Manitou Springs School District Hiring for Special Education Teacher Job at Manitou Springs, CO Full Time

MANITOU SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT 14

MANITOU SPRINGS COLORADO

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

POSITION: SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER

LOCATION: MANITOU SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL

415 EL MONTE PLACE

MANITOU SPRINGS, CO 80829

REQUIREMENTS:

• Holds or is eligible to hold a CDE license (Special Education Generalist)

• Clear fingerprint/background check

The Special Education Program Teacher serves students with significant cognitive disabilities through a continuum of direct instructional strategies. This continuum ranges from visual or technology support to adult coaching and supervision. Through this role, the teacher facilitates academic skills, communication, physical access, behavioral skills, emotional and/or physical regulation, and/or coping skills. Instructional modes range from small group to individual support with identified goals and progress monitoring documented through the Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The lead teacher holds the responsibility of working collaboratively with all applicable stakeholders to develop an inclusive model that strives to incorporate research based interventions and to ensure that students receive appropriate modifications and accommodations with regard to student’s cognitive, physical, sensory, communication, social, emotional, and/or behavioral needs throughout the educational environment.

Essential Functions

• Demonstrate relentless drive to improve the minds, skills and lives of students

• Take holistic accountability for student success- taking ownership of each student’s academic success or failure.

• Reinforce the school’s core values, guiding philosophy, rules and school spirit.

• Provide purposeful functional skills for independent living in a multi-sensory environment

Classroom Climate and Culture

• Exhibit a deep understanding of the varying needs of the students in the program, many of whom may exhibit a variety of cognitive, communication and physical needs.

• Create a structured, predictable and accessible classroom environment that focuses on the individual needs of students.

• Develop a learning environment that is structured, organized, sensory rich and routine-oriented with a variety of instructional formats to facilitate student self-management, communication, and independence skills. An environment conducive to the specific functions of the students’ cognitive and physical limits.

• Collaborate with a team to develop, support and implement educational plans (health care plans, behavior intervention plans, learning media plan, communication plan, assistive technology) and positive behavior supports for individual student needs within the classroom environment.

• Creatively respond to challenges with enthusiasm and a problem-solving focus.

• Provide repetition of skills with variety to ensure learning across environments

• Acceptance of all disabilities and levels of skills

• Willingness to support the unique physical, medical and self-help needs of students.

• Experience with writing and delivering IEP goals to ensure the requirements of “least restrictive environment” and inclusion, when appropriate, are met and/or emphasized.

• Experience with supporting regular classroom education teachers with understanding how to deliver modified instruction, in the regular education setting, when appropriate.

• Experience with writing IEP goals to ensure the above goals can be met.

Collaboration and Communication

• Build the capacity of a highly professional team of support specialists (paraprofessionals) to ensure student behavioral, social, communication, physical and academic lessons and curriculum are consistently implemented with the use of continuous data collection to drive the effectiveness of interventions.

• Coordinate with related service providers to ensure students receive their appropriate services in their IEP. (Social Worker, Speech Language, Occupational /Physical Therapy, Teacher for the Visually Impaired, Teacher for the Hearing Impaired, School Nurse, Assistive Technology, Specialized Transportation, Parents)

• Engage parents in their student’s learning through proactive communication structures, creation and refining of documents, and working with potential families when placement is being considered.

• Delegate effectively while also serving as the lead teacher for the students in the program.

• Exhibit excellent communication skills to provide direct, frequent feedback to general education teachers and paraprofessionals on effective instructional practices and implementation of curriculum and learning style accommodations and modifications for student goals.

• Consult weekly (at a minimum) with general education teachers, either in person or via electronic correspondence.

• Meet with a student team monthly to evaluate student’s programming and make appropriate adjustments based on data.

Description of Direct Student Services

• Provide daily direct Instruction in functional Literacy, Math, Writing, Science ,Social Studies, and Life Skills.

• Ensure academic instruction aids students in addressing core content competencies and functional skills as dictated by individual needs.

• Coordinate direct services as indicated on IEP

• Manage individual goals as written and indicated on the IEP program daily/weekly.

• Structure daily check in and check out, according to individual plans

• Meet with students and/or staff weekly to evaluate goals and make adjustments as needed.

• Take data on all skills daily and analyze data to determine progress and make changes to instruction as necessary based on progress made.

• Develop and maintain student portfolio binders.

• Provide and/or create adequate visual, tactile, object materials to support access to curriculum.

School Life

• Model, live, and reinforce the school’s core values and policies inside and outside the classroom.

• Build strong relationships and communication with colleagues and leadership.

• Provide feedback and coaching to program paraprofessionals and staff.

• Model inclusionary practices and facilitate problem solving to enhance inclusion.

• Perform as an advisor to a group of advisees by overseeing their academic and student life, including taking attendance, holding regular conferences, meeting and communicating with students and parents regularly, overseeing digital portfolios, and overseeing advisory activities.

Professional Development

• Participate in weekly feedback sessions with the District special education team.

• Devote the necessary time and energy required to master the craft of teaching. To be open to innovative approaches to teaching, feedback from colleagues and school administration.

• Actively participate in the school’s professional development programs including data analysis and planning, leading and participating in best practice sessions, peer coaching, and attending conferences. (i.e. DLM Professional Training services, ALICE, Infinite Campus, Mandated Reporting, CPI, Restorative Practices)

• Actively participate in program-specific professional development programs including Social Emotional and Academic Curriculum (Social Thinking, MeVille, Equals, Unique) and Progress Monitoring Systems (Level Systems, Point Systems, Data logs, BIMAS).

TERMS OF

EMPLOYMENT: 2022-2023 School Year (181 Days)

SALARY: See certified salary schedule (on website)

SITUATION: Special Education (6th-8th)

TO APPLY: Please submit online application packet.

Applications available at www.mssd14.org

POSTING DATE: August 22, 2022

CLOSING DATE: Upon Placement of Suitable Candidate

Manitou Springs School District 14 is an equal opportunity educational institution and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, sex (which includes marital status), sexual orientation, disability, age, genetic information or conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth in its activities, programs or employment practices as required by Title VI, Title I, and Section 504. For information regarding civil rights or grievance procedures, contact Dr. Elizabeth Domangue, Superintendent of Schools, Manitou Springs School District 14, 405 El Monte Pl., Manitou Springs, CO 80829, (719) 685-2024, or the Office of Civil Rights, U.S Dept of Education, 1961 Stout Street, Denver, CO 80294, (303) 844-2991.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $45,207.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: One location