Job Summary

Provides special education students with an educational program that will enable them
to achieve their fullest potentials.

Essential Job Functions

• Serves as a member of an interdisciplinary team whose purpose is to provide appropriate educational programs for students with disabilities.
• Assists in screening, evaluating and recommending placements of students for the division’s special education program.
• Develops, implements, and annually reviews student Individualized Education Programs (IEP) according to federal, state and local procedures.
• Works cooperatively with general and special area classroom teachers by interpreting the abilities and disabilities of their students, and assists students with achievement of the curriculum.
• Provides specialized instruction, with specific educational planning, for those students whose needs cannot be met within the general classroom.
• Maintains ongoing records of student performance and IEP implementation in order to evaluate progress including report cards and IEP progress reports.
• Holds periodic parent conferences and/or home visits.
• Keeps abreast of recent developments in education for special needs students and shows evidence of continuing professional growth.
• Supervises paraeducators.
• Complies with all special education procedures from the division wide Special Education Handbook and the Virginia State Regulations Governing Students with Disabilities.
• Special education teachers assigned to work with students with emotional disabilities should have been trained in MANDT methodology and should receive additional training, as appropriate, annually.
• Special education teachers assigned to work with students on the Autism Spectrum should have knowledge in evidence-based practices for instructing students with autism, including, but not limited to, Applied Behavior Analysis, alternative communication methods, modeling and structured teacher (visual scheduling/supports, physical structure and teaching components).
• Special education teachers assigned to work with students with Severe Intellectual Disabilities should have training to include the following: tending to students’ personal hygiene, using specialized equipment, accessing augmentative communication equipment, following seizure protocol, implementing specialized feeding protocol, body positioning, tracheotomy care and suctioning.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the principal or designee.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of medical aspects of the special needs student and their implications for instruction.
• Knowledge of resources and techniques needed to integrate the special needs student into the least restrictive environment.
• Thorough knowledge of subject(s) taught.
• Thorough knowledge of elementary, secondary or special education principles, practices and procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and methodology of effective teaching.
• Thorough knowledge of school division rules, regulations and procedures.
• Ability to establish and maintain standards of behavior.
• Ability to deliver articulate oral presentations and written reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, students, administration, and parents.

Salary

This is a 10-month position. Please see starting salary below. Additional compensation awarded for credits earned toward advanced degrees. New employees to Spotsylvania County will be compensated for up to 20 years of experience.