Special Education Teacher for the Cognitively Impaired

Lakeview School District; Lakeview (MI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Lakeview School District in Michigan seeks a dedicated Special Education Teacher to educate students with a range of disabilities, implement IEPs, and coordinate with families.

You will collaborate with regular education teachers to align curricula, deliver individualized instruction, and participate in weekly meetings. Strong communication and organizational skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Valid Michigan teaching certificate with Special Education endorsement.
• Familiarity with IEPs and Behavior Support Plans.
• Experience educating students with disabilities.
• Knowledge of state, local and federal regulations affecting special education.
• Excellent organization and time management skills.
• Must meet No Child Left Behind and Highly Qualified mandates.
• Lifelong learner with a collaborative spirit.

Responsibilities

• Assist with design and delivery of instruction tailored to individual students and the regular education curriculum, including positive behavior supports.
• Diagnose student needs and plan individualized programs.
• Collaborate with a team of professionals and give/receive feedback.
• Maintain records on students’ progress, lesson plans and educational data.
• Plan classroom activities and social skills programs, including community-based instruction.
• Monitor student progress and adjust goals based on assessments and observations.
• Administer testing evaluations and communicate results.
• Conduct parent/teacher conferences and participate in IEPT/meetings.
• Maintain professionalism with students, parents, staff and administration.
• Support and participate in staff and school improvement meetings.

Skills

Team collaboration

Record keeping

Communication

Behavior support

Education

Michigan teaching certificate with Special Education endorsement

Master's degree in special education (preferred)

Tools

Student information system

Job description

Lakeview School District is dedicated to organizational excellence and supports and encourages the development and implementation of multicultural perspectives across all areas of the organization, the celebration of diversity, and the assets that diversity brings to our organization.

SUMMARY

The successful candidate will carry the responsibility of educating children who are diagnosed with a number of physical, mental and emotional disabilities. They work with legally required federal paperwork called an IEP, or Individualized Educational Plan, that outlines the necessary supports, accommodations and goals for an individual child. These goals can encompass both academic and behavioral concerns. These teachers also direct meetings with parents and staff regarding the plan and make necessary adjustments throughout the year. In the classroom, they work independently or collaboratively with regular education teachers in the support of student achievement of the curricular standards and expectations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Assist with and/or design, modify and deliver instruction, both individually and small group, which parallels the general education curriculum according to the student’s academic and behavioral needs, including positive behavior interventions and behavior intervention plans.


• Diagnose specific student needs, plan and carry out individualized programs.


• Ability to work in regular collaboration with a team of professionals, to give and receive feedback.


• Establish and maintain appropriate record keeping on students’ progress including lesson plans, report cards, educational records, behavioral data, IEPC forms, classroom observation records, and other forms, while serving as a source of information and support.


• Plan and carryout classroom activities, social skills programs/training, community based instruction and other related educational experiences.


• Monitor and evaluate student progress based on formal and informal assessment activities/measurements and observation, determine goals, objectives and directions.


• Administer testing evaluations.


• Conduct parent/teacher conferences.


• Participate and/or coordinate IEPT and other meetings as requested/required.


• Maintain a professional attitude at all times, including contact with students, parents, administration and other district staff.


• Maintain the physical environment of the classroom for organization and presentation purposes.


• Participate in weekly building Special Education committee meetings.


• Ability to work under pressure.


• Build trust and confidence with students.


• Ability to work well with others is essential.


• Travel to meet job requirements.


• Regular, dependable attendance is a critical performance factor to ensure consistent, high quality services to children and families.


• Participate in all staff, PLC, and School Improvement meetings as required.


• Perform other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Supervises students.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:

Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program; ability to plan and implement lessons based on division and school objectives and the needs and abilities of students to whom assigned. Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with students, peers and parents; skill in oral and written communication. Ability to work with staff, parents and children.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid Michigan teaching certificate with Special Education endorsement is required (Cognitive Impairment endorsement is preferred).


• Familiarity with special education procedures, including the development, implementation, and assessment of IEPs and Behavior Support Plans.


• Experience in educating special needs students.


• Knowledge and understanding of State, local and federal regulations and policies affecting special education.


• Organization and time management skills.


• Must meet the No Child Left Behind and “Highly Qualified” mandates.


• Lifelong learner with a collaborative spirit.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• Masters Degree in special education or related field preferred


• Three or more years of teaching experience preferred


• Knowledge of current special education practices and methodologies preferred


• Experience working with students in a diverse, multicultural academic setting


• Experience working with the proposed age groups


• Experience using a student information system and/or other type of database


• Bilingual preferred but not required

Compensation Package:

A competitive salary combined with a comprehensive fringe benefit package will be offered to the successful applicant.

EOE