Education Specialist

Job Title:  Education Specialist

Job Purpose:

The job of Special Education Teacher/Mild-Moderate was established for the purpose/s of providing support for the instructional program for students with special needs; pertinent information and consultant services to staff members and parents on student assessments and progress monitoring; ongoing planning with regular classroom teachers; and promoting and supporting the school Student Study Team.

Team Relationship:

The Education Specialist is directly responsible to the Director of Special Education; and providing information and/or advising others who are members of the student’s educational team.

Essential Job Functions:

• Demonstrates knowledge of K-12 core curriculum for the purpose of designating and presenting instruction with clear and logical structure.
• Demonstrates knowledge of special education laws, as well as SELPA and district policies and procedures for the purpose of maintaining compliance with federal and state laws.
• Develops reasonably calculated, legally defensible IEPs including individual goals aligned to state content standards for the purpose of providing educational benefit to the students.
• Implements student IEPs as written in accordance to the law for the purpose of providing education benefit to the students.
• Monitors students’ progress utilizing data that reflects student performance and adjusts instruction as needed based on analysis of the data for the purpose of coordinating services to individual students.
• Provides students with specialized instruction for the purpose of meeting their unique needs.
• Interfaces with other teachers, psychologists, specialists, and others for the purpose of monitoring student progress.
• Provides timely feedback to students, parents and general education teachers based on data for the purpose of coordinating services to individual students.
• Schedules IEP meetings with parents, general education teachers, administrators, and any members of the IEP team required by law for the purpose of maintaining compliance with federal and state laws.
• Uses peer-reviewed, research-based instructional strategies for the purpose of facilitating student learning in core academic subjects.
• Utilizes assessment results for the purpose of providing educational benefit to the students.
• Trains and provides work direction and guidance to assigned Instructional Assistants for the purpose of meeting unique needs of students.
• Performs other duties as needed for the purpose of facilitating student learning.

Job Qualifications:

Education/Certifications

• High school graduate. (required)
• Bachelor’s degree in job-related area. (required)
• Master’s degree. (desired)
• Basic first aid certificate. (required before start date)
• Spanish language fluency. (desired)
• Minimum of two years of providing specialized academic instruction to students with disabilities in multiple grade levels. (preferred)
• Special Education Credential (or be eligible for an Intern Program)
• EL Authorization
• Valid California driver's license and proof of automobile insurance
• Department of Justice and FBI Fingerprint Clearance

Experience

• K-12 core curriculum content.
• All areas of special education including: behavior management techniques, learning theories, curriculum development and vocational development.
• Current laws and regulations pertaining to students with disabilities.
• A variety of appropriate assessment tools.
• Policies and procedures pertaining to the development and implementation of IEPs.
• Assessment practices and statistics relevant to the behavioral sciences.
• Special Education Laws and SELPA or district policies and procedures.

Skills, Knowledge and/or Abilities Required

• Work with administrators, teachers, classified personnel, parents and students.
• Plan, organize and prepare IEPs, behavior plans and transition plans as appropriate.
• Coordinate services with the general education teacher & make suggestions for modifications/ accommodations of core curriculum that targets students’ needs.
• Administer a variety of assessments.
• Utilize peer-reviewed, research-based instructional strategies to plan educational programs.
• Write legally defensible IEPs aligned to state content standards.
• Implement each student's IEP as it is written in accordance with the law.
• Provide students with specialized instruction based on their unique needs.
• Adhere to federal and state laws pertaining to students with special needs.
• Communicate effectively with general education teachers, administrators and parents.
• Maintain student confidentiality.
• Exercise initiative.
• Possess good judgment.

The Academies CMO Board will consider candidates for the Education Specialist position based upon a combination of education/certifications, experience, skills, knowledge and/or abilities, and mission fit.