JOB SUMMARY: 

Under the direction of the school administration, in accordance with district policies and procedures, instruct Special Education students individually and in groups; assess students; develop and implement Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals; consult, collaborate and co-teach with other teachers and specialists; and coordinate individual student programs to promote access to the core curriculum and increase independence and functioning in society. 

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Design and implement curriculum and lesson plans for individualized and group instruction;schedule instructional periods; assess student progress.
2. Teach subjects including math, reading, language arts, health, science and others. 
3. Instruct students with special education needs toward achievement of IEP goals.
4. Administer first aid and assistance to children with special needs (e.g. tube feeding, toileting, diapering, etc.) after receiving appropriate training from the school nurse.
5. Participate as a member of IEP teams; utilize IEP software; attend IEP meetings; draft IEP goals;conduct pre- and post-assessments and perform other data collection and analysis; prepare regular progress reports.
6. Support the proper implementation of goals for each student by the responsible discipline in accordance with IEPs.
7. Design and implement appropriate behavioral techniques for instructional and disciplinary purposes.
8. Perform specialized duties and/or consult with appropriately credentialed staff in such areas as behavior, vision, movement, and others while working with students, utilize specialized software and adaptive equipment as necessary.
9. Support staff who have been provided with specialized training to perform specialized physical health care procedures as trained and assigned; and with appropriate training, operate and instruct students and staff in the use of various apparatus to assist in mobility and to lift and position students, complete documentation forms for those procedures if necessary.
10. Plan and supervise trips into the community for educational purposes or to other sites consistent with instructional goals.
11. Plan and supervise the integration of students in general school classrooms settings through collaboration and/or consultation with staff and parents as appropriate.
12. Collaborate with parents; conduct IEPs and conducts home visits /conferences with parents; discuss student progress with parents on an on-going basis, provide written progress on IEP goals    every trimester; and assist with referral to appropriate resources.
13. Provide work direction and guidance to assigned individuals such as, Instructional Assistants/Paraprofessionals, substitutes, volunteers and peer tutors.
14. Participate in teacher and staff meetings and other in-service training programs.
15. Maintain interagency collaboration and ongoing communication as appropriate and/or if stated in the student’s IEP
16. Prepare appropriate documentation for collaboration with other teachers, psychologists, specialists and maintain records as required from within the district as well as other districts regarding student needs and progress.
17. Meet students at the bus and ensure that students are on the bus or released to appropriate adult at the end of the instructional day.
18. Supervise meals to preschool age students during the instructional day.
19. Perform related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Principles, theories, practices, methods and techniques used in curriculum development and classroom instruction.
• Classroom procedures and appropriate student conduct.
• Child guidance principles and practices related to children and adult students with special      education needs.
• Problems and concerns of students with special needs.
• Curriculum and lesson plan development to meet IEP goals.
• Equipment operation related to special education students.
• Terminology involved in special education programs.
• Principles of training and providing work direction.
• Proper lifting techniques.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy.
• Applicable sections of the State Education Code and other applicable laws.
• Research methods and report writing techniques.
• Basic computer operation.
• First aid and CPR.
• IEP process.
• Techniques of positive behavior support.
• Student and parent rights with respect to special education programs.

ABILITY TO:

• Analyze data to inform instruction and develop programs.
• Support trained personnel in performing specialized physical health care procedures to assist high-risk students.
• Instruct special education students in individualized tasks to achieve IEP goals.
• Understand and relate to children with special needs.
• Operate and demonstrate the use of a wide variety of instructional materials and equipment.
• Monitor and evaluate student progress.
• Provide work direction to others.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Maintain records and prepare reports.
• Compile and verify data and prepare reports.
• Serve voluntarily on a variety of special project teams and committees;
• Maintain current knowledge of program rules, regulations, requirements and restrictions.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
• Work independently with little direction.
• Meet schedules and time lines.
• Learn new skills or update skills necessitated by the changing work place.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Any combination equivalent to:  bachelor's degree and teacher certification related to students served.

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Valid California Special Education Credential to provide services to students with disabilities in the specific position.  Some positions within this classification may require subject matter competency per federal/state law.  Some positions within this classification may require authorization to teach English Learners.  Some positions in this classification may require additional authorization such as:

• Added authorizations for special education
• BCLAD/CLAD
• Authorization to provide Early Childhood Special Education Services

WORKING CONDITIONS:

            ENVIRONMENT:

Special and general education classroom environments, school campuses and community integration and work environments.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES:

Require vision (which may be corrected) to read small print; hearing and speaking to communicate with others; ability to stand for long periods; lifting and moving students to perform necessary NCPI holds,; reaching overhead and above shoulders; pushing wheelchairs; kneeling or crouching to assist students with other tasks.  Should an applicant require reasonable accommodation, the district will consider that upon request.

  HAZARDS:

Exposure to students who may become hostile or disorderly and who may exhibit physical aggression, may be required