Special Education Teacher at KNDLA (26/27)

Overview This role is for the 26/27 school year About the KIPP Colorado Special Education Teacher Role: The Special Education Teacher is the instructional leader of their student caseload and is directly responsible for driving student outcomes and creating an exceptional student experience. Teachers drive the educational mission of KIPP Colorado schools by developing daily instruction aligned with our academic program that enables students to make significant academic growth each year. The Special Education Teacher plans instruction, organizes learning activities, internalizes and intellectually prepares for lessons, grades equitably and consistently, and implements with fidelity all accommodations and modifications for students’ IEPs, BIP’s, 504 Plans, and MTSS interventions. The Special Education Teacher at KIPP Colorado holds full responsibility for creating and cultivating a culturally responsive classroom community that is warm-demanding, including upholding school-wide expectations, managing tier 1 behaviors, and contacting families proactively and responsively. The role includes campus-wide duties and is a 10-month academic position exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This position reports to a member of the school leadership team. About KIPP: Together with families and communities, KIPP creates joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. KIPP is a national network of tuition-free, public charter schools open to all students. There are 255 college-preparatory KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia, serving more than 100,000 students. Nationally, KIPP students are graduating four-year colleges at three times the national average for low-income students. Who we are: KIPP Colorado Public Schools is a network of six free college-preparatory public charter schools open to all students. Our 350-person staff educates 2,600 students from ECE to 12th grade. At KIPP Colorado, we partner with our KIPPsters, educators, families and communities to ensure that we are all united around the goal of a choice-filled future for our KIPPsters. Our KIPP Forward Team supports our 1,000+ high school Alumni as they create their own paths. Our core values of excellence, belonging, belief, advocacy and courage are central to who we are and how we operate at all levels of our organization. What we do: We believe in the unique gifts and brilliance of every student. We believe in setting a high bar for joy and academic excellence to ensure the infinite possibilities our students have before them become a reality. We aspire to create and reinforce a culture of achievement, belonging and support. We know that every student is different and we personalize learning based on a student's needs, skills, and interests. Role Responsibilities Role Responsibilities and More About How You’ll Spend Your Time in this Role Professional Responsibilities Believe deeply in the mission, values, and Race, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (RIDE) commitments of KIPP Colorado Schools and that all children can and will learn Assume personal responsibility for student achievement Read, internalize, and adhere to the KIPP Colorado Policies and Procedures manual and guidelines Provide an active presence, strategic supervision, and intentional monitoring to ensure student safety and engagement in rigorous learning (regardless of my role and its proximity to students) Take ownership for the development of your craft and engage actively in coaching sessions (meet 1-2 times every 1 or 2 weeks with a manager, receive coaching, implement all provided feedback, engage in active practice, etc.) Commit to being prepared. Such as: internalizing and preparing for lessons, preparing for O3s/coaching, preparing for meetings, coaching, PD, reading and internalizing written communication, etc. Meet professional obligations including and not limited to meeting deadlines and honoring schedules Consistently leverage existing professional tools, including but not limited to Google Suite and Microsoft Suite Maintain strong attendance each day and be on time to all responsibilities Collaborate with colleagues and seek feedback in the spirit of continuous improvement Reflect on professional practices to meet individual professional development goals Actively participate in professional development, grade level, and department meetings Actively engage and implement in all school-wide and Org wide professional development Serve as a positive, contributing member of a grade team or functional team, collaborating with colleagues to tackle common challenges and implement org and grade-wide initiatives Share candid, solutions-oriented feedback with peers and leadership on a regular basis, focused on improving outcomes for students Assist with student and staff recruitment and engagement— including events, home visits, calls home, and other requirements Know that your role, professional development, org wide meetings, etc. may require you to travel around Denver to other KIPP Campuses, our Home Office, or other KIPP or PD events Assist with other duties as assigned (lunch duty, arrival/dismissal duty, bathroom duty, hallway duty, school support duties, etc.) Special Education Responsibilities Develop, monitor, and evaluate the effectiveness of special education programs and other student supports (Intervention, 504, ELL, etc.) Maintain IEPs, 504s, Evaluations, and ELL programs; ensure services are delivered with fidelity Liaison with parents via trainings, meetings, and consultations Provide case management for Special Education caseload and provide instruction to students receiving special education supports Ensure accurate and timely completion of IEP, BIPS, and FBAs Ensure students receive their minutes (pull-out and push-in depending on student needs), accommodations, and modifications in collaboration with gen ed teacher Support classroom teachers with understanding student support plans and requirements Instructional Planning and Delivery Develop standards-based unit plans and daily lesson plans Design and deliver rigorous, backwards-planned lessons Design and implement assessments that are aligned with daily objectives Grade student material and provide students with feedback and support Plan rigorous lessons that include a focus on lesson internalization Use the adopted curriculum with fidelity Use data to adjust short- and long-term plans to meet students’ learning needs School Culture Alignment Believe deeply in the mission of KIPP Colorado Schools and that all children can learn Establish and maintain relationships with students and families based on trust and respect Approach practice with a sense of urgency to maximize instructional time Establish and maintain high expectations for academic work and classroom behavior Establish and reinforce rules and consequences to maintain a positive, focused classroom Meet professional obligations such as meeting deadlines and honoring schedules Additional Responsibilities Participate in active presence and strategic supervision and monitoring to ensure student safety and engagement in rigorous learning Complete MLE coursework and certification requirements (required for most roles) Partner with the Assistant Principal of Special Services and Special Education Teachers to ensure proper implementation of 504s, BIPs, IEPs, safety plans, accommodations, modifications, and language support for students Enforce positive behavior systems and monitor behavior data Attend designated school functions outside of school hours Perform necessary support duties including bus, lunch, dismissal, chaperone field trips, parent meetings and conferences Develop strong relationships with the families of students through home visits, participation in school events and phone calls home Communicate regularly with families about academic progress and behavior Be accessible by school cell phone for homework help and student emergencies beyond regular hours Participate in daily duties to support school operations Maintain accurate records, grade books, and data tracking systems Assist with both student and staff recruitment Other duties as assigned Role Level and Qualifications For more about how you’ll lead at this level, please visit the KIPP Colorado Role Levels Matrix (internal document) About a Successful Candidate What you will bring to this role: Bachelors degree (required) Special Education License or TEE through CDE (required) Spanish bilingual (preferred) Ability and willingness to fulfill all state and federal guidelines to meet ESSA criteria (required) At least 2 years of teaching experience (highly preferred but not required) Ability to work during after-school, evening, and weekend meetings and events (required) A full understanding and commitment to an Exceptional Student Experience (required) Commitment to and experience with youth of various cultural and economic backgrounds Outstanding organizational skills and high attention to detail; strong written and oral communication skills Ability to manage ambiguity and multiple priorities in an entrepreneurial environment Proactive problem solver with initiative and teamwork Strong work ethic and enthusiastic, passionate approach to work Multi-faceted, multi-skilled, resourceful and willing to do whatever it takes to help the school reach a high level of academic excellence High level of detail orientation and sound organizational skills Strong communication, feedback and facilitation skills Strong analytical and problem-solving skills Professional demeanor with confidence and initiative Entrepreneurial mindset for a fast-paced environment Ability to meet multiple deadlines with meticulous attention to detail Strong interpersonal skills to build relationships across teams Passionate commitment to KIPP Colorado mission and high standards of excellence Compensation and Benefits We offer competitive compensation and benefits: Starting salary begins at $65,015 and is commensurate with experience Excellent Healthcare Plan with 100% of employee-only premium paid by KIPP Colorado; family coverage options More than 6 weeks of annual vacation and PTO; up to 8 days PTO based on hire date Organization-wide summer break 12 weeks parental and medical leave (6 weeks paid + 6 weeks unpaid after first year) Career Trajectory: opportunity to move up and grow your career Mental Health Care via Employee Assistance Program Technology: laptop provided Colorado PERA retirement program with 401k option Relocation reimbursement (when applicable) Stipends and other insurance options (wellness reimbursement, voluntary life insurance, disability) Benefits FAQ available (link provided by employer) KIPP Colorado Schools is dedicated to equal employment opportunities and fair labor practices. We provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals based on job-related qualifications and ability to perform a job, regardless of race, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, medical condition, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by law. It is our policy to maintain a non-discriminatory environment. #J-18808-Ljbffr KIPP Colorado