Special Education Teacher

Title: Special Education Teacher

Location: West Belden 2245 N McVicker Ave, Chicago, IL 60639

Reports To: Principal

Salary: Starting Salary $65,390, commensurate with experience

Employee Type: Regular Full Time

Start Date: March 2026

The mission of Distinctive Schools, an educational practice leader committed to social justice and the elevation of access and achievement in historically marginalized communities, is to support each child in becoming an engaged and curious learner, a confident self-advocate, and a creative problem-solver by setting high expectations and nurturing a positive culture that honors diversity, collaboration, and optimism.

• Maintain a student-centered perspective in decision making.
• Believe that all students can learn and can achieve great things.
• Contribute to the equity work of the campus and network and engage in culturally responsive decision making.
• Build and foster a culture of belonging through positive and strong relationships with students, families, and staff.
• Cultivate a strengths-based, equity focused mindset.
• Foster positive climate and culture.
• Serve as a positive role model.

• Maintain a professional relationship with colleagues, students, families, and community members.
• Use effective communication skills to present information accurately and clearly.
• Maintain positive relationships with students, parents and colleagues.
• Maintain accurate and complete records of students' progress and development.
• Attend all staff, department, and committee meetings and other school/district events regularly.
• Plan and supervise assignments for paraprofessionals, volunteers, and student teachers, and make written evaluations as required.
• Inform families regarding student progress, the instructional program, and other school issues.
• Complete and update compliance-related Special Education tasks in accordance with state and federal mandates.

• Work closely with team members and families to best meet the needs of students.
• Support classroom procedure (classroom routines and procedures for transitions, handling of supplies, and performance of non-instructional duties occur smoothly).
• Support student behavior (Standards of conduct appear to be clear to students, and the teacher monitors students’ behavior against those standards. The teacher’s response to student misbehavior is appropriate and respects the students’ dignity).

• Serve as primary instructor for students with identified learning needs in a variety of settings.
• Develop lessons that address students' academic, interpersonal, social and emotional needs.
• Provide research-based specialized instruction to address the instructional goals and objectives contained within each student’s Individualized Educational Program (IEP).
• Develop and implement annual Individualized Educational 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.
• Make collaboration a priority with members of the IEP team.
• Monitor progress to ensure all students are demonstrating high rates of growth.
• Maintain accurate and complete records of students' progress and development.
• Demonstrate preparation and skill in working with students from diverse social-emotional, cultural, economic and ability backgrounds.

Education:

Bachelor's Degree

• Valid Professional Educator License or equivalent in state of employment (IL or MI)
• Valid Special Education License in state of employment (IL or MI)

Physical demands: Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires 10% sitting, 50% walking, and 40% standing.

• 25+ Paid holidays & 10 days PTO annually (in addition to summer break for educators/campus positions)
• 12 weeks family paid leave
• Comprehensive Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• 403b match
  • Fully match up to 3%
  • 50% match up to 5%
• Professional…