School Special Education Teacher for PreSchool

The Elgin Math and Science Academy Charter School (EMSA, ( opened in August of 2018 to all students residing in the U-46 attendance area. We serve students from Kindergarten through 8th Grade.

EMSA is a Title 1 school that qualifies staff for student loan forgiveness programs.
EMSA is seeking a compelling, committed, and innovative Special Education Teacher that will help to establish a positive learning environment that promotes Wow & Wonder while modeling and encouraging the habits of scholarship for student self-discipline.
The successful candidate in this role will use EL Education's Core Practices as the classroom's foundation to ensure remarkable academic achievement, character development, and community involvement for all students. At EMSA, students and teachers will reach their highest potential through active exploratory learning and social responsibility in which:
Children's natural curiosity is nurtured
Teachers and students hold high standards
Diversity is a fact, Inclusion is a behavior, Equity is the outcome
Work collaboratively with all members of the learning community to build relational trust and foster a growth mindset for all through modeling by taking professional risks, owning mistakes, and being metacognitive about their own growth and revision
Model EMSA's habits of scholarship in word and action and effectively build a positive classroom culture that promotes self-discipline
Assume primary responsibility for increasing student achievement (i.e. mastery of knowledge and skills, character, and high quality work) by designing and implementing cross-curricular units of study that integrate literacy instruction and utilize active pedagogy
Create a collaborative student-centered classroom that promotes differentiated instruction to increase student growth and enhance school culture
Challenge, engage, inspire and empower all students with the Wow & Wonder of EL Education
Design lesson plans that allow for flexible, uninterrupted blocks of time that foster deeper learning, content-based literacy, project-based learning, fieldwork, and student presentations for authentic audiences
Engage in professional learning and implement a progressive, bold educational approach to fostering EL Education's Core Practices to inspire student success
Practice reflective and synthesizing professional practices to allow for a deeper understanding to manifest for implementation with the highest levels of fidelity
Establish clear and consistent assessment and progress monitoring techniques based on evidence to make instructional decisions to meet student's needs and further their growth
Cultivate strong partnerships with families; all words and actions demonstrate a commitment to inclusion, belief in all students' capacity to succeed and a desire to create an amicably beneficial situation for everyone
Actively engage families and the community with expeditionary outcomes and critique of authentic student work
Is committed to meeting the needs of every child in a diverse population and has demonstrated success working with low income and minority students
Believes every child can learn and reach high levels of academic achievement
Has a clear understanding of curriculum, instruction, assessment child development, and the integration of and adherence to state standards
Believes children can make a significant contribution to the school, community, and the world
Wants to be part of an organized, professional learning community
Is a self-starter interested in working in a fast-paced, startup environment that requires flexible roles
The EMSA Special Education Teacher is responsible for, but not limited to:
Collaborating with EMSA classroom teachers to develop and implement cross-curricular units of study which utilize active pedagogy and expeditionary learning in a multi-age classroom
Differentiating or modifying instruction within the classroom to support students with special needs
Employing special education strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory and perceptual motor skills, language, cognition and memory
Conferring with parents, administration, teacher, and the social worker to develop individual education plans designed to promote students' educational, physical, and social development
Maintaining accurate and complete student records, and preparing reports on children and activities, as required by law
Establishing clear objective for all lessons, units, and projects and communicating those to students, parents and staff
Remaining current in research as it applies to both subject matter and pedagogy/student disabilities
Understanding the typical developmental characteristics of the age group, as well as exceptions to the general patterns
Has a predetermined plan to assess whether presented material is understood using a variety of assessment techniques and uses the results to plan for future instruction of students and the development of IEP goals
Monitoring the progress of students in the curriculum with documentation and data collection for goals/objectives
Having knowledge of appropriate modifications and accommodations to meet the needs of students in the general education curriculum
Maintaining relationships with colleagues that are characterized by mutual support and cooperation, including co-teaching settings
Complying with all school policies and special education laws
Bachelor's degree in Education, three years teaching experience and proven success in instructional practice
Communication and interpersonal skills to engage in a highly collaborative school environment
Extensive knowledge and experience with special education rules, regulations and the required reporting
Background in EL Education and/or project-based deeper learning with content-based literacy
Fluent in Spanish
Expertise in working with English Language Learners
Anti-Discrimination Policy and Commitment to Diversity
We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization and want to engage all those who can contribute to this effort. EMSA provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees and prohibits discrimination with respect to the hiring or promotion of individuals, conditions of employment, disciplinary and discharge practices, or any other aspect of employment on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, disability, or any other factor which cannot lawful be used as a basis for an employment decision.