Jr. High Special Education Teacher

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Nexus Family Healing is hiring a Jr. High Special Education Teacher for Grand Prairie School at our Onarga, IL location!

Nexus-Onarga Family Healing is located approximately 30 miles south of Kankakee and 45 miles north of Champaign-Urbana, just a few miles off of I-57 on a historic site in Onarga, IL.

Nexus Onarga provides boys ages 10 to 20 years old a structured, homelike environment where they can safely address a variety of unhealthy behaviors and mental health issues as well as childhood trauma. Nexus Onarga youth attend our onsite private, therapeutic Grand Prairie School which offers special education with small classes for grades 5th-12th. This position is for grades 5th-8th. 

At Nexus Family Healing, we embrace diversity, promote equity, and foster inclusion. As a national mental health organization, we serve a diverse group of youth and families, and we strive for our workforce to support and represent that diversity.

Skills You’ll Bring to the Team:
• Classroom Harmony Mastery: Creating positive, structured learning spaces where students feel supported and ready to thrive.

• IEP Wizardry: Crafting thoughtful, compliant, student-centered IEPs that truly move the needle.
• Collaboration Superpowers: Communicating with families, teammates, and partners to build a united support system for every learner.

• Data Detective Skills: Turning numbers and trends into meaningful instructional decisions that spark growth.

Work Schedule :

• Schedule: Monday-Friday 7a-3:30p
  • Year-round school through the summer with holidays off & pre-scheduled paid break weeks off
    • Additional days of paid time off provided throughout the year.
• Salary: $58,000-$66,000 annually based on credentials and years of teaching experience
• Location: 110 N Locust, Onarga, IL

Benefits of working at a private Nexus School:

• $2,000 Sign on Bonus for licensed LBS1 Teachers paid out over 18 months of employment
• Small class sizes
• Full time paraprofessional in each classroom
• Behavior Intervention Team readily available to provide ongoing support
• Residential program staff available throughout the school day to provide additional support where needed
• Tuition assistance program offered to pursue higher education
• 8 days of paid time off per calendar year plus pre-scheduled paid break weeks off throughout the year, including 2 weeks at Christmas, 1 week Spring Break, 1 week in June & 1 week in August, in addition to time off around other recognized holidays

Nexus’ Comprehensive Benefits Include:

• Endless training on mental health & trauma informed care
• Internal advancement opportunities without further education required
• Ongoing support of a team of trained & experienced professionals
• Employee Referral Bonus program
• Multiple options for health insurance coverage
• No-cost life insurance
• Short/long-term disability insurance
• 401k match
• Talkspace Therapy Benefit for the whole family
• Hinge Health Benefit for the whole family
• Carrot Fertility Benefit
• And much more!

The Jr. High Special Education Teacher delivers direct instruction and support to students with disabilities, collaborates with the team of teachers and behavior intervention staff, and helps develop IEPs to promote students’ academic, interpersonal, and college- and career-readiness skills.

Primary responsibilities:

General Education

• Provides direct instruction and support to students with disabilities in inclusion and/or special education settings.
• Conducts academic evaluations and writes reports for initial and triennial assessments.
• Develops, implements, and monitors Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
• Shares IEP progress updates with parents as outlined in the plan.
• Prepares for and participates in IEP meetings for both inclusion and self-contained students.
• Interprets assessment data to inform instructional decisions.

Student Performance, Assessments & Best Practices

• Collects and analyzes student performance data to guide instruction and improve outcomes.
• Administers and interprets formal and informal assessments.
• Adapts materials to align with students’ IEP goals and access to the general curriculum.
• Ensures compliance with IEP timelines and evaluation requirements.
• Engages in ongoing professional development to enhance instructional practices.
• Plans instruction tailored to students’ individual needs, interests, and abilities.

Classroom Environment & Best Practices

• Maintains a classroom environment supportive of learning and student development.
• Plans and oversees tasks for paraprofessionals.
• Prepares lesson plans and provides documentation upon request.
• Promotes positive student behavior and classroom standards.
• Sets clear learning objectives aligned with curriculum goals.
• Implements the district’s educational philosophy and instructional objectives.

Student Goals & Progress

• Regularly assesses student progress and provides required reports.
• Maintains accurate and compliant student records and documentation.
• Collects data and prepares reports per legal and district guidelines.
• Supports enforcement of school policies and maintains classroom order fairly.
• Establishes and communicates clear learning objectives aligned with curriculum goals.

Program & Educational Policy, Procedure & Compliance

• Follows all company policies, training, and certification requirements.
• Attends staff meetings and participates in required committees.
• Applies accommodations, modifications, UDL, and differentiation in instruction.
• Ensures safety of students, equipment, and facilities.
• Maintains accurate records in compliance with laws and district policies.
• Enforces school rules and maintains a structured classroom environment.
• Aligns instruction with the district’s educational philosophy and goals.

Required Education and Licensure:

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in an educational discipline is required.
• Active teacher’s licensure/certification required
• LBS1 Licensure OR willing to obtain within 1 year of employment with financial assistance provided
• Valid driver’s license required. Must meet state regulating agency and Home Office driving requirements.
• Must successfully pass a DCFS criminal background check.
• Must be open to meeting the cultural needs of individuals or communities, considering factors such as language, traditions, and values.

Nice to Have:

• Minimum of 2 years previous teaching experience
• Master’s degree in an educational discipline

Work Environment:

• Must be able to assist staff in proper restraining of youths.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds unassisted and up to 100+ pounds with assistance.
• Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time (2-4 hours).
• Must be able to twist, bend and stretch in a manner conducive to the execution of daily activities within the residential program.

At Nexus Family Healing, our voices and actions are focused on recognizing, affirming and respecting people of every race, ethnic background, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender expression and faith.

ICARE Values & Behavioral Competencies:

• Innovation: Leading the way and implementing creative, cutting-edge ideas and approaches.
• Compassion: Listening, honoring differences, and showing respect, kindness, empathy care, and concern.
• Agility: Exhibiting flexibility and adapting quickly.
• Responsiveness: Being quick, positive, and accurate.
• Excellence: Demonstrating quality results that surpass ordinary standards.

APPLY TODAY TO BE CONTACTED BY OUR RECRUITING TEAM! When you work at Nexus, you have the opportunity to change lives — including your own!