POSITION:                           Special Education Teacher

CLASSIFICATION:              Exempt - 187 or 190 Day Contract

SALARY:                             Approved Certified Compensation Plan – Based on Education and Experience

REPORTS TO:                   School Principal or Administrative Designee

GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES: 

The Special Education Teacher provides services and support to students with special needs for the purpose/s of developing special education students' success in academics, interpersonal skills and  activities  of  daily  living  by  implementing  district  approved  curriculum;  documenting teaching and student progress/activities, outcomes; addressing students' specific needs; providing a safe and optimal learning environment; and providing feedback to students, parents and administration regarding student progress, expectations, goals. The Special Education Teacher must exhibit a strong working knowledge of the legal requirements associated with providing special education and related services and exhibit evidence of excellent organizational and time management skills.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 

• Designs  the  individualized  education  plan  (IEP)  for  each  assigned  student education  program  is  consistent  with  the  total  educational philosophy  of the district, Arizona Learning Standards and state and federal law.
• Designs learning experiences and utilizes adaptive devices/technology to provide access to general curricular content to individuals with disabilities.
• Collaborates with colleagues and other departments in planning and constructing benchmark lessons, instructional interventions and/or programs.
• Serves as case manager to assigned special needs students.
• Provides direct services as needed to assigned special needs students.
• Timely prepares, implements, and evaluates IEPs (including transition plans and behavior management plans) for each assigned student based on individually assessed needs, in accordance with district procedures.
• Uses appropriate assessment instruments pertinent to academic, communication, and behavioral areas.
• Plans, implements and evaluates social skills lesson plans, community-based instruction and behavior support plans (as needed) for each student.
• Identifies, selects, and modifies instructional resources to meet the needs of the students with varying backgrounds, learning styles, and assessed special needs in accordance with the district's philosophy, goals and objectives.
• Provides specialized instructional techniques and media through individual and/or group sessions designed to meet the educational, social, and emotional needs of the students.
• Identifies and collaborates with district, community, and agency services to meet the needs of special needs students.
• Participates on the school-based intervention team, in-school staffing team and in the screening processes, as appropriate.
• Participates on evaluation teams for students as appropriate.
• Plans and implements self-care programs, including direct assistance to students (e.g., toileting, positioning, lifting, feeding, etc.).
• Monitors  and  oversees  services  provided  by  paraprofessionals  and/or  other support personnel assigned to classroom and/or student in classroom.
• Obtains and monitors present levels/baselines of assigned special needs students.
• Ensures that, for each student to  whom the Special Education Teacher  is the assigned case manager, the necessary evaluation records, IEPs, and other team- developed records are maintained in the student’s permanent special education folder.
• Ensures that each student assigned to the Special Education Teacher has necessary IEPs, evaluation records, and other applicable special education records (e.g., behavior management plans) in the student’s special education folder.
• Completes appropriate reports for local, state, federal and educational agencies.
• Refers those students who require further evaluation or follow-up services to the appropriate school personnel or community agencies.
• All actions must be in concert with the mission statement, beliefs, objectives and parameters found in the Strategic Plan of the Maricopa Unified School District.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Working knowledge of federal and state laws related to the education of students with special needs.
• Working knowledge of the Arizona State Standards for the assigned grade level and/or subject area and possess the requisite ability to evaluate the alignment of those standards to instruction and the district’s curriculum
• Working knowledge of the Arizona State-approved assessments for the assigned grade level and/or subject area.
• Working knowledge of and ability to effectively use and integrate technology in the classroom setting.
• Working knowledge of a broad range of literacy techniques and strategies for every aspect of communication and must be able to develop each student’s ability to read, write, speak, and listen to his or her potential within the demands of the discipline.
• Demonstrated success in modeling effective reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills during direct and indirect instructional activities.
• Demonstrated success utilizing current teaching techniques, effective strategies for differentiating instruction, and evidence-based classroom management strategies and techniques.
• Effective data-based problem-solving and team collaboration skills used to drive and inform changes in classroom instruction.
• Demonstrated success in collaborating effectively with teachers and students.
• Demonstrated   a   high   level of professionalism   with   the   ability to   maintain confidentiality and personal flexibility in all areas.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:  Able to perform the following physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodation:  critical sensory requirements include general vision, corrected to 20/20, hear or listen in the normal range (corrected) and speak and give directions clearly.  Able to walk, sit, stand, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, lift (exerting force up to 50 pounds), carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects up to 125 lbs. 

REQUIRED LICENSE/CERTIFICATION: 

A valid Arizona Department of Education Certification/Endorsement consistent with assignment and a valid Arizona DPS IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:  The Maricopa Unified School District 20 does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, or disability in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its educational programs or activities.  The MaricopaUnifiedSchool   District 20 is an equal opportunity employer in compliance with title IX of The Education Amendments of 1972 and Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Applications are accessible on our website at www.maricopausd.org