Kindergarten Center 2024-2025 School Year

Special Education Teacher-Emotional Support

Position Summary

The Emotional Support Teacher is responsible for providing specialized instruction and support to students at the secondary level, providing emotional support and guidance to students who exhibit behavioral, emotional, or social challenges. Responsible for createing and implementing individualized education plans (IEPs) tailored to meet the unique needs of each student, focusing on their academic, social, emotional, and behavioral development. The Emotional Support Teacher collaborates with parents, caregivers, and other professionals to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive learning environment. Knowledge of behavior modification techniques is preferred.

Key Responsibilities 

• Provides instruction and support to special education students in accordance with their individualized education program (IEP).
• Develops lesson plans and instructional materials to address students’ individual needs.
• Works cooperatively with district staff, including regular education teachers, pupil services staff, and related service staff, and when appropriate, outside agencies to coordinate student’s program and provide appropriate level of support.
• Coordinates services for students on caseload by being the case manager and preparing all essential documents and other documents, adhering to timelines. Essential documents include but are not limited to permissions for evaluations, evaluation and reevaluation reports, Invitations to Participate, Individualized Education Programs (IEP), Notice of Recommended Educational Placement (NOREP), progress reports and more.
• Collects and effectively communicates data and provides ongoing progress monitoring for students on their caseload.
• Collects and documents ESY-Extended School Year data to determine eligibility.
• Participates actively as part of the Multidisciplinary team and facilitates IEP meetings.
• Provides staff development to professional staff and support staff on particular needs of students on caseload in regards to characteristics of a disability, interventions, strategies, teaching methodologies, and modifications as needed.
• Prepares Positive Behavior Support Plans when necessary.
• Participates in Interagency meetings when necessary.
• Attends scheduled Special Education Department meetings and professional development.
• Develops and implements Crisis Plan & Approved Crisis, Prevention & Intervention Techniques during crisis situations
• Adheres to district policies and procedures.
• Adheres to professional, ethical, and legal standards. 

Required Qualifications

• Candidate must be a graduate of an accredited college or university and hold a proper Pennsylvania certification for the position.
• Possesses a positive attitude toward the teaching profession, service to the district, and importance and purpose of the education program.
• Proficiency in use of technology for individual or group demonstration or communication.
• Possesses effective interpersonal skills with the ability to interface diplomatically with teachers, administrators, parents, students, and outside organizations.
• Exhibits excellent classroom management skills.
• Demonstrates effective communication skills to provide accurate information to others and to obtain, give, and follow directions.
• Demonstrates ability to provide good judgment, planning, and human relations skills, as well as be required to work under periods of stress due to the level of the position responsibility.
• Must successfully complete and maintain compliance with all federal and state background and criminal record check requirements.
• Candidate must adhere to all local, state, federal, and school code requirements for employment.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree from accredited college or university
• Valid Pennsylvania Certification: Special Education 7-12, Special Education K-12, or a confirmed pathway to certification

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Education or a related field of study
• 2 years of experience teaching in an education environment

Pre-employmet Requirements:

• Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check, FBI fingerprinting Background Check, Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance
• Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release (ACT 168)
• School Personnel Health Record and TB test

Working Conditions:

• Work schedule hours on a consistent basis
• Indoor office environment is subject to frequent interruptions
• Pushing, moving and lifting objects with a strength factor of light work
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a variety of standard office equipment
• Clarity of vision at varying distances
• Verbal, auditory and written capabilities to effectively communicate in an articulate manner
• Sitting and standing for extended periods of time
• Frequent sitting, standing and walking
• Reaching overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally to retrieve and store files and supplies
• Occasional kneeling, crouching and squatting
• Occasional bending, reaching and stretching
• Occasional pulling, pushing

Level of Compensation: Step and Track placement as deterined based on collective bargaining agreement

Disclaimer:

The preceding list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principle functions of this job, the scope of responsibility, and the level of knowledge and skills typically required, but should not be considered an inclusive listing of work requirements, skills or duties so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed. 

All employment open positions are made available on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability, or veteran status. 

Job descriptions are written as a representative list of the ADA essential duties performed by the entire classification. They cannot include and are not intended to include, every possible activity and task performed by every specific employee