Special Education Teacher

AchieveKids; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialized educational institution in Palo Alto is looking for a dedicated Teacher to provide day-to-day educational instruction to students with special needs. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in Education or a related field, a valid California Special Education Teaching Credential, and at least one year of experience. Key responsibilities include supervising staff, developing individualized education programs, and maintaining records. A bilingual skill in English and Spanish is a plus. This full-time position offers a collaborative environment and opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Education or related field.
• California Special Education Teaching Credential or valid teaching permit required.
• One or more years of experience with special education techniques.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day educational instruction to students with special needs.
• Supervise and direct classroom staff to ensure effective program delivery.
• Develop and implement the educational component of IEP and ITP.

Skills

Bilingual (English and Spanish)

Effective oral and written communication skills

Effective organizational skills

Good public relations skills

Ability to function as part of an interdisciplinary team

Ability to think and act autonomously

Ability to respond to aggressive behavior

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Special Education or related field

California Special Education Teaching Credential

First Aid/CPR Certification

Job description

Description

Reports To: Director of Education

Employment Status: Full-time

Department: School

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Job Summary

The Teacher is responsible for providing day‑to‑day educational instruction, academic, and/or life skills to a variety of students with special needs. The Teacher will also provide daily direction and oversight to staff working in the same classroom. The Teacher will maintain a valid Education Specialist Teaching Credential or teaching permit.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Duties marked with an asterisk (*) are considered to be essential to this position under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

• Work directly with students in all respects of educational program. *
• Provide day-to-day direction and supervision to staff working in the same classroom, including, but not limited to: *
• Ongoing orientation and training regarding all educational components of classroom program (task analysis, instruction delivery, behavioral intervention, data collection, etc.). *
• Oversee and direct day-to-day performance; coach employee for performance improvement; collaborate with School Director and HR to document concerns and take part in corrective action; with School Director, prepare and take part in performance evaluations. *
• Oversee attendance and approve employee biweekly timecards; first level review of time off requests. *
• Assist in interviewing, hiring, orienting, and training classroom staff. *
• Develop, manage, and implement educational component of IEP and ITP and all related reports. *
• Develop and coordinate a relevant curriculum for each student. *
• Maintain educational records and complete required educational assessments. *
• Work directly and cooperatively with other staff to coordinate all aspects of educational, social/emotional, behavioral, and vocational programs for each student. *
• Communicate and meet with parents and home care providers on a regular basis, when appropriate to program and site. *
• Prepare and coordinate student and classroom staff schedules. *
• Oversee completion of vocational assessments, development of longitudinal vocational plans, and coordinate vocational tasks for each student. *
• Assist Behavior Analysts to develop individualized behavior support plans. *
• Collaborate with related service providers to ensure students receive ancillary services per IEP requirements. *
• Work with program staff to screen, admit, and discharge students. *
• Successfully complete Safety-Care training and maintain certification. *
• Carry out behavioral interventions, using Safety Care techniques, with children, adolescents, or young adults, which could include visually/auditorily monitoring students, evading, containing physical aggression, lifting, and pursuing students who might be running away. *
• Attend all relevant staff meeting and in-services. *
• Facilitate open communication, a team approach, and maintain a positive attitude toward program function and Agency goals.
• Keep up-to-date on emails, internal databases (e.g., KidNet), and other Agency information.
• Maintain satisfactory attendance record. *
• Attend workshops, conferences, and courses in areas related to job duties. *
• Support Agency goals and functions as an organizational leader; maintain open communication with all coworkers throughout the Agency, and with other stakeholders. *
• Drive students to school, home, or within the community as needed. *
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty. Requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Education, Special Education or related field,
• Current appropriate California Special Education Teaching Credential OR ability to obtain university internship or valid teaching permit.
• Maintain continuing education units as required to ensure maintenance of teaching credential.
• One or more years of experience teaching children requiring special education/intervention techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise staff, facilitate group process, and work effectively with a team
• Competencies in the following, or willingness to obtain competencies within 30 days of hire:
• First Aid/CPR Certification
• Knowledge of child abuse reporting laws
• Basic behavior management and Positive Behavior Intervention Training
• Safety Care techniques (Certification is a requirement for this classification)

Skills & Abilities

• Bilingual (English and Spanish) is a plus.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Effective organizational skills.
• Good public relations skills.
• Ability to function as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to think and act autonomously in a variety of situations.
• Ability to physically respond to physically active and aggressive children, adolescents, and young adults.

Requirements

• A valid California Driver’s License with a clean driving record
• Auto insurance
• Criminal record clearance or formal exemption.
• Tuberculosis risk assessment clearance within 60 days before hire and every four years thereafter.
• Complete a physical examination that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.