26-27 Middle School Special Education Teacher (ESE/Learning Specialist)

Here’s what you need to know

• Our schools are seeking awe-inspiring teachers to guide our students as they climb the mountain to college and beyond.
• Our teachers are dynamic leaders both in and outside of their classroom.
• They love students, working with families and the community they serve.

Special Education/ ESE Teacher

As a Special Education Teacher you'll be responsible for the academic, socio-emotional growth, and development of students by creating a learning experience that provides opportunities for each student to reach their full potential regardless of their disabilities.

Here’s what you’ll be doing

Joining our schools as a teacher comes with a lot of growth opportunities, but with great power comes great responsibility. Your role as a Special Education Teacher will involve a number of responsibilities which will include but are not limited to:

Teaching and Classroom Responsibilities

• Teach in an inclusive class, sharing all responsibilities with a general education teacher
• Provides resource small group support as needed
• Provides an alternative or parallel teaching to a group of students and provides 1:1 teaching, as needed
• Employs multisensory teaching strategies and specialized instruction as needed based on student’s specific disabilities
• Implements all modifications and accommodations for the classroom and in testing
• Create IEPs in collaboration with Child Response Team to ensure services are being delivered at ahigh level and are in compliance.
• Uses student IEPs, evaluations, and present levels of performance to ensure services are being delivered at a high level.
• Collaborate with student support team to conduct annual IEP meetings
• Use data to responsively teach to mastery of academic skills
• Tracks student performance and progress and is responsible for continual improvement in student growth objectives
• Administers and tracks weekly assessment data to both monitor progress towards grade level goals as well as IEP goals
• Create action plans to improve performance when students are not on track to meet goals
• Consistently and clearly communicates progress to all shared stakeholders
• Participate in school, departmental, and parent meetings
• Participate in school events, activities, and programs both during and outside of regular class instruction hours.

IEP Management

• Assumes responsibility for writing both initial and updated IEPs based on present levels of performance and developing goals that related to curriculum standards and content
• Track student progress towards IEP goals on a weekly and quarterly basis
• Uses tracking of student progress to determine changes in student programming
• Report achievement of goals and objectives at the end of every advisory period and issues quarterly progress reports
• Maintain a portfolio of student grades, work samples, anecdotal data, and classroom observation information

Case Management

• Assume responsibility for case compliance and student academic progress as documented through both academic and compliance tracking tools.
• Assume responsibility for reviewing and analyzing all student information and developing a corrective action plan for students who need additional testing and/or a change in service.
• Maintain special education files, in collaboration with the grade level social worker, and ensure that all evaluation recommendations are followed up and completed.
• Help to coordinate all IEP meetings for the grade level (Initial, Eligibility, IEP, Re-eligibility, Triennial), providing all academic data
• Communicates IEP notes and updates to GL teams / teachers and paraprofessionals
• Ensure that related services are represented in the IEPs and are being delivered in an integrated way and practically applied in the classroom.
• Review monthly data as to student performance with Assistant Principal.

Team and Family Engagement

• Collaborate closely with students, families and colleagues to create an environment that is supportive of student progress.
• Effectively communicate academic and behavior performance to families
• Participate in school, departmental and parent meetings as required.

Professional Development

• Engage actively in the Performance Management Process.
• Continue personal development in your subject matter knowledge and teaching methods.
• Attend and actively participate in school sponsored professional development.

Must Haves

• A belief in every student’s limitless potential
• A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university required (Official transcripts showing degree conferred are required prior to the starting date of employment)
• Valid Florida ESE (Exceptional Student Education) Teaching Certification
• Subject matter expertise
• A minimum of two years of teaching experience, with demonstrated interest in working with students from diverse economic and cultural backgrounds
• A track record of success in the classroom
• A collaborative attitude towards teaching and learning

Nice to Haves

Masters in Special Education/ Teaching Students with Disabilities

• A record of exceptional student achievement and results at a high-performing charter network/charter management organization.
• A belief that all students deserve a world class education which can be achieved through education reform

The usual and customary methods of performing the job’s functions require the following physical demands:

• Often required to stand and sit; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, or squat.
• Some lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling and significant fine finger dexterity.
• Walk frequently and climb stairs.

Additional Information: Compensation & Benefits

KIPP

Miami offers a full comprehensive benefits plan, including health care, competitive 403(B) plan, and a school laptop.

KIPP

• Miami offers competitive salaries to newly hired lead teachers.
• Salaries are based on prior experience and in accordance with certification requirements.
• KIPP Miami offers a competitive salary starting at $55,000 for teacher positions with additional opportunities for earning up to $4,000 annually in performance-based pay.