SYSpecial Education Teacher

Job Overview

Reports to Director of Special Education

At the Inspired Teaching Demonstration School, a professional learning community of master teachers and teacher residents ensures that a diverse group of students achieve their potential as accomplished learners, thoughtful citizens, and imaginative and inquisitive problem solvers through a demanding, inquiry-based curriculum. With its clear mission and prominent location in Washington, DC, the school serves as a model of instruction for students and training for teachers, with the goal of becoming a leader in changing the way teachers are prepared and supported and students are educated nationwide.

The Special Education Teacher supports children with exceptionalities in accessing the general education curriculum. Through co-planning and co-teaching with general education teachers as well as writing academic portions of IEPs, Special Education Teachers provide on-ramps and access points for students with disabilities, enabling their success across all goal areas.

Special Education Teachers take a developmentally responsive approach and use their understanding of both children and specific exceptionalities as the foundation on which all decisions are made. Special Education Teachers demonstrate courage and collaboration working together to create curriculum and learning experiences that are challenging, integrative and exploratory.

The Special Education Teacher is responsible for the following:

• Co-teach core content subjects with a general education teacher, including co-planning, developing differentiation strategies, and co-facilitating learning and lessons.

• Facilitate specialized instruction for students with IEPs outside general education through research-based interventions and methods (training provided).

• Draft IEP present levels, goals, and progress reports in Special Programs.

• Assist in the implementation of policies for identification, evaluation, and placement of students with disabilities.

• Assist in the development of positive relationships with parents of students with disabilities.

• Case manage assigned students, including parent communication, documentation, and ensuring implementation of IEPs across all classes.

• Adopt a restorative justice orientation toward discipline by holding all children to high behavioral expectations in a dignified, clear way; viewing misbehavior as an opportunity for learning and forgiveness and not a transgression to be punished. Share school wide responsibility for supervision by performing assigned duties punctually.

• Work closely with the Director of Special Education and Compliance Managers to meet all deadlines and maintain school compliance.

• Other duties as assigned by the Principal or Head of School.

Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a related field. Master’s degree in Special Education preferred.

• 3 or more years of special education teaching experience or equivalent relevant work with children will be preferred.

• Passing of Special Education and/or content Praxis exams.

• Ability to establish strong, trusting, and authentic relationships with a wide variety of individuals, including new and experienced teachers, parents and families, and a diverse local community.

• Clear, concise, and persuasive writing and speaking skills.

• Integrity and a sense of humor. Experience in experiential, exploratory, arts-integration, and/or workshop model preferred.

• Experience with restorative justice and/or Responsive Classroom preferred.

• Experience implementing intervention curriculums for specialized instruction.

With its clear mission and prominent location in Washington, DC, the school serves as a model of instruction for students and training for teachers, with the goal of becoming a leader in changing the way teachers are prepared and supported, and students are educated nationwide. At the Inspired Teaching Demonstration School, students learn through an academically challenging, standards-based curriculum that supports and builds the four “I”s:
Intellect, Inquiry, Imagination, and Integrity. Within its walls young people learn and achieve at high levels…