Professor - Special Education jobs in Fort Collins, CO

The Academy of Arts and Knowledge attracts families who are looking for a community where their child can be truly seen and supported for who they are as individuals, not a school that tries to force them into some generic mold. Children who never felt like they fit in before thrive at our school because everyone at our school is just a little quirky, and we love that about each other. Children who have felt like they are falling through the cracks find a home at AAK. Our foundation is one of mutual respect and support for one another. Our teachers believe that for true learning and growth to happen, children need to first feel safe, loved, and nurtured. At AAK, the individual comes first. We get to know all of our Dragons on a personal level. We know what makes them tick. We know their hopes and fears and we are their biggest cheerleaders. We integrate the arts into our academics and community, we encourage and foster each student's growth, and how we welcome each new student into the AAK family. A family where they feel safe, loved, and seen. Please review our website for more information about our school. aakelementary.org

The Early Childhood Special Education Teacher at AAK develops and provides specialized instruction to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities; Evaluates and assesses student progress against instructional objectives; follows State mandated due process procedures and functions as IEP Manager to assigned students; and establishes positive relationships with parents and with other staff members.

The following statements of duties, responsibilities, frequency, and percentages are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. These statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities required of all personnel within this position. Actual duties, responsibility, frequency, and percentages may vary depending on other factors.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide specialized individual and group instruction to students with a range of academic, vison, hearing, physical, communicative, social, emotional and/or behavioral challenges
• Employ various research-based teaching techniques, methods and principles of learning to enable students to meet their IEP goals.
• Administer and interpret a variety of standardized and non-standardized academic assessments to assist with special education eligibility determinations according to Charter School Institute, Federal, and State regulations and procedures
• Assist team members in developing and implementing IEPs as appropriate
• Assist with developing behavior intervention plans with the assistance of other team members
• Assist with the implementation and monitoring of behavior intervention plans
• Observe students in classroom and unstructured settings as needed to conduct evaluations, monitor student interventions and to provide staff consultation
• Provide consultation to classroom teachers regarding classroom adaptions, instructional modifications, assistive technology, behavior modification plans and other similar instructional interventions to meet the needs of students with disabilities
• Implement various forms of co-teaching with the general education teacher in order to serve students in an inclusion setting
• Manage caseload of students with IEPs by tracking and following all IEP timelines, sending parents notices of meetings and securing consents, setting IEP meeting dates with all team members
• Complete assessments, evaluation reports, behavior plans and progress reports within expected timelines
• Establish and maintain student control and discipline in the classroom, school premises or during school activities
• Maintain direct service logs for all students on caseload
• Thoroughly review student records including, but not limited to, prior IEPs, evaluations, achievement data, discipline, and attendance to assist with development of IEPs, choose evaluation tools, and assist with manifestation determination reviews
• Serve as the Special Education Director Designee for IEP meetings when requested
• Enter all academic assessment, achievement, progress monitoring data, evaluation reports, behavior plans, and other relevant information into the school’s electronic IEP system as appropriate

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Qualifications:

• Prefer prior experience as a special education teacher in a K-12 public school setting
• Requires completion of an approved program for the preparation of special education generalists from a regionally accredited college or university or 24 hours as determined by the CDE
• Requires passing scores on (or working towards) both Elementary Education (PLACE 01 or Praxis #5018 or Praxis #5001 with passing scores on all subtests) and Special Education Generalist (PLACE 20 or Praxis #5354 content exams
• Holds (or is working towards) a CDE-issued Special Education Generalist or Special Education Specialist license

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Familiarity with Federal and State guidelines for special education
• Expertise with a wide range of standardized and informal assessment procedures including progress monitoring tools
• Expertise with research-based instructional programs and strategies in the areas of literacy and math
• Knowledge of research-based academic and behavioral interventions
• Ability to effectively communicate effectively in oral and written form
• Ability to work effectively and cooperatively with team members

The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described below 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.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit; use hands for fine manipulation, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms using a keyboard and video display terminal. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee may be asked to intervene with students with behavioral challenges. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

Work Environment:

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Mental Functions:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use interpersonal skills. Frequently required to compare, analyze, communicate, coordinate, instruct, compute, synthesize, evaluate, negotiate, copy and compile.

At Minga Education Group, we proudly operate as an Equal Opportunity Employer, purposely building an inclusive workforce representative of various cultures, perspectives, and experiences. We believe in respect for all and do not discriminate based on hair, race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law is not allowed.

If you have questions or need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact our Human Resource Director at 719-648-0800.