Special Education Teacher - Elementary

Job Goal: To plan, organize and implement an appropriate instructional program in an elementary or secondary learning environment that guides and encourages students to develop and fulfill their academic potential.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Plans comprehensive, educational courses of study as approved by the Board of Education and correlating lesson plans, learning activities, and educational materials that meet the individual needs, interests, and abilities of assigned students.
• Teaches assigned students in a manner that motivates students to succeed academically and contributes to the development of students' intellectual, emotional, and social skills. Provides a balanced program of individualized and group instruction, demonstration, activities, and work time in order to adapt the curriculum to meet students' varying learning styles and provide opportunities for observation, lecture, inquiry, group discussion, and investigation.
• Creates lesson plans and courses of study that demonstrate an understanding and recognize the impact of a student's cultural, ethnic, and social background, special needs, and individual learning style on their motivation to learn and achieve academically.
• Guides students in the learning process toward the achievement of curriculum goals and establishes clear objectives for all lessons while striving to implement the school system's philosophy of education and instructional goals.
• Establishes and enforces appropriate classroom rules and procedures in accordance with school system policies and maintains clear standards of student behavior in order to achieve an orderly, functional environment conducive to learning.
• Collaborates with other teachers as appropriate to evaluate and discuss students' needs and progress, develop lessons and activities in accordance with the adopted curriculum, coordinate instructional efforts, identify academic and behavioral issues, and make referrals to internal personnel or external professional agencies as needed.
• Works with a variety of school staff as needed to make necessary accommodations for students as required by Individual Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans and to integrate appropriate teaching plans and strategies into the school system's curriculum to effectively meet students' needs.
• Communicates effectively with students' parents to establish rapport, discuss academic progress, communicate expectations, develop plans for improvement, answer inquiries, and assist in resolving existing and potential issues for the purpose of providing a solid educational foundation in accordance with each student's needs and abilities while maintaining confidentiality.
• Updates student records regarding daily attendance and earned grades in the student management database.
• Assesses the advancement and accomplishments of students on an ongoing basis through the utilization of tests, assignments, observation, and other evaluation methods; prepares progress reports for distribution as required by school guidelines.
• Administers group standardized tests in accordance with state testing programs while following state testing security guidelines and attends training as required to ensure and demonstrate understanding of applicable standardized testing policies.
• Provides leadership to classroom assistants as applicable and communicates effectively to assign duties in order to meet classroom goals and develop effective instructional plans.
• Organizes and supervises class field trips and other approved educational activities as necessary to support curriculum and guides students in opportunities to best utilize and apply learning experiences.
• Operates responsibly and monitors students in the use and care of computers and other school system equipment and materials in compliance with established policies.
• Collects and maintains accurate, complete, and proper documentation for the purpose of preparing reports, recording activities, and complying with applicable school system policies and state/federal laws and regulations.
• Makes provisions to ensure availability to students and parents for education-related purposes outside the instructional day when required or requested to do so under reasonable terms.
• Notifies appropriate personnel regarding evidence of child abuse/neglect (as required by state law), as well as severe medical or social conditions, potential suicide, or students appearing to be under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances.
• Maintains familiarity with the school's safety plan and actively contributes to a safe school environment by following applicable procedures and laws, reporting unsafe actions and/or conditions, and assisting with supervision as required.
• Plans and participates in various meetings to present and interpret information; serves as a member on various teams and committees as appropriate.
• Maintains research-based knowledge in state and national current trends and best practices related to teaching and classroom instruction; reviews current developments, literature, and technical sources of information; and utilizes knowledge to ensure compliance with school system guidelines and the state model.
• Attends approved trainings, activities, and events, including in-service programs, seminars, conferences, workshops, etc. to address professional learning needs.
• Performs other job-related duties as required.

Qualifications (minimum education, licensure, skills, and/or experience):

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university
• Valid Alabama teaching certification with appropriate subject area endorsement(s) and grade level