Teacher 2

Easterseals Arkansas; Little Rock (AR); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Easterseals Arkansas is seeking a qualified teacher to design and deliver individualized instruction for students with disabilities in alignment with LRSD expectations. You will plan curriculum, assess progress, and coordinate with TAs and DSPs to support each learner’s goals.

The role requires collaboration with education, therapy, and habilitation teams, ongoing evaluation, documentation, and a focus on safety and inclusion across all life stages.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with Arkansas teaching certification and one year of classroom teaching experience.
• Master’s in special education or related field preferred.
• CPR/First Aid required within 30 days of hire; AR Teacher Certification if bachelor’s degree.

Responsibilities

• Plans curriculum and prepares weekly lesson plans and materials to meet individual student needs and goals.
• Instructs students using special education strategies to promote development across domains.
• Directs and supervises teaching assistants and direct support professionals in the classroom.
• Maintains accurate records, attendance, progress notes, and required LRSD paperwork.
• Collaborates with program team across education, therapy, and related services to support student goals.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Supervisory skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree with Arkansas teaching certification

Master’s in special education or related field

Tools

Electronic health management platform

Microsoft Office

Video conferencing

Job description

Description

Summary: Instructs individuals served in activities designed to promote social, physical, intellectual and literacy growth. Provides personal care to individuals served by the program in a discreet and professional manner. Evaluates individual using standardized and criterion-based testing materials across five domains including motor, social, cognitive, self-help/adaptive, and communication including scoring the evaluation and generating a report.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Plans curriculum and prepares weekly lesson plans and other instructional materials to meet individual needs of students considering all aspects of development and all goals and objectives as detailed in each individual’s plan and considering state and school requirements.
• Follow standard frameworks for classroom set-up and implementation of curriculum and supplements.
• Instructs students, using special education strategies and techniques, to improve sensory-motor and perceptual-motor development, perception, memory, language, cognition, and social and emotional development. Emphasize learning, literacy and social skills that will promote independence and prepare the individual served for successful transition through all life phases (early childhood, primary school, secondary education, adulthood, independent living).
• Uses lessons that incorporate best practices, accommodations, and equipment that best meet individual needs of students, including the use of age-appropriate and functional curriculums as needed.
• Creates learning materials and bulletin boards that foster motivation and learning.
• Works with students to increase motivation, provide consistent reinforcement to learning, continuous assessment of level of functioning, and continuous feedback to student for all learning activities.
• Incorporates and carries out student behavior programs.
• Directs and maintains well-organized classroom routines and schedules. Ensure the classroom meets quality standards and state or district requirements for education.
• Completes required paperwork i.e., individual program plan (IPP) evaluations, development of goals and objectives, monthly data sheets and reports, quarterlies, attendance for Little Rock School District (LRSD), lesson plans, and classroom schedules.
• Keep accurate records and data related to attendance, progress (document at least weekly in progress note) towards instructional goals and objectives, guardian contact, medical needs, daily health checks, accidents/occurrences, etc.
• Turns in data monthly to the Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIDP).
• Attend initial placement conferences, teaming conferences and annual individualized treatment plan (ITP) or individualized education plan (IEP) meetings and conferences and carry out team decisions related to the developmental and functional education of the individual served.
• Collaborate with program team to provide appropriate and individualized programming and modifications for individuals with disabilities including feeding, positioning, communication methods, classroom supports, and equipment.
• Collaborate with program team to ensure that goals and objectives align and are consistently implemented across disciplines (education, therapy, behavior, medical, habilitation, etc.).
• Does monthly observations for children who attend public school.
• Tests, evaluates, and/or assesses assigned students’ needs.
• Plans and directs classroom duties of teaching assistants (TAs) and direct support professionals (DSPs). Holds Tas and DSPs accountable for job performance. Communicates ongoing problems with supervisor or designee. Provides feedback for annual evaluation of Tas and DSPs.
• Coordinates, plans, and completes required paperwork for fieldtrips, including reserving and driving vans.
• Assist with personal care for individuals served by program including feeding, diapering/toileting, etc.
• Maintains safe, orderly, and clean classroom. Uses all appropriate methods to ensure good hygiene, health and safety of all individuals served and staff in the classroom.
• Arrange and supervise meaningful special activities (i.e., classroom events, special guests, etc.).
• Communicate regularly with supervisor or designee about any issues or concerns regarding the program, individuals served, or staff.

Compliance/HIPAA

While performing the duties of this job, employee will comply with all federal, state and local laws and regulations pertaining to Easterseals Arkansas.
Employee has access to all client protected health information of the individuals directly served by this person, except psychotherapy notes. Employee will not attempt to access any other protected health information unless otherwise approved by Supervisor or Privacy Officer.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervises one to three teaching assistants (TA) or Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) in the classroom. Carries out supervisory responsibilities, as delegated, in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Supervisory responsibilities will vary by program, but may include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Qualifications

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

Education And/or Experience

Bachelor's degree and Arkansas teaching certification required with one-year teaching experience or master’s in special education or related Field (ABA, Early Childhood Education, etc.) without Arkansas teaching certification. Three or more years’ experience as a classroom teacher preferred.

Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, management, and supervisory skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Knowledge of best practices and curriculum for early childhood education and development and the inclusion and role of therapy and other related fields in the programming and service delivery for each child.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, technical procedures, statutes, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to present to groups and answer questions – both in person and via video conference.
• Strong computer skills to use electronic health management platform, email, calendar, word, excel, video conferencing, and presentation software.
• Strong orientation to deadlines and detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work with and support children with a diverse range of abilities
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively with employees and families at diverse levels.
• Ability to develop both the members of a team as well as the team itself.
• Demonstrated commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusiveness.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

CPR/First Aid required within 30 days of hire.
AR Teacher Certification if bachelor’s degree

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 is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; smell. The employee is frequently required to climb or balance. The employee is occasionally required to taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

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 is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Easterseals Arkansas has designated this position as a “non-safety sensitive” position under the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment.