Special Education Teacher-Functional Life Skills Program

Urbana School District 116; Urbana (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Urbana School District #116 seeks a Special Education Teacher for the Functional Life Skills Program at Thomas Paine Elementary. You will provide high-quality instruction, assess progress, and collaborate with general education staff to tailor services to each student’s IEP.

Responsibilities include coordinating IEPs, monitoring student growth, and training teaching assistants while maintaining compliant records and strong parent communication.

Qualifications

• Illinois Educator License with LBS1 endorsement.
• Two years of school-based experience preferred.
• Willingness to obtain/maintain Therapeutic Crisis Intervention certification and apply safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with general education staff, related service personnel, parents, and students to ensure comprehensive education.
• Coordinate IEP process including writing, meetings, service provision, eligibility, and records.
• Assess student progress using formal and informal measures to inform instruction and IEP goals.
• Design instruction aligned to general education standards and student needs.
• Create a positive, student-centered learning environment with teamwork and respectful interactions.
• Provide direct instruction as written in the IEP and monitor progress.
• Communicate with parents via conferences, reports, and IEP meetings.
• Train and supervise teaching assistants to support students.

Skills

Highly organized

Excellent communication

Collaboration skills

Problem solving

Education

Illinois Educator License, endorsement LBS1

Job description

Urbana School District #116

TITLE

Special Education Teacher-Functional Life Skills Program

LOCATION

Thomas Paine Elementary

SUPERVISOR

Building Administrator, Executive Director for Student Services, Assistant Director of Student Services, or Special Education Administrator

SUPERVISES

Teaching Assistants

JOB SUMMARY

The Special Education Teacher is responsible for providing high-quality instruction based on frequent assessment and data analysis and providing services through a structured and supportive environment that provides for student growth. Consultation with general education teachers and related service personnel, serving as case managers, and training and monitoring of teaching assistants are also priorities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.

• Collaborate with general education staff, related service personnel, parents, teaching assistants, and students to ensure each student on the caseload receives an appropriate comprehensive education.
• Coordinate the IEP process, which includes but is not limited to writing the IEP, facilitating IEP meetings, monitoring and ensuring the provision of services, participating in the eligibility determination process, and maintenance of accurate and up-to-date records for all students on caseload.
• Assess students’ performance through formal and informal measures and use data for instructional decision-making and IEP goal planning.
• Design clear, well-organized, and relevant instruction that is aligned to the general education curriculum, common core standards, students’ needs, ability levels, interests, classroom performance, and assessment results.
• Establish and maintain a learning environment where students are engaged in meaningful learning experiences, staff functions as a team, and decision-making is student-centered and individualized. Provide a positive model of appropriate and respectful interactions.
• Provide direct instruction to students as written in the IEP.
• Complete progress monitoring of academic and functional goals.
• Consult and collaborate with staff members about student needs and progress to implement necessary accommodations and modifications as outlined in the IEP to ensure access to the general education curriculum.
• Train, monitor, and supervise Teaching Assistants to meet the needs of all students.
• Maintain positive communication with parents through conferences, reports, IEP meetings, and other means as necessary; document contacts.
• Participate in professional development opportunities presented within the district or offered outside of the district.
• Support students who require physical assistance such as transporting, lifting, self-care (toileting), hygiene, medical needs, or other assistance as outlined in the IEP and appropriate in the educational setting.
• Participate in special activities such as, but not limited to, field trips and vocational and aquatic center activities.
• Other duties and tasks as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Illinois Educator License, endorsement LBS1

EXPERIENCE

• Two years of school-based experience preferred

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Willingness to become certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, maintain certification, and implement physical restraints safely and according to TCI and District requirements and State and Federal Laws.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Highly organized
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Excellent problem solver

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Salary and Benefit information can be found on the Human Resources webpage. There are many opportunities for employees to earn additional compensation (stipends, differentials, extra duty pay, etc.) during the regular school year and in the summer.
• This is a position within the collective bargaining unit and is not an administrative position.
• This is an exempt position.

EVALUATION

To be completed by the building administrator or district special education administrator

START DATE

ASAP

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

REVISED

February 2025