K-8 Special Education Apprentice

Position Description

K-8 Special Education Apprentice

Salary: Competitive Salary and Benefits

Location: Chicago, IL

Reports To: Principal

How to Apply: https://platform.teachermatch.org/jobsboard.do?districtId=569404168

Position Overview

Special Education Apprentices are unique in that they realize success is built on relationships. They focus their work on student learning. Furthermore, they whole-heartedly believe that all students can learn and demonstrate that by engaging principles of distributed leadership and distributed counseling. Acero Schools expects that all adults understand that it is everyone’s responsibility to develop students, both personally and academically.

Special Education Apprentices in Acero Schools support the delivery of high quality instruction led by the classroom teacher.  They collaborate and partner with the Classroom Teacher and Special Education Teacher to ensure successful academic outcomes for individual students.   Special Education Apprentices assist individual students with their social, academic, and physical needs throughout the school day.  They relentlessly pursue student growth and achievement through diligent planning, careful instructional support, and on-going collaboration with colleagues and the school leadership team.

Core Responsibilities

Student Achievement and Success

• Ensure high academic standards are set for and met by all students.

• Support the execution of a rigorous standards-based curriculum.

• Working knowledge of physical limitations of students with disabilities.

• Working knowledge of methods and techniques of transporting and handling students.

• Good knowledge of CPS’ rules and regulations concerning the transportation and handling of students.

• Ability to work with and for disabled students.

• Ability to maintain routine records and reports.

• Ability and willingness to follow directions from teachers, therapists, and school administrators.

Commitment to School and Classroom Culture:

• Create a classroom environment that is conducive to learning and appropriate to the maturity and interest of the students.

• Develop positive relationships with students.

• Develop classroom rules for behavior that are consistent with the school wide rules and Acero Schools Student Code of Conduct.

• Develop positive relationships with parents for the purpose of creating a support for students and their education program; execute assigned home visits to facilitate this process.

• Assist in promoting the participation of students, parents, and other members of the staff in Acero Schools-initiated activities.

Professionalism and Leadership:

• Engage in self-initiated focused, reflective work (action research, critical collaboration, case study, or learning log).

• Clearly and accurately communicate with administration, colleagues, students, parents, and larger academic community to improve academic outcomes for all students.

• Exhibit personal responsibility for daily work and attendance, personal appearance, student learning, and school success.

• Demonstrate collegial behavior and make professional development contributions to the school community.

Required Qualifications

Experience:

• Candidate must be able to demonstrate the academic progress of students under his/her leadership and articulate the methods used to achieve those results.

Education:

• 60 Higher Education Credit Hours.

Certificates:

• Valid Illinois Paraprofessional License (ELS) or equivalent.

• Must hold permanent residency in the United States.

Physical Demands

Nature of work requires an ability to operate standard business office equipment.  Requires ability to communicate and exchange information, collect, compile and prepare work documents, set-up and maintain work files.  Physically demands require the ability to stand, bend, reach high and low, stoop, walk around the classroom and kneel upwards of 60% of the day.  In addition, walking up and down stairs several times a day.  Must be able to lift 40 pounds for short periods of time and push and pull a similar weight.

Working Conditions

Majority of work performed in a general office environment.  Position requires availability for extended hours plus non-traditional hours required to perform job duties.  Also requires participation and attendance at organization sponsored events and meetings.

NOTE: The foregoing list of essential duties and responsibilities is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the class. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

Acero Schools is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals.  Acero Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.