Teacher

Job Description

Job Description

The Golden Key Center for Exceptional Children  is seeking Teachers for its self-contained special education classrooms for students aging in Kindergarten through eighth-grade. The Golden Key is a non-profit, Specialized Non-Public Charter School. Teachers will work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary professionals to serve students on the autism spectrum and other similar cognitive disabilities. The teacher will be the primary contact for their students and must have superior communication abilities with parents. 

• Program: Non-Public Charter School
• 2026-2027 School Year
• This position reports directly to the Administrative staff. 
• Benefits:  Medical, Vision, Dental Insurance; 401K plans; Accrued Time Off; Follow School Calendar: Developmental Days, Holiday Breaks & Summer off. 
• Requirements: Ohio Department of Education Teaching License or related bachelor’s/master’s degree to apply for Professional Teaching Licenses.
  • Highly Desired: Related Experience with special needs
    

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in education from an accredited college or university
• Secure and maintain a valid Ohio Educator License as required by placement or assignment
• Program leadership skills verified by training and/or work experience. 
• Ability to develop and implement program improvements based on evaluated data and research-based best practices.
• Ability to analyze and present complex information in easy-to-understand formats.
• Displays flexibility, reliability, self-discipline and a willingness to take on challenging tasks.
• Effective communication, problem-solving and time management skills.
• Embodies high ethical standards/integrity. Accepts responsibility for personal decisions/conduct.
• Maintains a record free of criminal violations that would prohibit non-public charter school employment.
• Participate (and pass where applicable) in all required training, including but not limited to: Blood-borne Pathogens, AEGIS De-escalation Trained, Educator Ethics, etc.
• Adhere to The Golden Key Center for Exceptional Children’s Board of Director’s policies/administrative guidelines/staff handbook, policies of the assigned district/worksite, and the to the Licensure Code of Professional Conduct for Educators.

Essential Functions

• Maintain a demonstrated philosophy that all students can and will learn.

• Prepare and maintain the classroom as student-centered, age-appropriate learning space.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate daily learning activities based upon the Ohio Learning Standards Extended.
• Participate in the development and/or implementation of individual education plans.
• Collaborate with student Intervention Specialists to implement suggested data based techniques to support classroom learning.
• Organize appropriate subject content and learning goals aligned with the state standards and individual education plan goals and objectives while assisting students to achieve learning objectives.
• Collaborate and implement behavior management plans that meet student needs.
• Communicate professionally and regularly with parents and support agencies in an effort to involve them in the educational process (e.g. phone calls, emails, written notes, meetings, educational software, etc.).
• Produce, manage, and complete the necessary documentation and paperwork for educational progress.
• Follows The Golden Key’s feeding protocols and philosophy.
• Assist in coordinating all support services to meet student needs.
• Adhere to the rules and regulations that relate to IDEA and/or other state/federal programs as applicable.
• Provide direction and training to para-professionals, aides and teaching assistants in the classroom setting.
• Facilitate Transition Plans as students transfer to other programs.
• Collaborate with each student’s team including but not limited to contracted therapists, parents, outside agencies, etc.
• Willingness to assist with diapering, selfcare, feeding, behavior needs and/or basic academic tasks. 
• Perform other specific duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree (B.A.) in the following areas of study: Education, Autism Studies, Curriculum Instruction, Early Childhood Development, Psychology, Education Studies, Family Studies or other related degrees that support the mission of the organization. 
• Highly desired candidates will have experience with special needs – specifically autism.
• Eligibility of application for a Professional Teaching License through ODE&W and The Golden Key by appropriate background checks and educational transcripts. 

Key Competencies

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to organize team members and implement the organization’s policies. Language skills to effectively present information in one-on-one and small and large group situations to staff, clients, or outside inquiries.
• Shows the ability to create and maintain a safe, orderly environment that is conducive to learning
• Great arbitration and organizational skills are also necessary for satisfactory performance.
• Demonstrates the ability to make appropriate recommendations to teachers based upon collected data.
• Demonstrates a patience for working with students with exceptionalities.
• Maintain the professional licensing as dictated for specific positions under state agencies
• A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and a diverse workplace
• High comfort level working in a diverse environment
• Ability to follow instructions, respond to management direction, take responsibility for own actions, keep commitments. Commits to extended hours of work when necessary, completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan
• Observes safety and security procedures. Determines appropriate actions beyond guidelines. Reports unsafe conditions, uses equipment and materials properly. 
• Maintain respect at all times for confidential information, e.g., student grades or health concerns.
• Promote good public relations by personal appearance, attitude and conversation. 
• Attend work regularly.
• Demonstrate a positive work ethic.
• Establish and maintain professional relationships with coworkers and colleagues promoting a cohesive work environment.
• Observe ethics of the teaching profession; exhibit professional behavior, emotional stability and sound judgment. 
• Report suspected child abuse and/or neglect to supervisor and/or civil authorities as required by law.
• Participate in school-wide functions as directed by Administration.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

• Ability to regularly sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. Required to stand for periods of time, walk, climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste and smell. 
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Additional Physical Demands: Staff may be subject to injury such as, bites, kicks, smacks, spit, hits and other physical touches as a result of a student's behavior.