Middle School Special Education Teacher

Special Education Teacher Job Description 

About APR

Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School (APR) is a tuition-free, public charter school offering a rigorous, college preparatory program in Grades 5-12 to 540 students from Boston. For 25 years, APR has empowered diverse learners (90% students of color; 11% English Learners; 25% on IEPs) of all racial and ethnic backgrounds to achieve their full intellectual and social potential through high-quality academic and enrichment programs to promote college and career exploration, cultural immersion, and community service. Our supportive and inclusive community actively counters patterns of inequity through dynamic learning partnerships between staff, students, and families. This work is grounded in the vision that all students graduate with a focused mind and a big heart, having the critical thinking, mastery of academic and social skills and a deep sense of self and others to joyfully pursue post-secondary education, careers, and civic life based on their passions and interests. Our 570+ alumni have a six-year college graduation rate of 70% - double the national average of their demographic peers. 

About the Position

We believe that exceptional student outcomes are the result of excellent teaching and teamwork. Teachers and staff who thrive at APR are driven, passionate educators who love kids, are dedicated to their craft, embrace feedback, and constantly push themselves and their peers to learn and grow. This position will perform a variety of responsibilities, including but not limited to, the following:

Primary Responsibilities

Curriculum, Instruction and Student Assessment

• Leading and supporting classrooms in which students are affirmed for their brilliance, curiosity and intellect
• Modeling a deep passion, expertise and excitement for content matter
• Designing and implementing standards-aligned courses and curricular units that are rigorous, enriching and foster critical thinking 
• Creating a classroom with a strong culture of achievement, through the use of best practices, that promotes student growth and achievement 
• Continually providing students with feedback to strengthen their mastery of daily, weekly and unit learning targets
• Collaborating with teachers and other specialists to modify curriculum, internalize, and deliver instruction to meet the individual needs of students with diverse learning needs. In some instances, leverage existing curriculum to plan intentionally for Foundations classes. 
• Leveraging data to provide students with high impact, targeted and individualized intervention 
• Developing students understanding of core values, critical consciousness and social-emotional capacity through APR’s advisory structure, Dragon Circles
• Writing and implementing IEPs, assess students’ performance, and track their progress
• Providing test accommodations to students
• Providing regular tutoring and office hour supports for students

Assessment and Interpretation 

• Developing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) annually to reflect students’ progress and goals for students on assigned caseload
• Writing quarterly progress reports for students with IEPs
• Attending all initial, reevaluation, and annual review meetings for students on caseload
• Conducting educational assessments as needed (i.e. WIAT IV)
• Preparing and presenting all educational evaluations for initial and reevaluation meetings
• Collaborating with other evaluators to ensure that all assessments are completed to gain full insight into the student’s needs
• Skillfully interpret assessment findings and relate them to educational performance and needs
• Making recommendations regarding accommodations, modifications, services and/or other supports to address those needs
• Presenting key, relevant assessment findings to students and families in a clear, concise, non-technical, respectful manner, and engage them in a constructive conversation to promote student learning 
• Supporting intervention planning and intentional implementation for students who require additional academic and/or social-emotional support

Family and Community Engagement 

• Mentoring 10-15 students, through regular advisory meetings and family meetings
• Developing strong relationships and partnerships with families through regular communication around academic and behavioral successes and challenges 
• Maintaining and communicating up-to-date, accurate student grades and progress relative to academic benchmarks 
• Attending occasional family and community partnership events 

Professional Responsibilities

• Actively participating in professional development at the school and individual level including summer Dragon Institute, weekly professional development and individualized coaching sessions 
• Engaging in a reflective process to continually strengthen teaching and learning practices
• Performing necessary support duties including (but not limited to) coverage, bus, lunch, and dismissal duties to ensure that students learn and thrive in a safe and supportive school environment
• Regular, predictable attendance according to APR’s school calendar and staff attendance policy

Living our Values

• Embodying our belief that all students can achieve 
• Active, regular collaboration and communication with the team to advance APR’s mission
• Committing to continual personal and organizational growth
• Tenaciously fostering the learning of every student
• Embracing diversity and the goals of equity and inclusion

The ideal candidate has: 

• Demonstrated belief that all children can achieve their full intellectual and social potential
• Epitomizes APR’s values in all interactions 
• A Bachelor’s degree is required; a Master’s degree is preferred;
• Teachers must either be certified or licensed to teach in Massachusetts or have passed, prior to the end of their first year of employment, the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL). This includes a passing score on the Communication and Literacy Skills test and a passing score on the relevant subject matter knowledge test(s). 
• Teachers should hold an SEI (Sheltered English Immersion) endorsement or complete this prior to the end of their first year of employment;
• Expertise in and enthusiasm for content area(s);
• A minimum of two years teaching experience in a charter or district school setting serving a similar demographic preferred, but not required.

APR is committed to a diverse workplace and to ensuring that all of its programs and facilities are accessible to all members of the public. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by law (“protected class status”). 

* External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case by case basis.

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