Special Education Teacher

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Nexus Family Healing is hiring a Special Education Teacher for Safe Harbor School at our Manteno, IL location! Enjoy small class sizes, full-time Teaching Assistants in every classroom, and support from Behavior and Residential Staff throughout the school day. Join a team that values collaboration, care, and student success. Apply today!

Nexus Family Healing is a national nonprofit network of mental health agencies with over 45 years of restoring hope for thousands of children and families through outpatient/community mental health services, foster care and adoption, and residential treatment.

Safe Harbor School (SHS) is our very own private school that serves youth receiving treatment at Nexus-Indian Oak in Manteno, IL. SHS serves grades 6-12, and students participate in a curriculum tailored to their unique needs and current grade level. The school provides a special education curriculum accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement and approved by the Illinois State Board of Education. Credits transfer to any school upon the client's discharge.

At Nexus Family Healing, we embrace diversity, promote equity, and foster inclusion. As a national mental health organization, we serve a diverse group of youth and families, and we strive for our workforce to support and represent that diversity.

Work Schedule & Salary:

• Hours: Monday-Friday 7am-3:30pm. SHS follows a year-round academic calendar, including scheduled break weeks and holidays off.
• Salary: $58,000-70,000 annually based on credentials and years of teaching experience.

Benefits:

• Multiple options for health insurance coverage
• No-cost life insurance
• Short/long-term disability insurance
• 401k match
• NEW – Talk space Therapy Benefit for the whole family
• NEW – Hinge Health Benefit for the whole family
• NEW – Carrot Fertility Benefit
• Tuition assistance and training opportunities
• Advancement pathways and internal promotion
• And much more!

Position Summary: Our Special Education Teacher provides direct instruction and instructional support to students with disabilities while working in collaboration with the general education teachers and is a responsible team member for the development of Individual Education Programs (IEP) by working with students in decision making, interpersonal development, and academic growth by providing the strategies, resources, and instruction to enable each student to meet the demands of Colleges and Career Readiness Standards.

Primary responsibilities:

• Deliver direct instruction and support to students with disabilities in inclusive and self-contained settings.
• Collaborate with general education teachers to co-teach and support IEP implementation.
• Conduct academic evaluations and manage IEP development, meetings, and compliance.
• Collect and analyze student performance data to inform instruction and improve outcomes.
• Adapt curriculum materials to meet diverse learning needs and align with IEP goals.
• Create a positive, structured classroom environment that supports student growth and engagement.
• Supervise and guide support staff including aides and assistants.
• Maintain accurate student records and progress reports in accordance with district policies.
• Participate in professional development and stay current with educational best practices and policies.
• Collaborate with families, service providers, and school staff to support student success.

Other

• Recognize and value cultural differences in all aspects of work and service delivery

At Nexus Family Healing, our voices and actions will be focused on recognizing, affirming and respecting people of every race, ethnic background, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender expression and faith.

Required Education and Licensure:

• Bachelor’s degree in Education or related field.
• Valid Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with LBS1 endorsement required
• Eligibility to teach students with disabilities across K–12 settings.
• Must have the ability to build strong relationships with diverse individuals or communities and understand their unique needs and challenges.
• Must be open to meeting the cultural needs of individuals or communities, considering factors such as language, traditions, and values.
• Valid driver’s license required. Must meet state regulating agency and Home Office driving requirements.
• Must successfully pass an IL DCFS criminal background check.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree preferred in specific content area and teaching experience are preferred.

ICARE Values & Behavioral Competencies:

• Innovation: Leading the way and implementing creative, cutting-edge ideas and approaches.
• Compassion: Listening, honoring differences, and showing respect, kindness, empathy care, and concern.
• Agility: Exhibiting flexibility and adapting quickly.
• Responsiveness: Being quick, positive, and accurate.
• Excellence: Demonstrating quality results that surpass ordinary standards.

Work Environment:

• Must be able to assist staff in physical and non-physical interventions with residents.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds unassisted and up to 100+ pounds with assistance.
• Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time (2-4 hours).
• Must be able to twist, bend and stretch in a manner conducive to the execution of daily activities within a school.