Job Exploration - LHS

Job Exploration Teacher

The Job Exploration Teacher provides community-based vocational instruction to high school students receiving special education services. The teacher helps students explore career interests, develop employability skills, practice workplace behaviors, and increase independence in authentic work environments. This is a supplemental position and not intended to be a full-time assignment.

Why Liberal Public Schools?

At Liberal Public Schools, we know great teachers make all the difference. We are committed to supporting our educators through strong collaboration and access to building and district leadership. We provide opportunities to grow and lead earlier in your career, and a lower cost of living that allows your competitive salary to go further for your family. As a diverse, bilingual, Title I District, you will provide meaningful work with students who truly need their teachers and a culture focused on student success.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Plan and provide community-based job exploration experiences aligned with students’ IEP and transition goals.
• Identify appropriate job sites based on student interests, strengths, needs, and safety considerations.
• Teach employability skills, including attendance, punctuality, communication, following directions, task completion, problem-solving, workplace safety, and professional behavior.
• Provide direct instruction, modeling, prompting, feedback, and opportunities for repeated practice.
• Develop relationships with local businesses and community partners.
• Coordinate student schedules, transportation, job-site expectations, and required permissions.
• Conduct safety assessments and determine the level of supervision and support students need at each job site.
• Supervise, train, and provide direction to paraeducators and job coaches.
• Assign staff to students and job sites based on student needs and staff skills.
• Ensure staff understand student accommodations, behavior supports, communication needs, and emergency procedures.
• Monitor student participation and progress through observations, employer feedback, work samples, and skill-based data.
• Maintain documentation related to student attendance, job-site participation, transition goals, incidents, and progress.
• Communicate regularly with IEP teams, staff, employers, and community partners.
• Participate in IEP meetings and provide information related to transition planning, vocational strengths, needs, preferences, and progress.
• Support students in developing self-advocacy, workplace communication, and decision-making skills.
• Adjust or discontinue a community placement when a student’s needs, behavior, attendance, or safety concerns cannot be adequately supported.
• Maintain student confidentiality and comply with district policies, special education requirements, and workplace expectations.
• Perform other duties related to the position as assigned.

 Qualifications:

• Valid Kansas teaching license appropriate for the position.
• Ability to supervise staff and provide instruction in school and community environments.
• Strong communication, organization, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel between community job sites.

Physical and Working Conditions:

The position requires regular travel to community work sites and the ability to provide instruction in a variety of workplace environments. The employee may be required to stand, walk, bend, lift materials, respond to student safety needs, and work in environments with varying noise levels, temperatures, schedules, and physical demands.

Supplemental Position:

This is a supplemental position. It is not intended to be a full time position.

Terms of Employment:

Salary, benefits, and work calendar are established in accordance with the Negotiated Professional Agreement and approved by the USD 480 Board of Education.

Evaluation:

Performance will be evaluated in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the USD 480 Board of Education.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Liberal Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities.