What are the responsibilities and job description for the 2026-27 Education Specialist (Full-Time, Salaried) at Sycamore Valley Academy position at The Academies CMO (Sycamore Valley Academy, Blue Oak Academy)?
Education Specialist
Job Title: Education Specialist
Job Purpose:
The job of Special Education Teacher/Mild-Moderate was established for the purpose/s of providing support for the instructional program for students with special needs; pertinent information and consultant services to staff members and parents on student assessments and progress monitoring; ongoing planning with regular classroom teachers; and promoting and supporting the school Student Study Team.Team Relationship: The Education Specialist is directly responsible to the Director of Special Education; and providing information and/or advising others who are members of the student’s educational team.
Essential Job Functions:
- Demonstrates knowledge of K-12 core curriculum for the purpose of designating and presenting instruction with clear and logical structure.
- Demonstrates knowledge of special education laws, as well as SELPA and district policies and procedures for the purpose of maintaining compliance with federal and state laws.
- Develops reasonably calculated, legally defensible IEPs including individual goals aligned to state content standards for the purpose of providing educational benefit to the students.
- Implements student IEPs as written in accordance to the law for the purpose of providing education benefit to the students.
- Monitors students’ progress utilizing data that reflects student performance and adjusts instruction as needed based on analysis of the data for the purpose of coordinating services to individual students.
- Provides students with specialized instruction for the purpose of meeting their unique needs.
- Interfaces with other teachers, psychologists, specialists, and others for the purpose of monitoring student progress.
- Provides timely feedback to students, parents and general education teachers based on data for the purpose of coordinating services to individual students.
- Schedules IEP meetings with parents, general education teachers, administrators, and any members of the IEP team required by law for the purpose of maintaining compliance with federal and state laws.
- Uses peer-reviewed, research-based instructional strategies for the purpose of facilitating student learning in core academic subjects.
- Utilizes assessment results for the purpose of providing educational benefit to the students.
- Trains and provides work direction and guidance to assigned Instructional Assistants for the purpose of meeting unique needs of students.
- Performs other duties as needed for the purpose of facilitating student learning.
- High school graduate. (required)
- Bachelor’s degree in job-related area. (required)
- Master’s degree. (desired)
- Basic first aid certificate. (required before start date)
- Spanish language fluency. (desired)
- Minimum of two years of providing specialized academic instruction to students with disabilities in multiple grade levels. (preferred)
- Special Education Credential (or be eligible for an Intern Program)
- EL Authorization
- Valid California driver's license and proof of automobile insurance
- Department of Justice and FBI Fingerprint Clearance
- K-12 core curriculum content.
- All areas of special education including: behavior management techniques, learning theories, curriculum development and vocational development.
- Current laws and regulations pertaining to students with disabilities.
- A variety of appropriate assessment tools.
- Policies and procedures pertaining to the development and implementation of IEPs.
- Assessment practices and statistics relevant to the behavioral sciences.
- Special Education Laws and SELPA or district policies and procedures.
- Work with administrators, teachers, classified personnel, parents and students.
- Plan, organize and prepare IEPs, behavior plans and transition plans as appropriate.
- Coordinate services with the general education teacher & make suggestions for modifications/ accommodations of core curriculum that targets students’ needs.
- Administer a variety of assessments.
- Utilize peer-reviewed, research-based instructional strategies to plan educational programs.
- Write legally defensible IEPs aligned to state content standards.
- Implement each student's IEP as it is written in accordance with the law.
- Provide students with specialized instruction based on their unique needs.
- Adhere to federal and state laws pertaining to students with special needs.
- Communicate effectively with general education teachers, administrators and parents.
- Maintain student confidentiality.
- Exercise initiative.
- Possess good judgment.