Special Education Teacher

Job Description

Job Description

Lower School Teacher Announcement

Academics West is searching for Special Education Teachers for our Lower School, who will be responsible for direct instruction that is designed to address goals and objectives specified in the students' Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and/or follow the NYS Common Core guidelines. The ideal candidate is bright, energetic, and motivated to help children with learning and emotional challenges. The applicant should be committed to learning and infusing our Clinically Informed Academics (“CIA”) model into all daily instruction.

Start date: August 2024

Located in the heart of Lincoln Center-NYC, Academics West is a therapeutic school that services up to 80 students from kindergarten through 12th grade who exhibit social-emotional challenges and/or learning differences. Our small student-to-teacher ratio (typically 5:1:1but can be slightly higher) allows us to work more intensively with students, achieving positive outcomes. Clinically Informed Academics (CIA) is an approach infused throughout the curriculum that considers the whole student to formulate effective individualized learning strategies. This approach combines clinical knowledge with academic interventions to help students improve beyond what traditional methods can achieve. The programs are both therapeutic, treating the social-emotional aspects, and academic, providing intense support and interventions for educational success.

The Lead Teacher’s primary function is to educate our students using the most up-to-date pedagogy. Teachers are expected to engage students and assess their knowledge in academic content as defined within the course description. Lead Teachers will collaborate with the educational clinicians to develop and execute the appropriate classroom management plans. We encourage all Lead Teachers to go beyond the classroom and model the Academics West mission and philosophy. Staff will be coached in the foundational knowledge of our CIA model and how to implement it within the confines of our unique classrooms. Lead Teachers will directly report to the Associate Director of Education.

Responsibilities:

• Prepare and implement lesson plans that scaffold appropriately to the needs of your students in core subject areas (Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies).
• Model and implement consistent classroom management techniques for all students.
• Collaborate with the educational clinicians to ensure consistent expectations, accommodations, and strategies are being used to support student clinical needs.
• Review and assess student data to drive instruction in the classroom.
• Use Crisis Prevention Institute (“CPI”) strategies to deescalate students who may be emotionally dysregulating.
• Welcome potential new students and engage them as they complete trial days. We are a rolling admissions program.
• Author bi-weekly progress reports for each student in their core academic subjects.
• Review and become familiar with each student’s neuropsychological report, Individualized Education Plan, and internal learning profile to inform student instruction.
• Attend IEP meetings as needed, and submit supporting documentation as requested.
• Attend all required student and staff meetings throughout the school year.
• Attend all Professional Development Days.
• Assess student progress throughout the academic year.
• Oversee the assigned Teaching Assistant in your classroom.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or Master’s Degree in Special Education
• 1-3+ years of experience teaching students with special education needs
• New York State (or other US state) Certification in Special Education
• Prior behavior management training preferred (CPI, or other methods)
• Prior experience working with students who exhibit emotional challenges preferred

Work Hours :

• Monday through Friday, 8 AM-4:00 PM