TARGET RANGE SCHOOL

POSITION DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE:     Special Education Teacher

Start date: Beginning of the 2024-2025 school year

REPORTS TO: Building Principal

SUMMARY OF ASSIGNMENT:

Provides individualized instruction to students with disabilities in accordance with assessed needs.   Provides leadership and management as the case manager in the implementation of individualized educational programs for each student with a disability in accordance with Montana Laws and Rules for Special Education. This position will utilize instructional strategies that promote access to the common core curriculum and emphasize rigor, relevance and relationships.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Valid Montana teaching licensure with a special education endorsement

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience teaching at the elementary/middle school level
• Experience working with children with disabilities.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Mission-driven: You have a desire to help all students succeed in environments based in rigor, relevance and relationships.
• Track record of leadership: You know that being a great teacher means being a dynamic leader, and your life and professional experiences demonstrate your ability to lead others to achieve great outcomes.
• Goal-oriented: You set high goals for yourself and your students, and you take the steps necessary to achieve those goals.
• Organized: You have a systems mindset that enables you to be organized, focused on team success and to be a professional and collaborative colleague.
• Growth mindset: You are a lifelong learner; you know that you continually improve to be the best educator possible for your students, and you desire the next steps to help you get there.
• Reasoning and strategic thinking: You believe in the power of data to help you and your students get the best results possible.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES (including but not limited to):

• Will complete educational evaluations and progress monitoring of special education students in conjunction with other professionals and interpret data to parents and appropriate school personnel.
• Submits concise, clear and informative statements of educational test results.
• Participates in IEP meetings as required by law and district policy and consults with parents, professional personnel and other agencies regarding special education needs of a student with a disability.
• Will assume the lead role in providing an appropriate individual educational program IEP for each student with a disability.
• For each student with a disability, is able to prepare and maintains weekly lesson plan which clearly relates the goals and objectives described in the IEP.
• Utilizes instructional techniques or strategies and instructional materials consistent with the special needs, capabilities, and learning style of each student.
• Regularly coordinates remedial or tutorial special education instruction with regular education teachers where appropriate.
• Assists regular teacher to understand the relationship between the student’s disability and his/her classroom performance, suggesting and helping to develop classroom or curricular modifications where appropriate.
• Maintains a log of consultations or contacts with regular teachers and parents of each child in special education.
• Develops and maintains a classroom environment conducive to effective individual or small group learning, setting high expectations appropriate to each student’s ability level.
• Maintains students on learning tasks, actively engaging the student and avoiding unnecessary time off task.
• Gives students prompt, clear evaluative feedback with appropriate reinforcement and encouragement, keeping student instruction interesting and motivating.
• Encourages students to set and maintain standards of classroom behavior, employing behavior management principles, behavioral contracting, token economy, etc., where appropriate.
• Takes all reasonable and necessary precautions to protect students, equipment, materials and facilities.
• Maintains accurate, complete and correct records as required by law, by administrative regulations and district policy.
• Maintains confidentiality of reports, files and all information relating to students with disabilities.
• Communicates student progress to parents on a regular basis.
• Assists in selection of special education-related instructional materials.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative, professional relations with others.
• Provides for his/her own professional growth through an ongoing program of reading, workshops, seminars, conferences and/or advanced coursework at institutions of higher learning.
• Fulfills other responsibilities as assigned.
• May be responsible for personal needs of students including feeding, toileting, etc.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Display a positive attitude towards work
• Display a positive attitude towards students, staff and associates
• Display a dependability, responsibility, and reliability
• Accept changes and assignments positively
• Demonstrate knowledge of job requirements
• Respect supplies and equipment
• Display neatness, maintaining proper appearance and dress
• Be punctual and meets time schedules and work assignments
• Be an integral part of the Target Range School team
• Be performance oriented

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

This type of work involves walking, standing, and sitting for extended periods of time as required by situations of job position. Perceiving the nature of sound, near and far vision, depth perception, providing oral and written information, the manual dexterity to move related equipment, and the skills necessary to handle and work with various materials and objects are important aspects of this job. May be required to lift or move up to 20 pounds. The physical demands & work-environment characteristics described within this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

MENTAL/MOTOR DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee rarely performs routine work. The employee frequently exercises flexibility (ability to shift from one task to another). Guidance and reinforcement are usually available. The employee frequently works within time constraints and maintains attentiveness intensity. The employee is frequently involved in social interactions which require oral and written communications. The physical demands & work-environment characteristics described within this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Employed for prescribed term, salary, benefits and other working conditions to be determined by District Policy, Federal and State Law, collective bargaining agreement and funding from state, federal, and/or passage of levies.

Revision history: 03/29/2024