Self-Contained Special Education Teacher

The Self-Contained Special Education Teacher at our Elementary School is responsible for planning and delivering specialized instruction to elementary-aged students with disabilities in a self-contained classroom setting. The students served in this classroom require intensive academic, behavioral, communication, and social-emotional support, and many are non-verbal or pre-verbal. This teacher serves as the primary classroom teacher for approximately 10 students throughout the school day and leads the overall instructional and behavioral programming of the classroom, working closely with instructional assistants and related service providers.

Who We Are

Henderson Collegiate is a mission-driven public college preparatory school located in rural Henderson, NC with an unrelenting focus on character development and student achievement. We believe in 51% character and 49% academics, as we will never sacrifice a moment to teach our students character traits that will help them become great people.

Our school serves students that come from traditionally underserved communities (approximately 85% receive free or reduced-price meals, and about 94% are students of color). However, we consistently rank in the top 9.7% of all NC schools and the top 1.3% of all NC Title I schools. Henderson Collegiate is committed to the idea that all students can learn and create a future for themselves that is full of opportunities. We know they can do this by attending and graduating from the colleges of their choice. Our students are proving what is possible and to date, 100% of our college seniors have been accepted into a 4-year college or university.

We are both a team and family who leverage passionate people to be the best teachers and leaders that they can be. We believe in the idea that all of our staff members are school teachers, as opposed to classroom teachers, meaning that no matter your role, we are all willing to do whatever it takes to support all Henderson Collegiate students. We work together to make what most people say is impossible, happen.

Who You Are

• A go-getter that will move mountains to do what is best for our students and team

• An encourager who knows that with learning comes joy, love and laughter

• A reflective educator who recognizes the power and potential within all students and strives to provide them with culturally competent/responsive instruction

• A life-long learner that continuously strives to be a better version of themselves through learning, improving and being hungry for feedback

• A gritty problem-solver who approaches challenges with smart solutions in mind

• A finisher who plans backwards to meet timelines and manage complex projects and who keeps in mind both the big picture and the details necessary to make things happen

• A data-driven analyst who reflects and takes swift action based on results

• A proactive communicator who reaches out to students, families, and teammates

What You’ll Do

• Bring it. Have stamina and the ability to set and achieve ambitious goals, and handle the intensity required to bring your best self to an extended school day in a very high-performing school environment.

• Own and develop your own content and curriculum. Do the intellectual preparation needed to create and develop rigorous assessments, unit plans, lesson plans, and instructional materials; demonstrate expertise in and a genuine passion for curriculum that is contagious to students. 

• Deliver strong. Dynamically lead students in whole-class and small-group settings, cultivate intellectual curiosity and a love of learning in students, and adjust instruction using qualitative and quantitative data to ensure student understanding and meet differentiated student needs.

• Reach higher – and sweat the small stuff. Develop, uphold, and implement Henderson Collegiate’s values, policies, and systems to effectively manage a classroom and consistently lead students to meet sky-high academic and character-based expectations.

• Never stop growing. Offer and receive constructive feedback from colleagues in order to create a professional working atmosphere that aspires to excellence and is conducive to constant improvement; dive humbly into school-wide and individual professional development, including pre-service training over the summer and weekly sessions during the academic year.

• Spread the love. Build deep relationships with students, families, and staff to foster a culture of joy and community. Maintain strong lines of communication with families about student progress, and go above and beyond to support and collaborate closely with teammates in the united pursuit of Henderson Collegiate’s mission.

Essential Responsibilities

Instruction & Student Support

• Design and implement individualized, developmentally appropriate instruction aligned to students’ IEP goals and state standards

• Provide intensive academic instruction using evidence-based practices for students with significant cognitive, communication, and behavioral needs

• Support students who are non-verbal or pre-verbal by incorporating alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) strategies as appropriate

• Implement structured routines, visual supports, and differentiated instructional approaches to meet diverse learning needs

• Monitor student progress and adjust instruction based on data and student response

Behavioral & Social-Emotional Support

• Develop, implement, and monitor behavior intervention plans (BIPs) and positive behavior support strategies

• Provide consistent, proactive behavioral support throughout the day

• Teach and reinforce functional communication, social skills, and self-regulation skills

• Maintain a safe, structured, and supportive learning environment

Classroom Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as the primary teacher and instructional leader for the self-contained classroom

• Supervise, direct, and collaborate with classroom support staff (instructional assistants, paraprofessionals) to ensure consistency and effectiveness

• Collaborate with related service providers (speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, behavior specialists, etc.) to integrate services into daily instruction

• Communicate regularly and effectively with families regarding student progress, needs, and successes

IEP & Compliance

• Develop, implement, and maintain Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in compliance with federal, state, and district requirements

• Collect and maintain accurate documentation and progress monitoring data

• Participate in IEP meetings, evaluations, and eligibility determinations

The Fine Print

• Required : All candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education or a valid North Carolina Special Education Teaching license.

• Preferred : Experience working in a self-contained classroom.

• Preferred : Experience supporting students with significant disabilities, including non-verbal or pre-verbal learners.

• Preferred : Prior experience teaching or working in a low-income community.

• Benefits : Salary is competitive and commensurate based on experience, our teacher pay scale can be found . Additionally, Henderson Collegiate offers a full benefits package. Teachers receive a laptop computer and are provided with classroom technology and software.

• Our Special Education teachers are changing the lives of kids by focusing 90%+ of their working time inside of classrooms working directly with students. We believe in going the extra mile for students and as a result our school day is longer than many other schools. The school day for staff is from 7:20 am to 4:15 pm, with one day a week staff being expected to stay until 5:00pm for professional development.

• At this time we are not able to sponsor candidates who are looking for an initial US work visa.