Scholar Support Teacher (Special Education)

Job Description

Job Description

Who We Are

Achievement Prep is an award-winning public charter school network dedicated to empowering underserved communities in Southeast Washington, DC. Our mission is to prepare students to excel as high-achieving scholars and leaders, not only in school but also in life.

Our Values:

• All Scholars are Deserving: Every scholar receives an equitable, top-tier education
• Love is at the Core: We embrace authenticity while setting high expectations
• Exceptional Academic Results: Achieved through daily, data-driven, individualized learning
• Platinum Teachers are a Main Ingredient: YOU are the key to excellent outcomes for our scholars
• Families as Partners: Together, we do “three-generational work”

What You Will Do

Serving our most vulnerable scholars, Achievement Prep Scholar Support (Special Education) Teachers seek to eliminate the achievement gap everyday by supporting scholars with IEPs (Star Scholars) via push-in and pull-out services. Scholar Support Teachers are a part of a determined team of educators who push one another to create and sustain an outstanding environment for teaching and learning characterized by joyful rigor. As the content expert for her/his scholars, the Scholar Support Teacher is driven by the belief that the quality of instruction has the most immediate impact on Achievement Prep’s ability to achieve our mission.

Reporting to the Director of School Support and/or Scholar Support Coordinator, you will:

Scholar Achievement

• Serve as expert in differentiating ELA, Math, or other disciplines as needed for STAR scholars daily 
• Modify and implement a coherent, research-based curriculum
• Supplement curricular materials to enhance scholar learning experience
• Support in the design, refinement, and implementation of ongoing assessment, data collection and data analysis to ensure mastery of standards across content areas
• Utilize a variety of assessment data to adjust short-and long-term plans, refine curriculum, and diversify instructional practice to meet scholars’ learning needs
• Participate in the development of and implementation of scholars’ Individualized Education Program (IEP), Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA), and/or Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) 
• Work with leadership to set data-driven academic goals and outcomes for self and scholars, monitor progress, and adjust as necessary towards the same
• Exhibit an unwavering commitment to high academic achievement and character development in our scholars
• Embody our core values of Determination, Respect, Enthusiasm, Accountability, and Mastery
• Create, monitor, and sustain a disciplined classroom culture of high academic and behavioral standards
• Adhere to classroom and school-wide behavior management systems with fidelity to reinforce rules, incentivize positive behavior, and dis-incentivize negative behavior
• Hold yourself and peers accountable to create and sustain an outstanding environment for teaching and learning
• Collaborate, plan and co-teach with Scholar Support (SPED) Teachers

Case Management Responsibilities

• Establish, maintain, and document strong communication with all parents
• Schedule all STAR scholar meetings with families
• Participate in any meetings for scholars on caseload including, but not limited to, Scholar Support Team (SST) Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meetings, Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings, and Manifestation Determination Review (MDR) meetings
• Complete special education paperwork including, but not limited to, IEPs, Scholar Success Maps (SSMs), IEP progress reports, progress monitoring, and all forms required via scholar information system, Special Programs and/or any other record keeping required
• Participate in parent conferences to discuss scholar goals and plans

Family Engagement

• Establish and maintain relationships with scholars and families based on trust and respect
• Communicate effectively, proactively, and often with families to communicate scholar progress, triumphs, and challenges
• Call and/or meet immediately with parents/guardians when scholar grades decline significantly or when a scholar is failing
• Attend and support monthly Family Nights/events that invite families into the building

Continuous Development

• Collaborate, co-plan, and co-teach with general education teachers
• Work with colleagues on a daily basis to improve scholar achievement
• Improve professional practice through regular formal and informal observations, weekly coaching sessions, weekly professional development and data-driven reflection
• Participate actively in weekly professional development sessions, grade-level meetings, content team meetings and other opportunities to analyze scholar work, data, and goals.
• Receive continuous feedback from peers and school leaders on your practice and be expected to give the same

General School Support

• Fully integrate into the school community
• Support Associate Teachers with the management of 2 advisories (homerooms) 
• Assume additional school-wide responsibilities, such as lunch/recess duty, hallway posts, events committees, etc.
• Manage time, tasks, deadlines and responsibilities in a fast-paced environment
• Be on campus from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and until 5:00 PM on Wednesday

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Education or related field
• Experience with Special Education Compliance: IEP writing , Goal Setting, Family Facing Meetings, Partnering with Related Service Providers etc 
• 2+ years of K-12 teaching experience

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Education
• Special Education Certification 
• Teacher leadership experience (grade level lead, department chair, mentor teacher, etc.)