Description

Title: Special Education Teacher 

Position Description: The Special Education Teacher provides instruction for students with disabilities to support learning, decreased behavioral challenges and increased student achievement. 

Reports to: Principal

School support: Special Education Lead Teacher (SELT) 

Network support: Director of Exceptional Education Services

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Instruction 

• Instruct students with disabilities through lectures, discussions, visual aids, instructional strategies and other effective teaching methods for student comprehension. ? Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, and professionals to develop individual educational plans (IEP) designed to promote students' educational, physical, and social development. 

• Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.

• Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement. 

• Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students. 

• Administers various types of assessments to monitor student’s comprehension of the material.

• Administer and/or supports state and local testing processes and policies.

• Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement instruction. 

• Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health. 

• Assists students with assistive technology devices, including communication devices, switches and orthopedic devices needed for sitting, walking, or standing.

• Performs various administrative duties such as taking attendance, organizing the classroom, and responding to emails and phone calls from parents, school administrators, and staff in a timely manner. 

• Modify the general education curriculum for special-needs students, based upon a variety of instructional techniques and technologies. 

• Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their resource needs. 

• Attends in-person faculty meetings, teacher training workshops and educational conferences to maintain and improve professional competence. 

• Maintain accurate, complete, and correct student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations. 

• Assists administrators and other staff members in the orderly, expedient and safe transition of students from one location to another. 

• Complies with all requirements for mandatory reporting of child abuse, illegal harassment, breaches of ethics, or any criminal activity of which the employee becomes aware. 

• Performs other duties as assigned by an appropriate administrator or their representative. 

Professionalism 

• Actively participate in instructional coaching sessions, professional development, and lesson planning clinics 

• Be prompt and present daily; eager to participate in parent meetings, and other school functions that require student supervision after hours. 

• Develop meaningful relationships with students and their families by keeping them informed on education-related issues and school events 

• Openly collaborate with ALL staff members: partner teacher, network content teams, grade level team, special area teachers, school assistants, operational staff, etc.

• Performs other duties as assigned by the appropriate administrator

COMPENSATION/BENEFITS: 

• Compensation aligned with The Kindezi Schools’ salary schedule for teachers (years of experience and certification level calculated) 

• Teacher Retirement System (TRS) pension, 403b plan, paid time off, health, vision, and dental insurance, employer-paid life insurance, and short and long-term disability benefits

JOB CLASSIFICATION:

• Work Days: 202 (191 work days and 11 paid holidays) 

• Salaried, Full-Time, Exempt

Please see our Teacher Salary Scale at www.kindezi.org/careers. Teacher salaries are determined based on verified years of full-time lead teaching experience with previous employers, as well as the educator’s Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) certification level.

Requirements

KEY ATTRIBUTES: 

• Values that align with the Kindezi model and goals 

• Demonstrated commitment to increasing student achievement and supporting the social-emotional needs of students 

• Dedicated, reflective thinker with a growth mindset 

• High academic expectations; Believes that all students deserve an equitable education experience no matter their circumstances. 

• Exemplar instructional best practices, 

• Mentoring support 

• Strong relationship building skills

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Be a United States citizen or otherwise have authorization to work in the United States 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education (2.5+ GPA) (in special education is preferred) 

• Have the ability to pass an Atlanta Public Schools background check and obtain a GaPSC-issued clearance certificate 

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS: 

• Active Level 4 teacher certification issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission highly preferred, or have reciprocity eligibility in Special Education 

WORK EXPERIENCE: 

• 2+ years of teaching experience or related educational experience providing services to students with disabilities preferred

Summary

Please see our Teacher Salary Scale at www.kindezi.org/careers. Teacher salaries are determined based on verified years of full-time lead teaching experience with previous employers, as well as the educator’s Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) certification level.