Special Education Teacher - IDEA Edgemere Academy (24-25)

$48,000 - $48,000/Yr

IDEA Public Schools - El Paso, TX

Full-time - Entry Level

El Paso, TX

Educational Services

About the position

The IDEA Special Education Teacher plays a crucial role in the academic and personal development of students with a wide range of disabilities. These educators are responsible for teaching various subjects, including reading, writing, and math, to students who may have learning gaps of two or more years. The primary objective is to close these gaps within a single school year, ensuring that students not only meet but exceed academic expectations. Special Education teachers serve as a vital link between home and school, providing support to the highest need students and their families. In addition to teaching, IDEA Special Education teachers are tasked with setting ambitious goals for student achievement and diligently tracking student data to inform educational programming decisions. They are expected to seek feedback and continuously develop their teaching practices to better serve their students. This role requires a commitment to ensuring that every student masters the necessary academic, behavioral, and social skills to succeed in college, while embodying the values of IDEA Public Schools. IDEA teachers are also responsible for developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for their students, implementing these plans, assessing student performance, and updating IEPs throughout the school year. They must communicate effectively with parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators regarding student progress and facilitate smooth transitions for students as they progress through their education. The role demands strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to adapt to various situations in the school environment.

Responsibilities

• Adapt lessons to meet the needs of students.
• Develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for a caseload of students.
• Implement IEPs, assess students' performance, and track their progress.
• Update IEPs throughout the school year to reflect students' progress and goals.
• Assess students' skills to determine their needs and to develop teaching plans.
• Teach Critical Student Intervention (CSI) small groups consisting of students that are academically at risk in reading and/or math.
• Collect and analyze student data to make effective decisions to maximize achievement.
• Discuss students' progress with parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators.
• Prepare and help students transition from grade to grade and after graduation.
• Implement state learning standards and IDEA curricula and assessments to meet ambitious academic expectations.
• Submit weekly lesson plans two weeks in advance for feedback.
• Implement formal and informal assessments to track each individual student's progress and learning needs, adjust lesson plans accordingly and update gradebook weekly.
• Communicate students' progress with students and families on a weekly basis.
• Implement a clear and consistent behavior management system that aligns with campus-wide initiatives.
• Help shape and develop a school-wide culture that fosters a productive and enthusiastic learning environment for each student.
• Establish and maintain a cooperative working relationship with students and families based on trust, understanding, and respect.
• Host necessary tutoring sessions to meet all students' needs.
• Participate in weekly manager check-ins, grade-level meetings, and school-wide functions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year educational institution.
• Experience in a Special Education classroom setting strongly preferred.
• Valid Texas state certification in Special Education required.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with diverse student populations.
• Familiarity with technology as a communication and educational tool.
• Experience in facilitating Admission, Review, and Dismissal meetings.

Benefits

• Paid Family Leave: Eligible staff may receive up to 8 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Staff members may apply for up to 50% of tuition paid toward a qualifying degree program, up to $5,250 maximum per year.
• Employer-Paid Mental/Behavioral Health: 5 face-to-face counseling sessions within a year, unlimited 24/7 telephonic counseling, and other work-life services available at no cost.
• Comprehensive benefits plan covering the majority of employee premium for the base medical plan.
• Dental and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan.