Life Skills-Special Education (2026-2027 School Year)

POSITION TITLE: LIFE SKILLS SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM TEACHER

QUALIFICATIONS: Valid Arkansas certification in Special Education

REPORTS TO: Building Principal

JOB GOALS: Develop and implement individualized education programs (IEP) for students with a disability or multiple disabilities that significantly impact intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior essential for someone to live independently and to function safely in daily life. Develop and implement instructional programs for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities to be able to achieve higher academic outcomes and leave high school capable of pursuing a variety of post-secondary options. 

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.  Assess the needs of individual students, and determine each student’s strengths and weaknesses.
2. Develop an individualized education program (IEP) for each student based on diagnostic/assessment data, to include Goals, Objectives and instruction for individual students linked to the enrolled grade-level state content standards, and address knowledge and skills that are appropriate and challenging.
3. Use systematic instructional strategies to implement the IEP of each student.
4. Use systematic data collection to monitor and analyze student progress.
5. Create and maintain an atmosphere conducive to learning in both appearance of instructional station and activities conducted therein.
6. Plan, prescribe and direct the learning activities of students.
7. Prepare and follow effective lesson plans.
8. Ensure that substitutes will have all information necessary for effective instruction.
9. Train and supervise paraprofessionals and volunteers.
10. Review student records and important information across multiple school years and settings (e.g., school, home, and community).
11. Supervise students in corridors, in restrooms, in lunch rooms, on school grounds, community sites, etc., in accordance with district policy.
12. Assist in the enforcement of school regulations at all times.
13. Participate as a team member in all aspects of a student's educational program.
14. Implement a system of curricular, instructional and assessment tools, so that students with significant cognitive disabilities are able to participate in content instruction and assessments that are aligned to the state content standards.
15. Ensure that students are able to participate in a state-assessment that is a measure of what they know and can do in relation to the grade-level state content standards.
16.  Assist in assessing and adapting instructional equipment and materials by using substantially adapted materials and individualized methods of accessing information in alternative ways to acquire, maintain, generalize, demonstrate and transfer skills across multiple settings.

1. Take responsibility for issued materials and equipment.
2. Assist in development of school and district curriculum.
3. Conduct Functional Behavioral Assessments and develop behavior management programs for individual students as needed and/or required.
4. Direct and assist students to meet their physical needs including, but not limited to, feeding, toileting, dressing, catheterization, physical management, etc.. Some heavy lifting of students is required.
5. Counsel with students relative to individual needs.
6. Use District functional curriculum.
7. Attend and participate in team meetings, parent meetings, etc.
8. Assist the special education coordinator in establishing community-based education training sites and presenting programs to community organizations.
9. Participate in all prescribed in-service programs.
10. Submit timely and accurate required special education reports, student progress reports, etc.
11. Maintain and make reports on necessary records for pupil accounting, pupil progress, material and equipment inventories, collection of money, etc.
12. Check student attendance and report absences and tardies.
13. Sponsor clubs and activities on an equitable basis.
14. Inform parents of each student's educational program regularly through home visits, phone calls, etc.
15. Work to make parents an integral part of the team.
16. Schedule, attend and complete required paperwork for Programming/Annual Review/Referral/Evaluation/Re-Evaluation Conferences, etc.
17. Maintain organized special education files.
18. Have a working knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to the education of individuals with disabilities and adhere to those requirements.
19. Know PCSSD Board of Education policies, Desegregation Plan, district and school guidelines and regulations and adhere to them.
20. Perform other duties as assigned.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Salary Range: Teacher Salary Schedule. Placement depends upon education and experience.

Length of Contract: 190 days per contract year

ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS: YES 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 10 DAYS FROM ORIGINAL DATE OF POSTING OR UNTIL FILLED (EMERGENCY-5 Day Posting) 

EVALUATION:

Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board's policy on Evaluation of Certified Personnel.

PCSSD does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, race, color, national origin, or gender in any service, program, or activity (including in admission, access, treatment, employment, or vocational opportunities).