The Physical Education Teacher works closely with all members of the dedicated, inter-disciplinary therapeutic team supporting the students and classroom. Teachers also collaborate with parents and guardians to ensure the greatest wrap around services, school -to-home communications, and understanding of the student. Collaboration with our partnering school districts is also essential.

Our partnering public districts, schools, and parents and guardians place their students with us when a child has been unable to achieve and maintain success in general academic settings and it is clear the child could benefit from our small classrooms, low staff to student ratio, individualized and intensively therapeutic environment. School personnel and leadership aim to build strong relationships with students, parents, guardians, partnering schools and districts as we know these relationships are critical in providing the most support to our students and lead to the greatest success.

Academically, our curriculum is dynamic and competitive. Therapeutically, our program offers students specialized supports, unique resources, opportunities to reintegrate to their home schools, and transitional and vocational skill development. Culturally, our school offers students opportunities to explore their interests through learning and social activities. Our success is possible only through nurturing relationships and strengths-based supports that focus on the holistic educational experience for each of our K-12 students with diverse social, emotional, and academic needs.

Responsibilities

Physical Education Teaching 

• Develops and implements state aligned individualized curriculum and therapeutic programming in accordance with each student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
• Provides classroom management that recognizes, and includes consideration of, the characteristics of and the methodology of the student population.
• Collaborates with team members to develop and execute an IEP-driven, multidisciplinary program for each student.
• Prepares and maintains a safe, healthy, academic, and behaviorally-effective classroom/gym environment appropriate to ongoing and changing classroom activities.
• Uses therapeutic and general education materials and methods and plans for their appropriate use.
• Tracks and records academic and behavior data to determine student progress.
• Completes a variety of tasks including, but not limited to quarterly unit plans, weekly lesson plans, weekly grade reports, IEP reports, surveys, and assessments.

Student Safety 

• Must provide constant supervision to ensure the safety of students at all times.
• Provide clear expectations and direction to paraprofessionals in the gym.
• Effectively manage and intervene in disruptive student behavior, both verbal and physical; including use of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) prescribed methods to de-escalate critical situations.

Program Support 

• Maintains records and writes agency required behavioral reports in timely manner.
• Participates in qualitative professional development activities.
• Maintains ongoing communication relationship with all members of the interdisciplinary team to achieve a social and educational benefit for the student.
• Successfully completes training in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), Ukeru, and Collaborative Problem Solving; successfully complete all requirements to maintain certification in each.

Traits

• Able to be flexible and shift gears quickly based on situations or changing priorities.
• Independent with sound professional judgment and the ability to establish and maintain boundaries.
• Demonstrated ability to remain calm in high-stress situations while maintaining an understanding and supportive demeanor.
• Strong desire to work with those students who have not been able to achieve success in the public/private educational system.
• Efficient and effective time management skills.

Requirements

• Must be certified by ISBE as a Special Education Teacher; LBS1/Type 10 certification.
• Certification by Illinois State Board of Education as a Physical Education teacher is strongly preferred.
• Endorsement or Certification in Special or Adapted Physical Education is a plus.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office programs.
• Able to successfully complete the physical and testing requirements Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, Ukeru, and Collaborative Problem-Solving training (Agency provided).
• Experience working with students with special education needs is preferred.

Job Category: Union

What you’ll love about us:

• Time off: Paid time off varies by position – can include vacation days, sick days, paid federal holidays, and paid Jewish holidays.
• Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance. 401(k) with base contribution and match. Additional health and wellness benefits, financial benefits, professional training, tuition reimbursement, 6 weeks paid parental leave, and much more.
• Compensation:the minimum compensation for this position is $58,500 annually.

JCFS Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran. JCFS Chicago provides a reasonable accommodation to those who need assistance in completing this application. JCFS Chicago is committed to serving the needs of the diverse Chicago metropolitan area. Accredited by COA, Charter member of CWLA, licensed by DCFS.