Crossroads Charter Schools is looking for highly effective, highly qualified and highly motivated individuals to join our organization. Ideal candidates will have experience in urban education and be committed to our four core values: High Expectations, Authentic Learning, Creative Culture, and Educational Equity.

Crossroads Charter Schools organization is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are considered for all positions without regard to sex, race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other factor prohibited by law.

Job Description: Elementary Special Education Teacher

Direct Supervisor: Director of Special Education or designee

School Summary:At Crossroads Charter Schools, we…

• Understand the significant difference between equity and equality. Every student deserves to receive what he/she needs to succeed (equity), not that every student receives the same amount of resources, instruction, attention, etc. (equality).
• Develop school environments where all students are actively and meaningfully engaged in rigorous instruction and authentic learning tasks.
• Interrupt the “school to prison pipeline” – policies and practices that are directly and indirectly pushing the most at-risk students out of school and on a pathway to the juvenile and criminal justice systems.
• Engage families as partners in meaningful ways.
• Build the capacity of diverse teams that are more reflective of our students.
• Nurture an open, collaborative, and trusting environment because the work is enormous, deeply personal, emotional and often difficult. 
• Engage in on-going job-embedded professional development through co-teaching and co-planning

Position Summary:

The Special Education teacher assesses the needs of students and provides supports and interventions so students can meet their Individual Education Plan goals within a small classroom setting. The Special Education teacher collaborates with general education or content teachers to co-plan, co-deliver, and individualize instruction for all students in a class; work together creatively to accommodate the special needs, diversity and educational backgrounds of the students in the class; and overcome instructional challenges constructively. The Special Education teacher must be comfortable sharing ideas, modeling strategies, co-teaching and providing coaching to colleagues. Special education teachers carry the responsibility of educating children who are diagnosed with a number of physical, mental and emotional disabilities. They work with legally required federal paperwork called an IEP, or Individualized Educational Plan, that outlines the necessary supports, accommodations and goals for an individual child. These goals can encompass both academic and behavioral concerns. The ideal Special Education teacher has experience working with students with a variety of disabilities, including, but not limited to: Autism, Intellectual Disability, Emotional Disturbance, and Other Health Impairment. The Special Education teacher is a hardworking, goal-oriented and enthusiastic professional with excellent subject knowledge and a sound understanding of the Missouri Learning Standards and Common Core State Standards. The Special Education teacher should have experience with administering MAP-A (alternate state assessment).

All candidates must complete an application in order to be considered for open positions. Attach your cover letter, resume, and 4 professional references (include name, phone, and email) for review. 

 All applicants must apply on Crossroads’ website: https://www.crossroadsschoolskc.org/careers

Position Responsibilities:

• The teacher assesses the needs of students, and supports students in their educational goals as determined by the student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP).
• Performs educational assessments of students, including an observation of the student, review of the student’s educational history, conferences with the student’s teachers, and an evaluation and analysis of the student’s academic performance and learning characteristics.
• Provides individual and small group push-in or pull-out instruction as assigned.
• Reports educational assessment findings to parents, classroom teachers, supervisor and administration.
• In the classroom, work with children including those who have mild to severe disabilities, using specialized techniques to help them reach their goals.
• Collaborate with other staff, including paraprofessional, general education teachers, support staff, and administrators in advocating for student needs
• Actively participates in the deliberations and classification of educationally disabled students and assists in the planning of IEPs as well as in coordinating, developing, monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the IEP.
• Maintains confidential records on all referred students and student/parent contacts in accordance with federal and state law, Board policy and the procedure of the school’s special education program.
• Serves as a resource to school personnel on the nature, causes, and solutions of the learning problems of students.
• Maintains effective and efficient record keeping procedures.
• Demonstrates gains in student performance
• Complete quarterly progress reports on each student in the program.
• Provides a positive environment in which students are encouraged to be actively engaged in the learning process.
• Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with students, parents, and other professionals on a regular basis.
• Collaborates with peers to enhance the instructional environment.
• Act in a professional and ethical manner at all times and comply with school policies, procedures, and expectations.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by their supervisor.
• All work responsibilities are subject to having performance goals and/or targets established as part of the annual performance planning process or as the result of organizational planning.
• Collaborates with the Speech Language Pathologist as most students in the RISE program have communication needs.
• Teaches social skills and functional skills based on the students IEP goals.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by their supervisor.
• All work responsibilities are subject to having performance goals and/or targets established as part of the annual performance planning process or as the result of organizational planning.

All applicants must apply on line by submitting a resume and cover letter at http://www.crossroadsschoolskc.org/careers. 

Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Special Education
• Valid Missouri teaching certificate
• Minimum 3 years of experience as a Special Education Teacher preferred
• Experience determining eligibility for and administering MAP-A (alternative state assessment)
• Demonstrated success in urban education
• Desire to continue professional development
• Excellent organization skills and an ability to coordinate multiple tasks and activities
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills and an ability to keep multiple stakeholder groups, including parents, teachers, staff, volunteers and partners, informed of critical issues, activities and schedules.
• An ability and enthusiasm for promoting the school and its mission to a broad and diverse group of people.
• Excellent work ethic, positive attitude, flexibility and willingness to perform tasks assigned
• Demonstrates ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about students and teachers in a school environment and community.
• Must pass extensive background check.
• Has a strong understanding of developing and implementing a Post-Secondary Transition plan when applicable
• Identifies relevant and meaningful post-secondary transition goals in the areas of employment, education/training, and independent living
• Works with appropriate outside agencies to provide post-secondary transition services as needed
• Experience working with and assigning duties to the RISE paraprofessional in a collaborative way that promotes positive collaboration and is student-centered

All applicants must apply on Crossroads’ website: https://www.crossroadsschoolskc.org/careers

Key Working Relationships in Addition to Supervisor:

Teachers, Students, Parents, Volunteers, Office Staff, Support Staff, Assistant Principals, Principals, District Leadership Team, Central Office Team

Both federal and state law requires all public school personnel to submit to and pass a criminal background check prior to employment by the school. Crossroads Charter Schools is required by law to exclude from employment any person who has pleaded to or been found guilty of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude under the laws of the State of Missouri, any other State of the United States or any other country, whether or not a sentence is or was imposed.

Please be advised that Crossroads Charter Schools does not seek information related to the conviction of crimes unrelated to those described in this question. Your conviction of a crime not otherwise listed above is not an automatic disqualification from employment consideration. The school will consider the nature of the offense and the relationship between the offense and the position for which you are applying.