participate in Special Education specific professional development, trainings, meetings.
• Administer appropriate assessments, record scores on cumulative records, interpret test scores as needed, and analyze assessment data in an effort to improve instruction and student learning.
• Plan, prepare, implement, and assess instructional lessons that teach the standards and are appropriate for individual student needs.
• Maintain proper classroom and school order that supports student learning.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Project a positive image of the Cannon County School District at all times.
• Keep information confidential concerning school business.
• Act in a professional manner at all times.
• Required to work under direct guidance of the classroom teacher unless otherwise assigned to another supervisor.
• Perform other duties as assigned as deemed necessary by the Principal, Supervisor of Exceptional Learning, and/or Director of Schools.
• Adhere to the Tennessee Teacher Code of Ethics with fidelity.

Capacity and Ability Requirements

• Intelligence: The ability to understand instructions and underlying principles; the ability to reason and make judgments.
• Verbal: The ability to understand meanings of words and the ideas associated with them.
• Numerical: The ability to perform arithmetic operations quickly and accurately.
• Data Perception: The ability to understand and interpret information presented in the forms of graphs, charts, or tables.
• Spatial: The ability to comprehend forms in space and understand relationships of plane and solid objects.
• Manual Dexterity: The ability to move the hands easily and manipulate small objects with the fingers rapidly and accurately.
• Color Discrimination: The ability to perceive or recognize similarities or differences in colors or shades or other values of the same color.

Terms of Employment

200 Days.

Salary

See certified pay scale; General Purpose School Budget line/IDEA Federal Budget Line: 71200-163.

Evaluation

Team evaluation, observations.

Physical Demands

This job may require lifting or carrying of objects that exceed fifty (50) pounds, with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to twenty-five (25) pounds. Other physical demands that may be required are: pushing and/or pulling, stooping and/or kneeling, reaching and/or handling, talking, hearing, seeing, and climbing.

Work Conditions

Normal working environment.

General Requirements

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person assigned to this position. They are not intended to be a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so assigned. Cannon County Schools Special Education Teachers are in daily contact with other teachers, students, administration, the general public, and other work-related personnel. The ability to handle complaints, express a service-oriented attitude, communicate effectively with others, and work with limited supervision is vital.

Tennessee Teacher Code of Ethics

A Cannon County Schools Special Education Teacher will adhere to the Tennessee Teacher Code of Ethics with fidelity. 49-5-1002 Legislative findings. The general assembly finds and declares that: (1) An educator, believing in the worth and dignity of each human being, recognizes the supreme importance of the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence, and the nurture of democratic principles. Essential to these goals is the protection of freedom to learn and to teach and the guarantee of equal educational opportunity for all. An educator accepts the responsibility to adhere to the highest ethical standards; and (2) An educator recognizes the magnitude of the responsibility inherent in the teaching process. The desire for the respect and confidence of one’s colleagues, of students, of parents and of the members of the community provides the incentive to attain and maintain the highest possible degree of ethical conduct. History – Acts 2010, ch. 916, § 1. 49-5-1003 Educator’s obligations to students. (a) An educator shall strive to help each student realize the student’s potential as a worthy and effective member of society. (b) In fulfillment of this obligation to the student, an educator shall: (1) Abide by all applicable federal and state laws; (2) Not unreasonably restrain the student from independent action in the pursuit of learning; (3) Provide the student with professional education services in a nondiscriminatory manner and in consonance with accepted best practices known to the educator; (4) Respect the constitutional rights of the student; (5) Not unreasonably deny the student access to varying points of view; (6) Not deliberately suppress or distort subject matter relevant to the student’s progress; (7) Make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning or to health and safety; (8) Make reasonable effort to protect the emotional well‑being of the student; (9) Not intentionally expose the student to embarrassment or disparagement; (10) Not on the basis of race, color, creed, disability, sex, national origin, marital status, political or religious beliefs, family, social, or cultural background, or sexual orientation, unfairly: (A) Exclude the student from participation in any program; (B) Deny benefits to the student; or (C) Grant any advantage to the student; (11) Not use the educator’s professional relationship with the student for private advantage; (12) Not disclose information about the student obtained in the course of the educator’s professional service, unless disclosure of the information is permitted, serves a compelling professional purpose, or is required by law; (13) Not knowingly make false or malicious statements about students or colleagues; (14) Ensure interactions with the student take place in transparent and appropriate settings; (15) Not engage in any sexually related behavior with the student, whether verbal, written, physical, or electronic, with or without the student’s consent. Sexually related behavior includes, but is not limited to, behaviors such as making sexual jokes or sexual remarks; engaging in sexual kidding, sexual teasing, or sexual innuendo; pressuring the student for dates or sexual favors; engaging in inappropriate physical touching, groping, or grabbing; kissing; rape; threatening physical harm; and committing sexual assault; (16) Not furnish alcohol or illegal or unauthorized drugs to the student; (17) Strive to prevent the use of alcohol or illegal or unauthorized drugs by the student when the student is under the educator’s supervision on school or LEA premises, during school activities, or in any private setting; (18) Refrain from the use of alcohol while on school or LEA premises or during a school activity at which students are present; and (19) Maintain a professional approach with the student at all times. History – Acts 2010, ch. 916, § 1; 2018, ch. 937, § 1. 49-5-1004 Educator’s obligations to the education profession. (a) The education profession is vested by the public with a trust and responsibility requiring the highest ideals of professional service... (The remainder of the code continues but is omitted for brevity).

Non-Discrimination Policy

The Cannon County Board of Education does not discriminate because of age, race, color, gender, national origin, disability, religion, genetics, creed, or veteran status in the provision of services, programs or activities, or in employment opportunities or benefits. The Cannon County School System is an Equal Opportunity Employer and member of TN Drug-Free Workplace. Employees or applicants who need reasonable accommodations should contact Human Resources for assistance.

Primary Location

Cannon County Schools.