Special Education Teacher - Elementary & Middle (Immediate)

Kipp Capital Region Public Schools; City of Albany (NY); On-site; USD 56,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

403(b) match

Childcare benefits

Work-life integration

Casual dress code

Relocation stipend (conditions apply)

Job summary

KIPP Capital Region schools in Albany and Troy, NY, are seeking a Special Education Teacher. You will develop and monitor accommodations, implement curriculum, and support students with special needs across K-12 settings.

The role requires NYS SPED certification, a Bachelor's degree, and 3+ years of experience. Collaboration with families and IEP teams is essential, with a focus on inclusive education and data-driven instruction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited College or University.
• Valid NYS Certification in Special Education.
• Knowledge of national, state, and local special education statutes and the law.
• Academic expertise in Special Education, Humanities, Social Sciences, STEM, or related fields of study.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a school educator, preferably in a charter or public school environment.
• Prior experience working in urban communities is preferred but not required.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule outside of regular business hours.
• Aptitude to create and work within an inclusive environment that honors and supports a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver instruction while maintaining and improving instructional techniques and classroom management, including assessments, grading, and other classroom responsibilities.
• Adapt and execute a rigorous, standards-aligned curriculum and assess students' progress
• Use data to inform instructional decisions
• Offer academic, emotional, and physical support while maintaining high expectations.
• Collaborate with families and Special Education teams to develop 504 and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) that offer appropriate accommodations and modifications.
• Demonstrate strong pedagogy
• Work collaboratively with your school team and those across KIPP Capital Region
• Help develop a school-wide culture that best fits the needs of our students, teachers, and families
• Attend and participate in all staff meetings and communicate openly with staff
• Develop positive rapport with students
• Create and foster a positive and calm learning environment
• Enforce, uphold, and exhibit the school's values, student management policies, and culture
• Establish and maintain strong communication lines with all parents and share progress
• Be available for open houses, parent‑teacher conferences, and other events involving parents
• Make him/herself available to students, parents, and other staff members
• Pursue challenging professional goals each year
• Willing to offer support and receive constructive feedback from colleagues in order to create a professional working atmosphere that is conducive to change and improvement
• Participate in school-wide and individual professional development, including pre‑service training over the summer and weekly during the academic year (held during school hours)
• Performs other duties as assigned

Education

Bachelor's degree from an accredited College or University

Valid NYS Certification in Special Education

Knowledge of national, state, and local special education statutes and the law

Academic expertise in Special Education, Humanities, Social Sciences, STEM, or related fields of study

Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a school educator

Experience working in urban communities (preferred)

Flexible schedule outside regular hours

Inclusive environment experience

Job description

KIPP Capital Region is a part of a national network of high-performing public Charter Schools committed to creating joyful, academically excellent, and prepared students with the skills, ability, and confidence to pursue their paths to college, career, and beyond.

Located in both Albany and Troy, NY, KIPP Capital Region serves 2,500+ students in grades K-12 across seven schools. We believe every individual walks through the doors of schools bearing gifts. Talent. Perspective. Drive. Inspiration. So at KIPP Capital Region, we support every student and educator to see those gifts, and then build the skills and confidence they need to thrive.

We are committed to furthering anti-racism, equity, and racial justice in all our efforts, and expect all of our stakeholders to participate in this work so that we can create a future without limits for our students, together.

Position Overview

Grade(s): Elementary, Middle, and High School

The Special Education Teacher role holds the primary responsibility for developing, monitoring accommodations, and implementing the curriculum, school culture, and the success of the school's students with special needs.

Duties/Responsibilities

Curriculum Development and Instruction

• Plan and deliver instruction while maintaining and improving instructional techniques and classroom management, including assessments, grading, and other classroom responsibilities.
• Adapt and execute a rigorous, standards-aligned curriculum and assess students' progress
• Use data to inform instructional decisions
• Offer academic, emotional, and physical support while maintaining high expectations.
• Collaborate with families and Special Education teams to develop 504 and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) that offer appropriate accommodations and modifications.
• Demonstrate strong pedagogy

Commitment to School and Classroom Culture

• Work collaboratively with your school team and those across KIPP Capital Region
• Help develop a school-wide culture that best fits the needs of our students, teachers, and families
• Attend and participate in all staff meetings and communicate openly with staff
• Develop positive rapport with students
• Create and foster a positive and calm learning environment
• Enforce, uphold, and exhibit the school's values, student management policies, and culture

Family Engagement

• Establish and maintain strong communication lines with all parents and share progress
• Be available for open houses, parent‑teacher conferences, and other events involving parents
• Make him/herself available to students, parents, and other staff members

Growth Mindset

• Pursue challenging professional goals each year
• Willing to offer support and receive constructive feedback from colleagues in order to create a professional working atmosphere that is conducive to change and improvement
• Participate in school-wide and individual professional development, including pre‑service training over the summer and weekly during the academic year (held during school hours)
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited College or University, required
• Valid NYS Certification in Special Education, required
• Knowledge of national, state, and local special education statutes and the law required
• Academic expertise in Special Education, Humanities, Social Sciences, STEM, or related fields of study
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a school educator, preferably in a charter or public school environment, preferred
• Prior experience working in schools and urban communities is preferred but not required.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule outside of regular business hours.
• Aptitude to create and work within an inclusive environment that honors and supports a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Prolonged periods were spent sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to access and navigate all areas of the school and other facilities as needed.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee needs to read, write, and speak English fluently.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use fingers to type, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, balance; stoop/bend and reach, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk, hear.
• Dexterity requires writing and operating standard office machines such as computers, printers, copiers, fax machines, phones, and calculators.
• Ability to occasionally lift and move up to 20 pounds.

Additional Information

WORK PERKS When you join KIPP Capital Region, you are joining in on our promise to families that their children will enter college and the professional world able to thrive academically due to their literacy, numeracy, and core knowledge in science and social studies. We also promise that our students will develop a passion for learning and the drive necessary to persevere as they climb the mountain to and through college and career. Our graduates will be prepared to return to their community as teachers, leaders, and architects of continued growth in the Capital Region. And while the biggest perk to working at KIPP Capital Region is doing work that makes a lifelong difference in the lives of our students, you'll find that's not the only benefit we offer:

• Industry-leading medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Aggressive employer 403(b) contribution match
• Childcare benefits
• Unparalleled work/life integration
• Casual dress code
• Relocation stipend (conditions apply)
• And so much more! For more information on the benefits of joining KIPP Capital Region, please view our Employee Benefits Summary.

Learn More:

KIPP Capital Region offers a competitive salary ranging from $56,000 - $76,669 with a $5,000 SPED Sign On Bonus.

Salaries are determined using an equitable compensation scale that accounts for years of experience relevant to the role and longevity within the KIPP network. KIPP Capital Region will evaluate and determine the step/level a new hire will be placed within our teacher salary scale at point of hire.

All staff and educators at KIPP Capital Region are committed to anti-racism and inclusion, are part of a close-knit diverse community, and are encouraged to show up authentically, inspiring our children to do the same. Learn more about what it's like to work at KIPP Capital Region: https://www.kippcapital.org/join-our-team/

This role is located at KIPP Capital Region schools in Troy and Albany, NY.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.

For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.