Special Education Teacher (PAES Lab) (2026-2027 school year)

PURPOSE: To plan, instruct, and organize instructional environments which help students who require specially designed instruction to learn subject matter and skills that will contribute to their educational and social development, providing support to the instructional process by serving as a teacher with specific responsibility for supervising students within the classroom and other assigned areas; developing lesson plans, and delivering group and individual student instruction within established curriculum guidelines; collaborating with other professional staff, support staff, and administrators in addressing instructional and/or classroom issues; and responding to a wide range of inquiries from students’ parents/guardians regarding the instructional program and student progress.

Functions

• Follows all laws, Board Policies, regulations, rules and procedures, and complies with the instructions and/or directives from his/her supervisor(s).
• Works primarily independently in assigned school settings.
• Establishes an effective working rapport with all other staff and maintains a positive relationship with the school district’s internal and external publics.
• Works the additional hours necessary outside of the normal work day for planning/preparation, grading, documentation, and professional growth.
• Provides individual, group, and classroom instruction in a manner that is understandable to assigned students in accordance with the required curriculum and completes the assigned curriculum within the allotted time. Instruction includes, by way of example and not limitation, the following essential functions:
• Receiving and understanding student statements and questions;
• Reacting and/or responding in a timely manner to student statements and questions;
• Maintaining student discipline and an environment conducive to learning;
• Utilizing effective teaching strategies and having the ability to change strategies as necessary to be effective for all students in the class;
• Adhering strictly to the course of instruction;
• Utilizing required and approved teaching medium, supplies, books, and aids and ensures that such is properly used, accounted for and maintained;
• Evaluating, grading, and recording student work and/or progress;
• Communicating with parents/guardians to review student progress, problems, and/or discipline; and
• Making appropriate referrals for support services including, but not limited to, counselors, student support teams, etc.
• Maintains an educational setting that is positive, motivating, safe, orderly, inviting, respectful, supportive, inclusive, flexible, physically appropriate (e.g., ventilation, temperature, and light), and conducive to learning.
• Takes responsibility for student performance, sets appropriate expectations, and maintains a courteous and impartial attitude towards students as well as an appreciation for diversity/differences, a sense of dignity, ethical behavior, and propriety in all interactions with students and their parents/guardians.
• Recognizes and reacts appropriately to disciplinary and emergency situations.
• Develops and produces daily lesson plans and required student records.
• Meets professional obligations and grows professionally by maintaining professional certification(s), including earning an Instructional II teaching certificate within the first six (6) service years of teaching as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education; securing and/or maintaining and/or renewing any other specialist certifications or similar such certifications required for him/her to perform in his/her assigned position; and remaining abreast of current developments in education, particularly in his/her assigned area(s).
• Maintains contemporary professional awareness and promotes personal professional growth through participation in professional development activities.
• Attends all required meetings.
• Prepares and submits reports as required by the school district.
• Helps maintain a safe school environment by properly reporting dangerous or potentially dangerous situations, accidents, and/or injuries,
• Advocates for students by reporting suspected cases of abuse, neglect, postural defects, poor health, poor eyesight and/or hearing, contagious disease, and/or learning deficiencies.
• As is appropriate, functions as a member of teams such as, but not limited to, grade-level team, Child Study Team (CST); Student Information Response (SIR) team; Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team, Individual Transition Plan (ITP) team, Section 504/Chapter 15 team, and as a member of his/her department.
• Develops appropriate IEPs, which include behavioral management plans and Individual Transition Plans (ITP) when appropriate.
• Acts as a case manager for assigned special education students and performs such tasks as coordinating IEP team meetings; ensuring that all applicable timelines are adhered to; ensuring that PennData and other required information is updated; ensuring parents/guardians are contacted; and ensuring that all other necessary matters are properly addressed.
• Ensures the provision of individualized instruction as per the student’s IEP, including all applicable academic and non-academic areas and the proper implementation of specially designed instruction and modifications/adaptations as per IEPs and ITPs.
• Establishes a working rapport with all applicable staff; co-planning, co-teaching, team teaching, and/or collaborating as is appropriate.
• Helps direct and monitor the performance of assigned paraprofessionals.
• Serves as a resource for parents/guardians, school staff, and administrators regarding special education students.
• Assists in developing those areas of the school district’s budget pertinent to his/her assignment.
• Performs the work described herein without posing a direct threat to the health or safety of himself/herself or others
• Performs other duties and related tasks as assigned by the Superintendent or designee.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Possesses a valid Pennsylvania certificate in the appropriate area.
• Displays a fundamental understanding of his/her assigned/content area.
• Holds highly qualified certification in at least one (1) content area is preferred.
• Has the ability to read, write, and speak English fluently.
• Possesses effective communication, judgmental, planning, organizational, problem-solving, and human relations skills.
• Must possess and display the ability to follow directives and adhere to the established chain of command.
• Must be dependable, punctual, flexible, appropriately attired, neat in appearance, and able to manage time appropriately.
• Must maintain a professional demeanor and image.
• Must be courteous to students, staff, and the general public.
• Must possess adequate interpersonal skills, demonstrating the ability to work independently and/or on a team.
• Possesses necessary technology-related knowledge and individual computer/technology-related skills.
• Provides evidence of professional growth and development by keeping current in the field.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for prolonged periods of time.
• Must be able to move about the work area to access materials, file cabinets, machinery, etc.
• Must be able to operate equipment relative to his/her position for use and simple service or repair.
• Must be able to travel between school district buildings and other job-related locations as necessary.
• Must be able to withstand changes in environmental conditions inside and outside of the work facility, and to adapt to these changes.
• Must be able to attend evening meetings.
• Must be able to access all work areas and locations.
• Must be able to lift as required.
  
  

This position description does not state or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees in this position will be required to perform any other duties requested by their administrator(s) and/or supervisor(s).

The position holder must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. It is the responsibility of the employee to inform the school district of any and all reasonable accommodations that will be required.