Special Education Teacher

Job Description

Job Description

At Rocketship Public Schools, we believe in the infinite possibility of human potential.  We believe that every student deserves the right to dream, to discover, and to develop their unique potential and it is our responsibility and our privilege to unleash the potential inside every Rocketeer we serve. Our non-profit network of public elementary charter schools propels student achievement, develops exceptional educators, and partners with parents who enable high-quality public schools to thrive in their community. We are a collective of parents, teachers, leaders, and students working together to transform the future for underserved communities across our country. At Rocketship Public Schools, we are unleashing potential.

Position Summary

Rocketship Special Education Teachers (Moderate/Severe), also known as Education Specialists, play a critical role in ensuring that every student has access to an excellent, inclusive education. The Education Specialist supporting students with moderate to severe support needs provides individualized academic, functional, behavioral, communication, and social-emotional support to students with significant disabilities.

This role serves students with a range of support needs, including students with intellectual disabilities, autism, multiple disabilities, communication needs, behavioral needs, and adaptive skill needs. Education Specialists work closely with students, families, general education teachers, paraprofessionals, school leaders, and related service providers to ensure students receive appropriate instruction, services, accommodations, modifications, and supports aligned to their Individualized Education Programs.

At Rocketship, we believe in the power of inclusive education. Education Specialists support students in general education settings whenever appropriate, while also providing individualized instruction in small-group, pull-out, and specialized settings based on student needs. This role requires strong collaboration, thoughtful behavior support, effective case management, and a deep commitment to helping students make meaningful growth.

Education Specialists manage an assigned caseload at a single school site and are responsible for developing compliant IEPs, facilitating IEP meetings, monitoring student progress, supporting paraprofessionals, and ensuring services are delivered in accordance with IDEA, state law, and Rocketship expectations.

Education Specialists report to the Principal or Assistant Principal.

Essential FunctionsInstruction and Inclusion

• Provide individualized, small-group, push-in, and pull-out instruction to support students with moderate to severe support needs.
• Support students in making meaningful progress toward academic, functional, communication, behavioral, social-emotional, and adaptive goals outlined in their IEPs.
• Deliver instruction in functional academics, adaptive skills, communication, and foundational academic skills aligned to student needs and applicable standards.
• Support students’ access to grade-level content, school routines, classroom participation, and inclusive learning opportunities whenever appropriate.
• Implement accommodations, modifications, supplementary aids, services, and individualized supports as outlined in students’ IEPs.
• Use curriculum, instructional materials, assistive technology, and communication supports, including augmentative and alternative communication systems when appropriate.
• Collaborate with general education teachers to promote meaningful inclusion and ensure students receive consistent support across settings.
• Lead, support, and coach paraprofessionals to ensure high-quality implementation of student supports, accommodations, modifications, behavior plans, and instructional strategies.
• Use student data, progress monitoring, and team input to adjust instruction and support student growth.

Case Management and Compliance

• Manage an assigned IEP caseload in accordance with IDEA, state law, and school/network expectations.
• Draft, write, and maintain high-quality, legally compliant IEPs.
• Facilitate and participate in IEP meetings, including annual reviews, reevaluations, amendments, and other required meetings.
• Ensure online IEP systems and school-based files are accurate, organized, timely, and compliant.
• Monitor student progress toward IEP goals and provide required progress updates.
• Collaborate with school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other related service providers to support evaluations, services, and programming.
• Review and interpret assessment information to help identify student strengths, areas of need, and appropriate services and supports.
• Communicate regularly with families and team members regarding student goals, accommodations, services, progress, and support needs.
• Maintain compliance with timelines, service delivery requirements, documentation expectations, and confidentiality requirements.

Behavior Support and Family Partnership

• Approach student behavior with the belief that behavior communicates a need and requires thoughtful, proactive, and individualized support.
• Partner with students, families, teachers, paraprofessionals, related service providers, and school leaders to develop and implement responsive behavior supports.
• Implement and support Behavior Support Plans and Behavior Intervention Plans, as appropriate.
• Ensure paraprofessionals and teachers understand and consistently apply behavior support strategies.
• Use positive behavior support practices to help create safe, structured, predictable, and supportive learning environments.
• Apply foundational behavior support strategies, including principles of Applied Behavior Analysis when appropriate and aligned to student needs.
• Support crisis prevention, de-escalation, and response practices in accordance with school policies, training, and student plans.
• Build strong, trusting relationships with families through regular communication, IEP meetings, conferences, and other family engagement opportunities.
• Collaborate with families and school teams to support transparency, shared ownership, and student growth.

Salary

Salary band for this role ranges from $54,827 to $75,034 annually. Final salary will be determined based on relevant experience and in accordance with the applicable salary schedule.

Rocketship Professional Culture

Professional Culture and Collaboration

• Participate fully in coaching, feedback, observation, and professional development to strengthen instructional, behavioral, and case management practices.
• Collaborate effectively with general education teachers, paraprofessionals, related service providers, school leaders, and families.
• Act with urgency and professionalism in the best interests of students.
• Engage in self-reflection and take ownership of student outcomes, professional growth, and continuous improvement.
• Communicate openly and proactively with families, staff, and school leaders.
• Contribute to a positive, team-oriented staff culture focused on inclusion, collaboration, compliance, and student success.
• Uphold high expectations for all students and maintain a strong commitment to equity and access for students with disabilities.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Principal, Assistant Principal, or appropriate administrator.

Our Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is:

• Student-centered and equity-driven , with a deep belief that all students can learn, grow, and succeed.
• Committed to inclusive education and ensuring students with disabilities have meaningful access to general education settings whenever appropriate.
• Experienced in supporting students with significant needs , including academic, behavioral, communication, adaptive, functional, and social-emotional needs.
• Collaborative , with the ability to work effectively with general education teachers, paraprofessionals, families, school leaders, and related service providers.
• Growth-oriented , open to coaching, feedback, and ongoing professional development.
• Organized and detail-oriented , with the ability to manage IEP timelines, documentation, service delivery, and compliance requirements.
• Skilled in supporting behavior needs , with an understanding that behavior often communicates an unmet need.
• Comfortable supporting paraprofessionals , including modeling strategies, providing direction, and helping ensure consistent student support.
• Flexible and resilient , with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced school environment.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Valid Wisconsin Lifetime License or Provisional License in the appropriate Cross-Categorical Special Education endorsement; or eligibility to obtain a 1-Year License with Stipulations and enroll in an accredited credentialing program during the first year of employment with Rocketship.
• Ability to maintain active and good-standing credential status throughout employment.
• Strong commitment to supporting students with moderate to severe support needs.
• Ability to develop, implement, and monitor legally compliant IEPs.
• Ability to provide individualized instruction and support aligned to students’ IEP goals and needs.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with students, families, general education teachers, paraprofessionals, related service providers, and school leaders.
• Strong organization skills and ability to meet timelines, manage records, and maintain compliance.
• Commitment to Rocketship Public Schools’ mission, vision, and goals.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 2 years of experience working with children in special education, behavioral support, intervention, or a related setting.
• Experience supporting students with moderate to severe disabilities.
• Experience providing instruction in functional academics, adaptive skills, communication, and behavioral support.
• Experience writing IEPs, facilitating IEP meetings, and managing a special education caseload.
• Experience leading, coaching, or supporting paraprofessionals.
• Knowledge of special education law, IDEA compliance, and inclusive education practices.
• Background or understanding of Applied Behavior Analysis principles and positive behavior support strategies.
• Experience supporting augmentative and alternative communication systems.
• Experience collaborating with related service providers and multidisciplinary school teams.
• Experience supporting students in an elementary school setting.

Physical Demands

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 position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate with both adults and children. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally climb ladders. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to high.

 

Compensation:

Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent health and wellness benefits, 403b retirement plan, flexible spending account (FSA), and generous paid time off.

 

Rocketship Public Schools provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Rocketship Public Schools complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

 

Rocketship Public Schools expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Rocketship Public Schools’ employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated. Click here for our Sexual Harassment Policy. For questions, concerns, or complaints, please contact Human Resources.