Job Description

Valparaiso Community Schools
Cooks Corners Elementary School

TITLE: Special Education Teacher - Applied Skills

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Valid Indiana Teaching License
2. At least a Bachelor Degree
3. Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.
4. Interest in sponsoring/coaching extra-curricular activities preferred

REPORTS TO: Building Principal

JOB GOAL: To create a learning environment favorable to academic achievement and personal growth; to establish effective rapport with pupils; to motivate pupils to develop the skills, attitudes, and knowledge needed to meet individual goals in accordance with each student's ability; to establish good relationships with parents and other staff members

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Manages an assigned student caseload to address student goals and special education services.
2. Plans and implements specially designed instruction to address core academic skills and life skills for students.
3. Delivers special education services to students as outlined in the student's IEP.
4. Teaches the assigned curriculum to pupils, utilizing the course of study adopted by the Board of Education and other appropriate learning activities via co-teaching, direct instruction, small group intervention, and/or individual student intervention.
5. Instructs pupils in citizenship and basic subject matter specified in state law and in administrative regulations and procedures of the school district.
6. Adapts academic material and methods to provide individual, small group, or remedial instruction to meet the needs of the individual pupil.
7. Plans, organizes, and oversees the orderly, productive operation of the special education classroom.
8. Establishes and maintains standards of pupil behavior needed to provide an orderly, productive classroom environment.
9. Drafts and finalizes compliant Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for students on an assigned caseload.
10. Conducts Annual Case Review meetings and Case Conference Committee meetings with appropriate participants in a timely, collaborative manner.
11. Adheres to special education laws and regulations.
12. Evaluates, monitors, and reports students' progress on goals.
13. Navigates the IEP system to maintain compliance with documentation requirements.
14. Communicates and collaborates with general education teachers, parents, school counselors, and other professional staff members to meet students' needs.
15. Supervises pupils in out-of-classroom activities during the assigned working day.
16. Participates in curriculum and other developmental programs.
17. Participates in faculty committees and the sponsorship of student activities.
18. Maintains professional competence through professional development activities provided by the district and in self-selected professional growth activities.
19. Serves as a positive role model for students.