Special Education Teacher - Christiansburg

Special Education (SPED) Teacher Opportunity - Christiansburg, VA

This opportunity is full-time and offers comprehensive benefits, generous paid time off, and competitive pay. 

Located in South Central Virginia, The Hughes Center is a highly-structured psychiatric residential treatment facility for youth ages 10 to 22 with neurodevelopmental disorders. The Hughes Center also provides private, community-based educational services. We provide both individualized and holistic care for adolescents and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a nurturing, family-friendly environment. We utilize a multidisciplinary team approach to provide comprehensive evaluations and evidence-based treatment (and educational) interventions with the intent to increase each youth’s level of functional independence. Our team also works diligently to address or manage medical conditions and challenging behaviors that are often associated with individuals who are diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders. We challenge our residents to adapt to and apply learned skills within new environments and situations, and to maintain functional use of these skills when they return to their homes or other community-based settings.

The Hughes Educational Center operates day schools in Danville, South Boston, and Christiansburg. We offer structured learning environments for students with low student-to-teacher ratios (4:1) and specialized programming with an emphasis on classroom ecology, individualized and direct academic instruction, differentiation, sensory integration, comprehensive evaluation, and parent collaboration. Programming is designed to improve socialization, reduce maladaptive behaviors, and successfully transition our students to a less restrictive educational setting.

The Special Education Teacher will provide educational services to all school age children attending The Hughes Center according to facility standards as well as State and Federal regulations. Our educational services include assessment, instruction, classroom management, documentation, consultation, IEP/IPP writing, transition planning, program development, curriculum writing and resident supervision.

Job Requirements:

• Provide developmentally appropriate classroom instruction to assigned students according to IEP/IPP goals and objectives, student strengths and learning preferences, research-supported methods and techniques, and Hughes Center recommended practices
• Implement the Behavioral Program at The Hughes Center, assess and document students’ behavior progress (or lack of progress), and adjust behavioral strategies as needed and in consultation with the treatment team in order to maximize students’ behavioral success
• Assess students’ academic achievement continually through a variety of methods, document progress (or lack of progress), and adjust instructional planning as needed to maximize student achievement
• Maintain consistent communication with other staff at the facility, including parent(s)/guardians, and local education agencies by consulting with team members, attending meetings, keeping accurate records, completing progress reports, making phone calls, writing letters and updating IEP’s/IPP’s
• Participate in professional development activities including on-site training and relevant off-site classes, workshops, etc
• Display a high degree of professionalism in all activities and interactions with students, staff, parents, agency personnel, community members, etc.

Special Education Teachers should possess knowledge of:

• Subject matter to be taught (Va Standards of Learning)
• Theories of learning and teaching (modifications & accommodations)
• Stages of learning
• Effective teaching methods
• Assessment principles and types
• Cognitive/Behavioral/Social Learning theories and principles
• Effective classroom management techniques
• Methods for observation/data collection

Special Education Teachers should possess skills to:

• Present effective lessons
• Organize and plan instruction
• Establish classroom expectations and hold students accountable for meeting them
• Manage classroom behavior effectively
• Maintain positive relationships with students and co-workers

Candidate Requirements :

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Education or related field of study
• Hold a current Virginia or out-of-state teaching licensed in Special Education or General Curriculum K-12; or hold a Special Education conditional license with plans to fulfill the requirements to obtain a Special Education professional license
• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Preferred: At least three years of experience in a classroom situation
• Preferred: Hold a current VA Driver's License

Other Requirements:

• Able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds,
• Effectively use the full range of body motion - sit, bend, kneel or stand for more than an hour if needed.
• Reflect behavior, attitude, and appearance appropriate to the position and be supportive of the facility and division philosophy, goals, and objectives
• Successfully complete and pass all components of Handle With Care & Verbal De-escalation Crisis Intervention Training,
• Effectively perform facility approved First Aid and CPR techniques
• Able to understand and demonstrate therapeutic boundaries
• Willing to be a team player and offer valuable insight to the team
• Able to effectively communicate both verbally and via written documentation

Benefits :

• Home/Work Life Balance
• Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug plans
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with company match
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending or Health Savings Account
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Career Development Opportunities within UHS and its subsidiaries
• A Challenging and Rewarding Work Environment
• Free meals!
• Company stock purchase discount
• Employee Assistance Program

Pay is Salary (bi-weekly) and is commensurate with education and experience.

The Hughes Center is a drug-free and alcohol-free workplace. A pre-hire drug screen, pre-hire background checks, and education verification are required of all new employees.

The Hughes Educational Center is licensed by the Virginia Department of Education and accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Special Education Facilities (VAISEF) and by COGNIA (national accreditation).

About Universal Health Services

One of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance, growing since its inception into a Fortune 500 corporation. Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has 99,000 employees. Through its subsidiaries, UHS operates 28 acute care hospitals, 331 behavioral health facilities, 60 outpatient and other facilities in 39 U.S. States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.

EEO Statement

All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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