SY 26-27 Special Education Primary/Elementary Grade K-5 Teacher

Special Education Teacher

The Special Education Teacher is a state-certified educator who provides daily instruction and support in the virtual academic environment. The special education teacher creates strategies to engage and facilitate student learning, serves as a case manager and point of contact for students and parents, and monitors academic progress to help prioritize student learning objectives.

Essential Functions:

• Initiate, develop, and facilitate IEP and eligibility consideration meetings
• Collaborate with instructional teachers to review student academic data
• Track and communicate all IEP service changes
• Collaboratively serve as point of contact regarding academic needs, accommodations, and IEP services for families and teachers
• Receive progress reports and information from related services providers
• Provide special education documents to parent/guardian and required team members prior to and following meetings
• Administer assessments to monitor student progress
• Monitor student engagement and attendance data
• Input testing accommodations into school database after each IEP meeting; verify accommodations prior to state testing
• In collaboration with school counselor, verify student class schedules for alignment with IEP services and FTE reporting
• Document communication with families via contact logs in Infinite Campus
• Maintains lesson plans, artifacts, and materials used to facilitate student instruction
• Comply with all written policies and procedures in teacher, district, and school-based handbooks
• Establish a virtual classroom environment conducive to learning
• Implement all IEP services and accommodations within classroom and testing environments with fidelity
• Utilize research-based strategies and differentiation to engage and nurture student learning and student relationships based on individual strengths and needs

Competencies:

• Adaptability/Flexibility: Adapts to change, is open to new ideas, takes on new responsibilities, handles pressure, and adjusts plans to meet changing needs.
• Integrity/Ethics: Deals with others in a straightforward and honest manner, is accountable for actions, maintains confidentiality, supports company values, and conveys good news and bad.
• Teamwork: Meets all team deadlines and responsibilities, listens to others and values opinions, helps team leaders to meet goals, welcomes new-comers, and promotes a team atmosphere.
• Professionalism: Be professional at all times in communications, appearance, work product, and in representing Georgia Cyber Academy in a positive manner.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor Degree(s) in Special Education OR Equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must hold or be eligible to hold a Georgia PSC approved certification in Special education.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Great organizational and time management skills
• Strong data-collection, differentiation, and specialized instructional strategy skills
• Ability to adapt learning plans to meet various needs and learning styles
• Ability to create an engaging class culture and to manage the classroom environment
• Understanding of the GADOE Implementation Manual guidelines for Special Education
• Ability to write IEP's and Special Education Eligibility reports
• Ability to learn new technology tools quickly (e.g., database and web-based tools)
• Demonstrate prompt and regular attendance

Desired Qualifications:

• Virtual Education Experience
• Special Education Teacher Experience
• Familiar with Zoom. Jigsaw, Canvas, Clever, or other online platforms
• Experience supporting children in the use of technology
• Knowledge of principles, theories, practices, methods, and techniques used in special education instruction

Other Required Qualifications:

• Proficient in MS Excel, MSWord, and Outlook
• Proficient in G-Suite
• Strong technology skills
• Experience using search engines (internet) for research projects
• Ability to pass required background check

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This is a home-based position that may require traveling up to 25% of the time. In-person attendance at professional development, training, conferences, job fairs, and testing sites will be required several times per year. Light lifting required.