High School Exceptional Children/Special Education Teacher

Job Description - Special Education/Exceptional Children Teacher

About Us

The Franklin School of Innovation (FSI) is a rigorous, college-preparatory, interdisciplinary, public charter middle and high school in Asheville, N.C. that uses the EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) model to prepare students in grades 5 -12 to create their own futures. In 2023-24 the school celebrated its 10th year of service and completed construction of its beautiful permanent facility in West Asheville/Candler.

Mission

The Franklin School of Innovation is preparing the next generation of leaders, capable of solving problems and participating effectively and ethically as local and global citizens. Through challenging academics, real-world learning, and community engagement, our students discover their potential, develop persistence and recognize the value of others. Our graduates are ready for the future they will create.

Core Elements of our Educational Model

• Learning Expeditions: Expeditions are long-term, teacher-designed studies, often multi-disciplinary, that involve students in original research, critical thinking and problem solving. They incorporate fieldwork or service learning and culminate in student products of value to an external audience.
• Crew: Crew is an integral component of EL Education schools, in which small groups of students meet with an adult advisor several times a week to explicitly work on team building, relationships, our Habits of Scholarship, and prepare for Personal Learning Plans and portfolios.
• 8th & 10th Grade Passage Portfolios: All students develop individual portfolios to demonstrate mastery of academic standards as well as development of habits of scholarship and self-reflection. At 8th and 10th grades, these portfolios are used to showcase students’ readiness to move forward to the next level of education.
• Internships/Independent Projects: Every high school student will complete a self-designed internship or independent project to develop practical career and life skills.
• Service Learning: Integrated into our academic program to enrich learning, provide real-world applications, and build students’ understanding of themselves as local and global citizens.

Position Overview

Exceptional Children’s (EC) / Special Education services at Franklin are provided in an inclusive model, with support services delivered in the least-restrictive environment. The EC Teacher is part of a collaborative team delivering Franklin’s instructional program, ensuring that great teaching yields great learning.

EC teachers work with students who have a wide range of learning, emotional, mental, and physical disabilities. They adapt general education lessons and teach all manner of subjects in school. They also teach basic skills, such as communication techniques, executive functioning, positive behavioral supports, and remedial math and literacy to students with more profound needs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement an instructional plan which is compatible with Franklin’s instructional methods and strategies and the students’ Individual Education Program (IEPs);
• Develop, implement, review, and conduct evaluations for IEPs;
• Provide direct special education instruction to identified students. Plan, organize, and assign activities that are specific to each student’s abilities;
• Employ a variety of special education strategies and techniques to meet student needs. The person in this position is responsible for creating a flexible program and learning environment that provides specialized instruction for students with disabilities;
• Modify the general education curriculum for students with disabilities based upon a variety of instructional techniques and technologies.
• Act as a case coordinator for assigned students; Effectively communicate with teachers, parents, related services staff, and administrators to facilitate the IEP process;
• Monitor student behavior, maintains discipline in the classroom, deescalates inappropriate behaviors and teaches students appropriate behavioral strategies. Certification in CPI or willingness to become CPI-certified is required;
• Assist disabled students with their personal and self-help needs;
• Develop lesson plans that ensure the attainment of specific learning standards for resource courses and work with staff to modify and accommodate lessons to the needs of students with disabilities in inclusion-based settings;
• Coordinate lesson plans and Expeditions with other teachers to maximize possibilities for integrated, multi-disciplinary teaching addressing individual needs of assigned students;
• Evaluate students’ progress through data collection to establish meaningful student goals and necessary accommodations;
• Maintain effective professional liaison and communication between school and home, including periodic written progress reports;
• Maintain privacy of student records and information;
• Accept and incorporate feedback and coaching from administrative staff;
• Serve as an advisor to students through Franklin’s Crew program;
• Attend staff development and team planning meetings during designated hours;

Qualifications

• Commitment to Franklin’s mission and educational model;
• BA/BS degree in education, especially in special education;
• EC Certified with certification in at least one area of disability.
• Five years of teaching and/or supervision in the field of special education;
• Working knowledge of NC DPI Exceptional Children regulations, including an understanding of the federal, state, and local mandates governing the determination and delivery of special education services;
• Demonstrated organizational skills;
• Record of a highly successful teaching, student teaching, or residency experience;
• Demonstrated literacy skills, including written and oral communication and reading;
• Demonstrated interest in, and ability and experience to engage the interest of school-age children;
• Demonstrated interest in and ability to work with diverse children with special needs;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a team member;
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate tests and measurements of achievement;
• Demonstrated ability to use data to measure and direct planning;
• Must be able to use an assortment of equipment and classroom tools, such as CECAS program, Powerschool, Canvas, Google, and assistive technology.
• Commitment to pursuing professional development workshops, trainings, and seminars to increase knowledge of subject and training of other staff on new research, techniques, and methodologies.

Compensation and Development:

• Salary Target: Competitive based on North Carolina teacher salary scale
• 401k with employer match
• Medical benefits through NC State Health Plan
• Weekly student early release days for professional learning and collaborative time with teams; exceptional mentoring from EC director and department chairs

Pay: $48,000.00 - $66,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Parental leave

Work Location: In person

Salary : $48,000 - $66,000