Special Education Teacher

Job Title

Qualifications, Certification, and Experience

• Valid Iowa teaching license with 5-12 Instructional Strategist I: Mild/Moderate required, K-12 Instructional Strategist II: BD/LD endorsement preferred
• Previous special education teaching experience preferred
• Demonstrates positive interpersonal relationships and works cooperatively with students, parents and staff
• Project a positive image as an educator in the school and in the community
• Promotes a positive image of the Johnston Schools
• Respects differing points of view
• Demonstrates an understanding and acceptance of diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, gender, special needs and religious groups
• Uses discretion in handling confidential information and situations
• Actively supports expectations of student behavior outside of the classroom during the school day
• Demonstrates a positive attitude and manages stress in a constructive manner

Performance Responsibilities

Personal Performance Criteria

• Works well with others, maintaining positive and effective communication with school personnel and students
• Contributes to creating a positive work environment
• Demonstrates integrity and respects confidentiality
• Arrives on time and works consistently until the end of his/her scheduled day
• Takes advantage of professional growth opportunities related to his/her specific job
• Works independently and with confidence
• Demonstrates ability to grasp and adjust to new and changing situations
• Demonstrates initiative and ability to work without close supervision

Professional Performance Criteria

Instructional Process

• Teaching to local curriculum standards
  • Curriculum is presented from whole to part with an emphasis on what students should know and be able to do
  • Communicates learning goals to students and parents
  • Incorporates, on a regular basis, activities for students which require applications of learning
• Creates a classroom environment that promotes learning
  • Establishes fair and appropriate classroom rules
  • Corrects inappropriate behavior in an appropriate and timely manner
  • Reinforces positive behaviors
  • Consistent in expectations concerning student behaviors
  • Establishes and maintains rapport with students
• Demonstrates appropriate instructional preparation
  • Uses knowledge of students to design educational experiences
  • Has materials prepared prior to the beginning of class
  • Lessons align with the district standards and assessments
  • Designs lessons that are appropriate to age level and student interest
  • Lesson design is logical and provides for a clearly understood flow of learning
  • Designs educational experiences that utilize district provided technologies
• Uses effective instructional techniques
  • Uses instructional time effectively
  • Both group and individual instruction are used on a regular basis with limited use of large group lecture
  • Employs a variety of instructional techniques and strategies including multi-sensory approaches, appropriate questioning and modelling, role playing, self-teaching and activity-based learning
  • Utilizes a variety of instructional resources outside of the textbook
  • Classroom technology is an integrated part of the teaching and learning process
  • Modifies lesson plans and instructional techniques as required by student learning needs
  • Instructional techniques provide all students the opportunity to learn
  • Instruction is free of cultural, religious, ethnic or gender bias
  • Responds in a positive and constructive manner to student questions
  • Provides students with opportunities for success
  • Models and promotes honesty, respect for people and property, responsibility for personal and group actions, personal integrity and the value of hard work
• Uses effective assessment strategies
  • Assessments directly relate to core curricular concepts and are in integral part of teaching and learning
  • Assessment of student progress includes both traditional and alternative assessment measures
  • Assessment is interwoven with learning and occurs on an ongoing basis. Assessment is not solely an end product

Professional Responsibilities

• Demonstrates a commitment to professional growth
  • Keeps current with appropriate teaching content and instructional techniques and strategies (e.g., participation in professional organizations, workshops and conferences, including the development of technology skills)
  • Applies knowledge gained through professional growth to the classroom
  • Contributes and participates in a positive manner to building and district professional growth opportunities
• Works collegially to select and implement building and district goals
• Remains informed on building and district policies and works cooperatively toward their implementation
• Participates, when appropriate, in curriculum development and building/district assignments
• Meets responsibilities beyond the school day related to school functions
• Maintains a professional appearance appropriate to job responsibilities
• Assumes leadership roles (committee participation, department chairs, curriculum review, etc.)

Terms of Employment: 194-day contract