ALBANY COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE

Laramie, Wyoming

JOB DESCRIPTION

Special Education Teacher

POSITION SUMMARY

The Special Education Teacher is responsible for developing and providing specialized instruction to meet the unique needs of student with disabilities. The Special Education teacher evaluates and assesses student progress toward instructional objectives by using research/evidence based best practices in curricular areas with positive interventions and supports. The Special Education Teacher follows state and federal due process procedures and functions as the IEP teacher of record to assigned students.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Special Education Teacher:

Provides research-based specialized instruction to address instructional goals and objectives contained within each student's IEP.

• Has and maintains knowledge of subject-area (primarily special education and some elementary content areas) and teaches District objectives and/or student IEP's.
• Develops and implements Individualized Education Program (IEP) plans 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.
• Personalizes instruction as necessary to account for individual student differences.
• Coordinates the delivery of special education services in each assigned student's IEP in pull out and general education classroom settings through co-teaching and team-teaching models.
• Employs various teaching techniques, methods, and principles of learning to enable students to meet IEP goals.
• Conducts special education evaluations and reevaluations.
• Provides directions, supervision, and evaluation of paraeducators as directed.
• Provides equity in the classroom by providing equal opportunity for students regardless of race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, background, and abilities.
• Communicates with and constantly strives to maintain a positive relationship with students, staff, and parents.
• Manages student behavior in the classroom through Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, development of Behavior Intervention Plans, and following appropriate Response Sequences for students.
• Organizes the classroom to promote learning, student safety, and ensures classroom equipment functions safely.
• Responds appropriately to student behavior in the total school environment by implementing behavior intervention plans, enforcing school rules in hallways, on school grounds, in other school areas away from the classroom, and on school-sponsored trips.
• Participates in professional growth (such as professional organizations, coursework, workshops, and conferences) and other professional activities (such as school and/or District committees, taskforces, in-depth studies, or councils).
• Follows the policies and procedures of the school and the district.
• Demonstrates a sense of professional responsibility, such as demonstrating ethical behavior; providing accurate data and reports when needed; meeting deadlines; maintaining confidentiality; caring for the equipment and materials; and dressing appropriately and presenting a good role model.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Denotes essential functions (The tasks listed under the heading of Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities are examples of the variety and general nature of duties performed by employees in positions allocated to the classification.

This specification should not be interpreted to describe all the duties which may be assigned to an employee at this level.)

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

Ability to use effective communication skills; knowledge of special education law and regulations; ability to use time effectively; good organizational skills; ability to maintain a positive relationship with other staff by collaborating and working cooperatively with them (including supervisors); knowledge of physiological, psychological, emotional, and educational behavioral development of children and/or adolescents; ability to build and maintain positive and productive relationships with others, including students; ability to lead meetings collaboratively; and ability to help groups achieve consensus.

ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Bachelor's Degree; certification from Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board with the appropriate endorsement in special education.

Work Experience:

Experience as a special education teacher is preferred.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• The Physical Abilities and Working Conditions listed in this section are representative of but are not intended to provide an exhaustive list of Physical Abilities and Working Conditions which may be required for this position.

Albany County School District #1 encourages persons with disabilities who are interested in employment for this position and need reasonable accommodation of those disabilities to contact the Chief Human Resources Officer for further information.

• Vision:

  (which may be corrected) to read small print; view a computer screen for prolonged periods.

• Hearing:

  (which may be corrected) to answer telephones and tolerate exposure to noisy conditions.

• Speech:

  to be understood in face-to-face communications; to speak with a level of proficiency and volume to be understood over a telephone.

• Upper Body Mobility:

  use hands and fingers to feel, grasp, and manipulate small objects; manipulate fingers, twist and bend at the wrist and elbow; extend arms to reach outward and upward; use hands and arms to lift objects; turn, raise, and lower the head.

• Strength:

  to lift, push, pull and/or carry objects which weigh as much as 5 or more pounds on a frequent basis.

• Environmental Requirements:

  encounter constant work interruptions; work cooperatively with others; work independently; work indoors and outdoors.

•

Mental Requirements:

read, write, understand, interpret, and apply information at a moderately complex level essential for successful job performance; math skills at a high school proficiency level; judgement and the ability to process information quickly; learn quickly and follow verbal procedures and standards; give verbal instruction; rank tasks in order of importance; copy, compare, compile, and coordinate information and records.•

Additional Work Conditions and Physical Abilities:

May require travel to multiple sites.

EVALUATION

• Evaluation of this position shall be by the Principal/Asst.

Principal.