Special Education Teacher

Description

AGENCY OVERVIEW

At Side by Side, we seek to improve the welfare of children and youth by helping to provide the resources, support and skills they need to develop along a healthy, age-appropriate pathway. All of our services are rooted in these core principles: 1) a strength-based approach which believes in the value and worth of each client as an individual, 2) acknowledging the importance of family relationships and encouraging positive and on-going engagement with families, peers and communities, 3) engaging children and youth in a developmentally appropriate manner that promotes resilience, self-efficacy and positive self-concept, 4) recognizing that clients’ needs are best met through holistic and individualized service delivery.

Side By Side places high value on individuals with a passion for helping underserved youth and families in a collaborative and inclusive work culture. We strive to work together to create a trauma-informed workplace where we walk the walk of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging principles. 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Irene M. Hunt School (Hunt School) is a nonpublic, K - 12 day school that provides a therapeutic environment where students develop the capability to regulate their behavior, maintain focus and resilience, and form healthy, trusting relationships – all foundational elements for lifelong learning. With our committed support, students address challenges and build on their core strengths, with the goal of ultimately returning to their neighborhood public school setting equipped with the skills to thrive socially and academically.

We supplement our comprehensive state-adopted curriculum with a wide range of enrichment for students, including exposure to music and theater. In addition to the school-wide positive behavior program and customized student support plans, students receive personalized mental health treatment and other specialized services according to their individualized education plans.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Teacher is part of a multidisciplinary team providing academic instruction and a positive, proactive classroom management approach ensuring compliance with CDE guidelines and national accreditations; lead and assist with education strategies and behavior management problem solving, collaboration on behavior assessments, as well as, providing leadership toward data-guided instruction and interventions.

The Teacher actively supports and implements a strengths-based, trauma-informed, culturally competent, and youth-centered approach in working with students. This exempt position may require a work week in excess of 40 hours, as well as evening and weekend work.

COMPENSATION

This position has an annual salary range of $66,435 to $92,295 depending on years of experience.

BENEFITS

• Vacation corresponds to school district closure schedule
• 2 weeks of sick leave for F/T employees with 4 additional sick days for school staff
• 10 paid holidays per year and 1 Self-Care Anniversary Day each year  
• 100% employer-paid Medical for F/T employees including platinum level Kaiser Permanente insurance or Anthem options
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Long Term Disability insurance up to $9,000 per month, plus $50,000 Life and AD&D insurance
• 403b Retirement Plan
• Professional development and other learning opportunities including unlimited access to over 1,000 behavioral health courses online
• FREE Employee Assistance Program including up to 10 complimentary personal counseling sessions per problem, per year for staff and dependents
• Employee recognition program with $1,000 bonus awards
• Employee referral bonus of up to $1,000
• Pet Insurance
• Side By Side is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• The Teacher provides leadership to develop, structure, and maintain student academic acquisition and a strong school behavioral program
• The Teacher implements each student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
• The Teacher completes daily lesson plans per CDE certification standards and National Accreditation
• The Teacher completes IEP documentation and participates professionally in student IEP meetings
• The Teacher completes quarterly progress reports per set due dates
• The Teacher participates in the preparation of daily data and reports that document student daily academic and social behaviors
• The Teacher ensures accurate data collection and record keeping, as directed by behavioral staff and/or other administrative school staff
• The Teacher facilitates supervision of classroom support staff; teaching assistant and 1:1 aides
• The Teacher mentors, maintains, and builds upon positive approaches to learning in support of significant positive behavioral changes
• Assists in facilitating the school wide behavior intervention program demonstrating an ability to assess challenges and set clear, yet firm, limits and boundaries
• Supervises students across all school settings, including breaks and lunch, as assigned
• Responsible for all standardized academic and statewide assessments
• Maintains grade-based curriculum, ensuring compliance with CDE and contractual standards
• For middle and high school students, ensures each student is working to complete the curriculum requirements of the contracting middle or high school district

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and expectations required of the position.

POSITION SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

Work Quality

• Has knowledge of and follows through on school and agency administrative procedures and deadlines (e.g., timeline to submit incident reports, attendance, progress reports, IEP drafts, etc.) towards supporting and meeting school outcomes and agency mission
• Prepares present levels and IEP annual and benchmark goals for students’ IEPs via SEIS; input data and manage agency electronic record system-TIER
• Administers or oversees the administration of criterion referenced tests and standardized assessments needed to measure student progress for IEPs, report cards, and progress reports, including annual mandated state testing

Job Knowledge

• Plans and provides appropriate learning experiences for development of the academic and social skills of students
• Designs instruction to enable students to meet state standards at grade level, whenever possible, or to approach this level to the best of a students’ abilities
• Participates professionally in IEP meetings to convey students’ academic and social emotional needs and present plans devised to remedy behavioral/social/emotional challenges
• Encompasses the knowledge and possesses the academic skills to deliver appropriate instructional experiences within a student’s assigned grade level

Cooperation

• Implements the classroom and school wide positive behavioral intervention management system in collaboration with school team members
• Attends and participates in school staff meetings

Continuous Learning

• Maintains professional competence through completion of required credential programs, participation of in-service education provided by the agency/school, by the County Office of Education and through participation in self-selected professional growth endeavors

Adaptability

• Capability to work creatively and cooperatively with a team
• Willingness to work within an interdisciplinary model (special education, applied behavior analysis, mental health)
• Ability to work independently, and collaboratively as a team member, while being flexible in a changing and multifaceted work environment
• Intervenes during crisis situations utilizing CPI or its equivalent; may utilize physical intervention as required to maintain safety

Composure

• Ability to interact with children or adolescents in a consistent, empathic, flexible, and patient manner
• Ability to set clear yet firm limits and boundaries
• Ability to support youth with severe behavioral, developmental, learning, and emotional difficulties in a variety of settings
• Ability to work with families of youth with severe behavioral, developmental, learning, and emotional difficulties preferred

Team Building

• Plans, supervises, and coordinates the productive and supportive work of teaching assistant/1:1 aide(s)
• Collaborate with the multi-disciplinary team to work creatively and cooperatively providing a consistent, structure classroom setting and/or appropriate activities for students

Managing Diversity

• Ensure culturally sensitive and relevant treatment

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

• A Mild-Moderate teaching credential with Autism certification, or Moderate-Severe teaching credential, or Internship Education Specialist Instruction Credential and/or pending eligibility for said credential utilizing a CDE/CCTC Emergency Credential or Short Term Staff Permit
• Fingerprint clearance from California DOJ, FBI, and any other required entity
• Experience in a special education classroom and/or experience in a treatment milieu
• A valid California driver's license, insurable by SBS insurance policy based on DMV record and personal vehicle insurance
• Please note that Covid-19 vaccination is mandated for all Side by Side staff, except in cases of approved medical or religious accommodations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Sitting for extended periods of time.
• Walking, standing, twisting and bending for brief periods of time
• Occasional reaching and/or grasping using hands and/or arms
• Regular use of hands requiring dexterity in using the telephone, computer keyboard, mouse or calculator
• Regularly required to talk and hear in person or by telephone
• Visual ability to read documents and computer monitor
• May be required to lift up to 10 pounds
• May be required to ascend/descend stairs
• Exposure to working with children and adolescents in emotional crisis
• Ability to drive
• Exposure to low to moderate noise levels characteristic of working in an office or classroom environment
• Physical ability to implement CPI procedures or its equivalent, including physical restraints
• Able to perform basic first aid and CPR

AGENCY EXPECTATIONS

• Adhere to all Agency Health and Safety policies and procedures administratively as well as related to the care of our clients
• Adhere to the Agency’s Code of Conduct and Employee Handbook, as well as any other agency policies and procedures
• Attend and participate in all required agency supervisions, meetings, and trainings
• Must maintain strict confidentiality related to client, staff, and other Agency information

Note: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued new requirements for health care and congregant care facilities to decrease the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks. Based on the CDPH public health mandate, all candidates for positions at Side by Side must provide proof of vaccination. Side by Side will consider applicants with ADA and Title VII exemptions on a case-by-case basis.

Side by Side provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Salary : $66,435 - $92,295