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

Job Description

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.
• Participate in school events, activities and programs both during and outside of regular class instruction hours.

Qualifications

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. 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

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.

KIPP Miami is an equal opportunity employer