Special Education Teacher

To help students learn subject matter and skills that will contribute to their educational and social development. Responsible for planning, developing, delivering, and evaluating appropriate individualized education services, learning programs, and instruction for special needs students in both self-contained and integrated settings in consultation with other school personnel.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in special education
• Valid Arkansas teaching certificate with required endorsements or required training for the subject and level assigned
• Appropriate Special Education endorsements
• Demonstrated competency in the core academic subject area assigned
• Experience in diagnosing and assessing learning disorders
• Proven effective classroom and student behavior management skills
• Knowledge of current special education practices and methodologies
• Knowledge and understanding of State, local, and federal regulations and policies affecting special education
• Working knowledge of educational technology applications
• Develops and implements an instructional plan that is compatible with the school and system-wide curricular goals and the students’ Individual Education Program.
• Develops the Individual Education Programs (IEP) for students with disabilities; implements the IEP; and uses diagnostic information obtained from tests and other assessment procedures to update IEPs as needed
• Monitors student behavior; maintains discipline in the classroom; deescalates inappropriate behaviors; teaches students appropriate behavioral strategies; and restrains students when necessary.
• Provides consultation to school staff, school-based teams, and parents on individual behavior or learning strategies, classroom management and support, and school-wide behavior support.
• Assists disabled students with their personal and self-help needs, such as eating, toileting, and other essential tasks that students are not able to perform by themselves.
• Creates a classroom environment that is conducive to learning and appropriate to the maturity and interests of students.
• Reviews referral data, history, and assessment data to develop appropriate goals and objectives for each student
• Prepares special needs students for inclusion and transition to mainstream
• Employ instructional methods and materials that are most appropriate for meeting stated objectives
• Assesses the accomplishments of students regularly and provides progress reports as required
• Plans and supervises purposeful assignments for teacher assistants and evaluates their job performance
• Strive to maintain and improve professional competence. Participate in the development and support of the broad school vision
• Attends staff meetings, serves on staff committees, and carries out non-instructional duties as required or assigned.
• Performs related duties and responsibilities as required by the Principal

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, talk, hear, walk, sit, and use fingers, tools, or controls.  The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, such as to read handwritten or typed material, the ability to adjust focus, and depth perception.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift to 25 lbs.