Special Education Teacher (General Curriculum)

Job Summary

To provide direct and consultative instructional and behavioral support to students in accordance with their Individualized Education Program.

Essential Duties

1. Complies with all School Board Policies and State Laws relative to special education or general education classroom operations.
2. Maintains confidentiality of the students in their care, including student records, as well as student actions and behaviors in the school environment.
3. Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.
4. Instruct students in academic subjects using a variety of techniques such as phonetics, multi-sensory learning, and repetition to reinforce learning and to meet students' varying needs and interests.
5. Teach socially acceptable behavior, as determined by the students’ individualized education programs (IEPs) by employing techniques in an overall positive behavioral support system.
6. Modify the general education curriculum for students with disabilities based upon a variety of instructional techniques and technologies.
7. Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
8. To select appropriate diagnostic tools, be familiar with administrative procedures, and be able to interpret results for parents and professionals.
9. Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining an environment conducive to learning for all students.
10. Meet with parents to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their individualized educational needs.
11. Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, and other professionals to develop individualized education programs (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, and social/emotional development.
12. Maintain accurate and complete student records and prepare reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
13. Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students.
14. Develop plans for effective communication, monitoring, and follow-up of students in inclusive classroom settings.
15. Provide crisis intervention, as needed, for students and those in inclusive classrooms.
16. Assist in collection of data for providing appropriate classroom interventions.
17. Serve as a member of a multidisciplinary team as appropriate.
18. Continued professional development in order to stay up to date in the development of education for students with disabilities and to continue professional growth in their field of education.
19. Maintain professional competence by participating in staff development activities, curriculum development meetings, and other professional opportunities.
20. Performs other duties as the supervising administrator may assign.

Job Specifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The

requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable

accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified, to perform the essential functions.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and/or Abilities Required)

A valid Virginia teaching license in the area of teaching responsibility and successful student teaching or teaching experience required.  Knowledge of medical aspects of the children with disabilities and the implication for instruction is required.  Knowledge of resources and techniques needed to integrate the children with disabilities into the least restrictive environment.  Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the School Board or Superintendent may find appropriate and acceptable.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time; exhibit manual dexterity, hear and understand speech at normal levels; speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly; physical agility to lift up to 25 pounds; to bend, stoop, climb stairs, walk and reach overhead.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. The Special Education Teacher will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other related duties as assigned by the Principal or appropriate administrator. Bedford County Public Schools reserves the right to update, revise or change this job description and related duties at any time.