Middle School Special Education Teacher

BACKGROUND

NorthStar Public Schools Overview

NorthStar Public Schools (Formerly KIPP MN Public Schools) is a one-of-a-kind school committed to creating a safe and nurturing learning environment where our K-8 students thrive academically, build skills and positive traits, and recognize their full potential. 

With our focus on Business & Finance, we give our students a unique advantage to prepare them for successful future endeavors. Business and financial literacy are essential skills that span across all career pathways, empowering students to make informed decisions, achieve financial independence, and thrive in their personal and professional lives.

Who We Are: NorthStar Public Schools is a community-based public charter school that provides free education to approximately 250 students in grades K-8 in North Minneapolis. With a majority of our student body identifying as BIPOC and qualifying for Free or Reduced Priced Lunch, our school community is passionate and dedicated to narrowing academic achievement gaps prevalent in BIPOC communities, as well as providing wrap-around services for our school community.

POSITION OVERVIEW 

NorthStar Public Schools is seeking a mission driven educator to join our team! As a Middle School Special Education Teacher, you are a NorthStar Public Schools In structional Team member and will directly lead instruction with students. Special Education Teachers co-teach alongside a general education teacher in an inclusion classroom setting to support all students and lead small group instructional spaces. They will plan and execute high-quality daily lessons that lead to high levels of student achievement and build and support a school-wide culture of excellence.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Planning and Instruction

• Implement the school-wide student management policies within classrooms and everywhere on campus
• Create and teach challenging and engaging lessons aligned to state standards
• Assist in the development of curriculum standards and mapping
• Work to ensure that all IEPs and student needs are met both within and outside of the classroom
• Manage a student caseload 
• Perform morning, lunch, and afternoon duties as assigned and attend all staff meetings
• With support from school leaders, use data to drive instructional practices to improve student achievement and instruction constantly
• Seek to constantly develop and improve teaching practices through ongoing feedback conversations with School Leaders and other school faculty within NorthStar Public Schools

Classroom Environment

• Creates an environment that promotes respect, rapport, and learning
• Establishes effective relationships with students
• Create a classroom environment that is warm and demanding and expects 100% of students to meet expectations
• Communicates clear and consistent expectations for learning, behavior, and achievement
• Monitors and manages student behavior effectively

Communication

• Communicates effectively with families, students, and colleagues
• Establish and maintain strong communication lines with all parents
• Communicates student progress in a timely and thorough manner
• Demonstrates effective written and oral communication skills

Professional Responsibility

• Supports the mission and values of the school
• Supports the programs and priorities of the department and school
• Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with faculty, students, and parents
• Maintains confidentiality
• Demonstrates professional behavior
• Seeks and develops opportunities for professional growth
• Mandatorily attends and participates in required meetings, school events, and committee work (including evenings and weekends as necessary)
• Participates in the arrival and dismissal of students daily with assigned tasks and responsibilities
• Performs bus duties for the safety of students daily with assigned tasks and responsibilities
• Monitors hallways between classroom duties to establish safety and clear expectations of student behaviors in the hallways
• Home visits to students/families' homes twice per school year
• Maintain a neat, clean classroom environment and a professional personal appearance
• Performs duties as required/requested

DESIRED EXPERIENCE 

Required 

• Bachelor's degree in special education
• Special Education Licensure is required to work with students in Federal Settings 1-3. (K-8 or 5-8 required)
• Ability to design and implement specially designed instruction tailored to meet the unique needs of students requiring special education services.
• Experience and willingness to work on general education teams and provide collaborative special education services with general education teachers are required.
• Ability to collaborate with paraprofessionals and to effectively direct the work delegated to them.
• Interest in and ability to relate well to elementary and middle school students.
• Experience with evaluation and eligibility determination for special education services is preferred.

Highly Preferred 

• Experience working in historically educationally underserved communities and communities of color 
• Multiple licensures
• ASD, DCD, or ABS licensure
• Minimum of 3 years of classroom teaching experience.

COMPENSATION

Salary: $44,880+

*To establish equitable salary practices, the compensation package is derived from the Regional NorthStar Public Schools pay scale and benefits package, which includes medical, dental, life, long-term disability, and retirement benefits, as well as an annual salary review and revision.