Job Description

Position Title: Teacher - Special Education - Mild/Moderate

Exempt

Direct Supervisor: Building Principal

Site: Johnson Elementary School

Salary Schedule: Teacher (range $51,516 - $83,929 based on 26/27 salary schedules, education and experience)

Work calendar: Teacher - 178 Days (prorated based on actual start date)

Start Date: As soon as possible - may be limited term

School Summary

At Johnson Elementary, we do things differently�and we do them together. We're looking for passionate educators who believe in the power of team-based teaching and want to make a meaningful impact in a supportive, student-centered environment.

Each grade level is led by a collaborative team of certified educators, instructional facilitators, and an instructional assistant, working together across four flexible learning spaces. This model allows us to truly personalize instruction, leverage each team member's strengths, and create a dynamic learning experience where students�and educators�can thrive.

We use proficiency scales to provide clarity in teaching and learning, ensuring that both students and staff understand the path to success. This shared language helps guide planning, assessment, and feedback across the team.

Johnson Elementary's school culture is strong and intentional. Through our house system, students and staff build connections across grade levels, creating a vibrant community that values mentorship, character, and celebration. Families are active partners in our work, and together we create an environment where everyone feels seen and supported.

Most importantly, we believe in taking care of each other. As a staff, we operate as a family�sharing common goals, lifting each other up, and relying on a deep network of support that helps us bring our best selves to school every day.

If you're looking for a place where your voice matters, your growth is supported, and your work truly makes a difference�we'd love to welcome you to the Johnson Elementary team.https://www.mcsd.org/johnsonelementary_home.aspx

Benefits

At MCSD, we care about our employees and their loved ones. Our benefits package consist of the following items: a variety of health insurance plans with employer contribution, including dental and vision insurance, Telehealth, a $50,000 life insurance policy with optional additional coverage, PERA retirement contribution, supplemental insurance options, no match tax shelter account options including 401K, 457(b), 403 (b) and Roth, before tax deductions and flexible spending options, paid leave options and holidays based upon the position, Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Added perks: Great people to work with, professional development and advancement opportunities, and multiple wellness programs and incentives.

Summary of Position:

Under the direction of the Building Principal and Director of Special Education, the Licensed Special Education Teacher develops and provides specialized instruction to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities; Evaluates and assesses student progress aligned to instructional objectives and IEP goals; follows State mandated due process procedures and functions as IEP Case Manager to assigned students.

Mild/Moderate

If a student can be part of the general education classroom, their disability can range from mild to moderate. Students with more mild or moderate disabilities range from specific learning disabilities, like struggling in reading or math, to speech impairment where the student needs speech therapy for pronunciation issues. These students can normally function within a general classroom setting with accommodations or an inclusion teacher. Even a physical disability, such as a hearing impairment or health impairment, can be mild. A student with a hearing impairment might just need a hearing device to hear in the classroom but may not need any other accommodations to succeed. Typically, a general education teacher will have students who fall in the mild/moderate special education disability category. Specific Learning Disability means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken, or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. Specific learning disability does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of: visual, hearing, or motor disabilities; intellectual disability; serious emotional disability; cultural factors; environmental or economic disadvantage; or limited English proficiency.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develops and implements annual and triennial Individualized Educational Program (IEP) plan for students to include present levels of educational performance, special education needs, instructional goals and objectives, and the special education and related services required to meet those goals.
• Develops individualized education programs (IEPs) for each student, setting learning goals and adopting modifications as necessary; ensures each student's activities and lessons are planned and organized according to his/her abilities.
• Ensures programs and services comply with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); ensures each applicable student is provided with Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) that is properly modified for his/her individual needs.
• Administer, score, and record the results of criterion referenced, group standardized and specialized tests in evaluating pupil growth and progress.
• Counsel, confer, and communicate with parents, school and District personnel regarding pupil progress, and in the interpretation of the educational program.
• Identifies the students' needs and develops related lesson and teaching plans.
• Develops an integrated plan for the education of each child by collaborating with classroom teachers, parents, psychologists, related service providers, social workers, and other school staff.
• Develops and teaches lessons that provide engaging learning opportunities for small groups and individual students while meeting required specifications of IEPs.
• Implements IEPs, provides ongoing or follow-up assessments, and continually tracks progress and makes modifications as necessary.
• Collaborates with general education teachers to ensure each students needs are met and plans are followed.
• Develops, completes, and maintains all paperwork mandated by local, state, and federal guidelines, laws, and regulations.
• Maintains knowledge of special education teaching methods, research, and best practices through professional development and study.
• Establishes and enforces classroom management structure and rules that ensure the academic engagement and the physical and mental safety of all students.
• Celebrates the achievements and successes of students.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education/Certification:

Education:

• Minimum B.A/B.S degree in teaching from an accredited institution in the appropriate special education area.

Certification Requirement:

Possession of a licensure from the Colorado Department of Education authorizing service as a teacher of special needs pupils.

Experience:

Successful completion of student teaching at a recognized college or university and/or two years of full-time classroom teaching experience with the special needs child.

Knowledge of and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the principles, practices and procedures of special education and specialty areas.
• Thorough understanding of and the ability to implement a variety of effective teaching methods.
• Thorough understanding of policies, laws, and guidelines related to special education including IDEA and IEPs.
• Educational curriculum and instructional goals and objectives, and the educational trends and research findings pertaining to the special needs child.
• Behavior management and behavior shaping strategies, techniques and methods, and conflict resolution procedures.
• Socio-economic and cultural background differences of the school population.

Ability to:

• Direct, monitor and collaborate with certified and classified staff working with students who have disabilities.
• Demonstrate excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• To deliver and articulate oral presentations and written reports.
• To effectively and analyze needs and problems objectively.
• Plan, organize, develop, and conduct a comprehensive teaching and instruction program for special needs pupils.
• Provide an attractive, inviting, and stimulating learning environment.

Physical Requirements:

The physical requirements indicated below are examples of the physical aspects that this position classification must perform in carrying out essential job functions.

• Must have the ability and proven ability to report to work on a regular and punctual basis.
• Persons performing service in this position classification may exert 5 to 50 pounds of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
• Prolonged periods standing and walking throughout school and classroom.
• Prolonged periods sitting and working on the computer to complete necessary paperwork.
• Reach with hands and arms, and must occasionally lift, move and/or support students (and/or up to adult size body weight with two-to-three-person lift).
• Exposure to hot, cold, wet, humid, or windy conditions caused by weather may occasionally be experienced.
• Position may require some degree of physical interaction with students who have difficulty controlling physical behavior.
• Perceiving the nature of sound, near and far vision, depth perception, providing oral information, the manual dexterity to operate business related equipment, and handling and working with various materials and objects are important aspects of this job.
• CBI/FBI background clearance and a clean driving record.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a person with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job.