CCSD SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER JOB DESCRIPTION
General Statement of Job
The job of Teacher - Special Education is done for the purposes of providing support to the instructional process by serving as a teacher with specific responsibility for developing special education students success in academics, interpersonal skills, and activities of daily living. The teacher will supervise students within the classroom and other assigned areas, develop lesson plans, and deliver group and individual student instruction within established curriculum guidelines. Collaboration with other teachers, professional staff, and administrators in addressing instructional and/or classroom issues and responding to a wide range of inquiries from students, parents, or guardians regarding instructional program and student progress.
Under limited supervision, plans and presents innovative, developmentally appropriate opportunities for students to learn subject matter and skills that will contribute to the development of students academic abilities. The position involves developing and implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in classroom settings that are appropriate for each students age and developmental level. Responsibilities include developing lesson plans, adapting materials, and designing activities to help students build academic, behavioral, and social skills in alignment with their IEP goals. The teacher will also monitor student progress and maintain accurate records in compliance with state and federal guidelines.
This job reports to the Executive Director of Exceptional Children and the Building Principal.
Minimum Requirements
Requires a valid South Carolina teaching certificate or eligibility for South Carolina teaching certificate in the appropriate certified area. Experience working with children in an educational setting is desirable.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities
Essential Functions:
• Plans a program of study that meets the needs, interests, and abilities of students. • May teach multiple disciplines as assigned. • Creates a classroom environment conducive to learning and appropriate to the maturity and interests of the students. • Plans and prepares lesson plans and related activities for individual students or assigned classes. • Guides the learning process toward achievement of curriculum goals, establishes clear objectives for all lessons, units, projects, etc., and communicates these objectives to students. • Employs a variety of instructional techniques and media consistent with the physical limitations of the location provided and the needs and capabilities of students. • Grades work completed by students, maintains accurate records of test scores, grades. • Assesses the accomplishments of students on a regular basis and provides progress reports as required. • Reports suspected learning and other disabilities to District specialists as appropriate. • Maintains accurate, complete, and up-to-date records as required by law, District policy, and administrative regulation. • Assists the school administration in implementing all policies and rules governing student life and conduct, develops reasonable rules of classroom behavior and procedure, and maintains order in the classroom in a fair and just manner. • Monitors the activities and behavior of the student body as scheduled to ensure student safety and well-being. • Assists individual students in need of special attention. • Supervises the work of teaching assistants and/or volunteers. • Maintains positive relationships with parents, schedules, and conducts parent-teacher conferences, facilitates parent education workshops, and conducts home visits as necessary. • Maintains inventory of classroom supplies and equipment, prepares supply requisitions as needed. • Coordinates and/or participates in special programs, projects, or events as required, serves as adviser to student organizations, staffs, and committees as appropriate. • Attends staff meetings and serves on various staff committees as required. • Participates in staff in-service training and continuing education as required. • Makes arrangements for substitute instructors as needed. • Operates various types of machinery and equipment, including a computer, printer, copier, laminating machine, fax machine, audio-visual equipment, tape player, various curriculum-specific equipment or instruments, etc. • Assist in early recognition and prevention of educational problems. • Adapt classroom work for providing students with instructional materials that address individualized learning plans within established lesson plans. • Administers developmental testing programs and/or subject-specific assessments, etc., for assessing student competency levels and/or developing individual learning plans. • Administers under supervision first aid and assistance to medically fragile children, e.g., tube feeding, toileting, diapering, etc., for providing appropriate care for children as assigned. • Advise parents and/or legal guardians of student progress for communicating expectations, students achievements, developing methods for improvement, and/or reinforcing classroom goals in the home environment. • Assess student progress toward objectives, expectations, and/or goals for providing feedback to students, parents, and administration. • Collaborate with instructional staff, other school personnel, parents, and a variety of community resources for improving the overall quality of student outcomes, achieving established classroom objectives in support of the school improvement plan. • Instructs students for improving their success in academic, interpersonal, and daily living skills through a defined course of study. • Supports classroom teachers for assisting them in the implementation of established curriculum and/or individual student plans.
Additional Duties
• May provide remedial assistance to individuals, small groups, or entire classes of students as scheduled during or after regular school hours. • Maintains a clean and orderly classroom. • Performs related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications and Standards
Physical Requirements
Tasks involve the ability to exert very moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of remaining standing for extended periods of time, writing on a chalkboard, stooping, kneeling, and crouching, and some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (12 to 20 pounds).
Data Conception
Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional, structural, or compositional characteristics, whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards of data, people, or things.
Interpersonal Communication
Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving assignments and/or directions from supervisors and lecturing, giving instruction, and/or assignments to students and assistants.
Language Ability
Requires the ability to read a variety of policy and procedure manuals, curriculum materials, texts, computer manuals, etc. Requires the ability to enter data into computer and prepare reports, records, teaching materials, correspondence, etc., with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar using all parts of speech. Must be able to speak with poise, voice control, and confidence and to articulate information to others.
Intelligence
Requires the ability to apply principles of rational systems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in oral, written, diagrammatic, or schedule form. Requires the ability to use influence systems in classroom teaching and the supervision of assistants and students. Requires the ability to make independent judgments in the absence of supervisor to acquire knowledge of topics related to primary occupation. Must have the ability to comprehend and interpret received information and the ability to comprehend and implement basic office machinery functions.
Verbal Aptitude
Requires the ability to record and deliver information to explain procedures to follow and give oral and written instructions to counsel and teach students. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with persons of varying ages and educational/cultural backgrounds and using the terminology applicable to the subject areas taught.
Numerical Aptitude
Requires the ability to add and subtract totals, multiply, and divide to determine percentages and decimals to determine time. Must be able to use practical applications of fractions, percentages, ratio, and proportion.
Form/Spatial Aptitude
Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape and visually read various information.
Motor Coordination
Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment and communications machinery.
Manual Dexterity
Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, including computer keyboards, office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eyehandfoot coordination.
Color Discrimination
Does not require the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
Interpersonal Temperament
Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under minimal levels of stress when confronted with an emergency or tight deadline. The worker may be subject to danger or risk to a slight degree or to tension as a regular, consistent part of the job.
Physical Communication
Requires the ability to talk and hear talking, expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words, hearing perceiving nature of sounds by ear. Must be able to hear and understand communications through a telephone.
Performance Evaluation Criteria
Knowledge of Job: Is knowledgeable in the methods, policies, and procedures of the Chester County School District One pertaining to specific duties of the Teacher. Is knowledgeable in the laws, ordinances, standards, and regulations pertaining to the specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Has knowledge of the organization of the department and of related departments and agencies. Has the ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply regulations, procedures, and related information. Has thorough knowledge of the subject areas assigned to teach, has skill in the interpretation of subject matter to the intellectual level of students taught, is able to create and present innovative, effective, developmentally appropriate course and lesson plans, has knowledge of the characteristics of the age group assigned, is able to establish and maintain positive relationships and work effectively with adults and students, is able to supervise, guide, and support students with patience and kindness, is able to motivate students to participate in educational and extracurricular activities and to want to learn, is able to recognize signs of learning, physical, mental, and social disabilities and take appropriate action, is able to provide assistance, support, and/or skills development opportunities to parents as required, is able to perform job tasks professionally in an environment where discrimination and other public issues are constant concerns, has knowledge of and is able to use modern office practices and equipment, including computers, has knowledge of proper English usage, vocabulary, punctuation, and spelling, has the mathematical ability to handle required calculations, is skilled in applying a responsible attention to detail as necessary in preparing records, reports, and correspondence, is able to read and interpret various materials pertaining to the responsibilities of the job, is able to take the initiative to complete the duties of the position without the need