Special Education Teacher - Resource Support Program (RSP) - Elementary

Federal Way Public Schools; Federal Way (WA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking school district as a Special Education Teacher, where you will play a crucial role in supporting students with diverse learning needs. This position involves designing and implementing individualized education plans (IEPs) for students with various disabilities, collaborating closely with general education teachers to ensure all students can thrive in their learning environments. You will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on students' lives, helping them achieve their full potential. If you're passionate about education and dedicated to fostering an inclusive classroom, this role offers a rewarding experience in a supportive community.

Benefits

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Retirement Plan

Professional Development Funding

Wellness Leave

Life Insurance

Qualifications

• Current Washington state teaching certificate with special education endorsement required.
• Experience with students with disabilities preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain compliant IEPs and provide individualized instruction.
• Collaborate with general education teachers to support student learning.

Skills

Special Education

Behavior Management

Data Collection and Analysis

Cultural Competence

Collaboration

Education

Washington State Teaching Certificate

Special Education Endorsement

Tools

IEP Software

Assessment Tools

Job description

Special Education Teacher - Resource Support Program (RSP) - Elementary - JobID: 11618

• Position Type: 24-25 Certificated - Location/Special Education - Prek - Elementary
• Date Posted: 1/24/2025
• Location: Panther Lake Elementary
• Days of the Week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
• Shift Times: 8:40 - 4:10
• Hours per Day: 7.5
• Days per Year: 180

POSITION SUMMARY: A resource support program (RSP) teacher works with identified special education students who may receive services in the special education and/or general education settings. The RSP teacher, in collaboration with the general education teachers, designs and implements services to meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities such as autism, cognitive deficits, behavioral disabilities, and specific learning disabilities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following: This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive. Some incumbents may not perform all the duties listed while in other cases related duties may also be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Develop and maintain compliant individual education plans (IEPs) and other compliance documents.
• Develop, implement, and adjust appropriate programming to provide access to a student’s least restrictive environment (LRE).
• Provide interventions and systematic purposeful instruction at students’ instructional levels, linking district initiatives and grade level expectations to IEPs.
• Coordinate with general education teachers to address students’ instructional needs in order to support further involvement in core instruction.
• Design and implement intervention based on student assessment and evaluation.
• Collect and utilize data and frequent ongoing progress monitoring systems to inform instructional decisions or revisions.
• Design and implement appropriate accommodations and modifications.
• Train and supervise paraeducators.
• Provide individualized inclusion opportunities.

The preceding list of responsibilities is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: A current Washington state teaching certificate with a special education endorsement.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: Work scheduled hours on a consistent basis.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Training or experience in serving students with mild to moderate disabilities.
• Proficiency in conducting functional behavior assessments and developing behavior intervention plans.
• Training and/or experience teaching students who have been impacted by trauma and neglect.
• Bilingual.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Criminal background clearance.
• Washington state driver’s license and proof of insurance.
• Possess and maintain a current district-approved CPR/First Aid card within 90 days of employment. District approved courses must include hands-on and written exam.
• Successfully complete the FWPS district-approved Right Response training at the advanced level at the next available time; maintain current certification at the advanced level through an annual recertification class (Elementary level RSP only).

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• School board policies and procedures.
• Computer systems and various software programs.
• Evidence-based classroom and behavior management practices.

ABILITY TO:

• Plan, implement, and evaluate individualized programs for students.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, parents, and community members.
• Skill in operating a computer and ability to learn and use various software programs.
• Work effectively under varying levels of pressure.
• Intervene in situations of imminent likelihood of serious harm using district approved Right Response techniques, including de-escalation strategies and restraint when needed.
• Comply with school board policies and follow administrative procedures.
• Organize and perform job responsibilities efficiently and independently without close supervision and able to pay strict attention to detail.
• Communicate effectively through spoken and written word; read and follow written or verbal communications.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with staff and service providers.
• Work collaboratively with District staff and promote teamwork with co-workers.
• Practice effective safety and security within individual work routines.
• Practice ethical and professional standards of conduct including the requirements of confidentiality.
• Relate effectively with parents, staff, students, and community members in a multicultural and multiracial community.
• Perform job responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodations.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES RELATED TO CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND EQUITY:

• Knowledge/awareness of own cultural identity and how this influences behavior, and desire to learn about the cultural identity of others.
• Ability to establish and nurture an environment that promotes cultural competence and equitable treatment of staff, students, and patrons of the District.
• Ability to understand and hold self and others accountable for promoting the Federal Way Public Schools’ commitment to “Each Scholar: A Voice. A Dream. A Bright Future.”
• Ability to recognize that each person is a unique individual even as we celebrate their group cultural heritage.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will frequently be required to reach, bend, stoop, squat, kneel, handle/grasp, talk, and hear. The employee will occasionally be required to stand, walk, sit, climb stairs, lift and reach overhead, twist torso and neck, and fine motor manipulation. The employee will occasionally be required to lift/carry a maximum of 50 pounds. The employee will occasionally be required to push/pull a maximum weight of 100 pounds. Anything over the weight limits will be performed as a two-person lift or with a mechanical lift.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in indoor conditions and regularly works near video display. The employee will experience constant interruptions; required to meet deadlines. The employee will be exposed to infectious diseases carried by students and exposed to unpredictable students who may grab or bite. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

WORK SCHEDULE: This position has a school year schedule.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP: Position reports to, and is evaluated by, a building administrator, department director, or designee.

REPRESENTATION: Federal Way Education Association (FWEA)

LEVEL OF COMPENSATION: Federal Way Education Association (FWEA) Salary Schedule. This position includes the following benefits prorated based on FTE – Medical, dental vision, wellness leave, life insurance, retirement, professional development dollars.

CLASSIFICATION HISTORY: Update 12/2015, Update 1/2017, Updated Right Response language 07/2017.

Disclaimer: The preceding list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the scope of responsibility and the level of knowledge and skills typically required, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements, skills or duties so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed.

All employment open positions are made available on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or veteran status.

Job descriptions are written as a representative list of the ADA essential duties performed by the entire classification. They cannot include, and are not intended to include, every possible activity and task performed by every specific employee.