Special Education Teacher
Job Description
Oak Hill School Mission: Through innovative educational approaches and social-emotional learning, Oak Hill School empowers students on the autism spectrum to realize their full potential.
Position/Job Title
Special Education Teacher
Classification
Exempt
Reporting Structure/Supervision
Directly Reports to Education Coordinator, Indirectly Reports to Director of School Programs, Directly Supervises Instructional Assistants
Job Description Reviews
Reformat/Review: April 2023
Position Overview
The Special Education Teacher leads the development and implementation of all individualized student education plans, assessments, remediation and integration of special services. Serves as lead in classroom program, in collaboration with support services and family communication.
Job Objective/Purpose
Provide exceptional special education instruction in the OHS classroom. Provide leadership and guidance for the development and implementation of student programs.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Actively participate in the implementation of the mission, vision and goals of Oak Hill School
Essential Duties & Responsibilities, Continued
- Lead and coordinate individualized special education program design and implementation
- Communicate effectively and work collaboratively with professional team members (Speech Language, Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, MH Therapist, and administration) as well as other school staff, parents and school district partners
- Effectively teach students with a range of learning and language abilities
- Understand, support and manage student-centered behavior strategies and data collection
- Support student independence through teaching adult living skills, vocational activities and self care
- Manage, supervise and direct classroom Instructional Assistants
- Attend (IEP, teacher, family, staff) meetings as necessary
- Establish and maintain an effective rapport with students
- Manage all aspects of required, student related documentation: IEPs, progress reports, parent communication, and behavior data collection and presentation
- Facilitate and maintain a positive, welcoming classroom environment conducive to maximizing learning
Qualifications
- Current California special education teacher credential with appropriate certifications
- Familiarity with CA Dept. of Ed. procedures and requirements
- Knowledge of California Common Core Standards of education
- At least 3 years teaching experience
- Past experience with student data collection and interpretation including the development and implementation of behavior plans
- Assess, develop and implement individual education plans (IEP)
- Ability to motivate and engage students to develop needed skills for a positive school experience
- Work collaboratively with a team of professionals and parents
- Able to give and receive, support and feedback
Skills and Instructional Strategies Desired
Knowledge/Job Specific Competencies
- Use research-based, age appropriate teaching methods to achieve identified student objectives as well as motivate and engage students
- Ability to individualize student instruction by using a variety of strategies and materials to meet the needs of students
- Capacity to accommodate diverse learning styles
- Ability to utilize Google Suite
Skills and Instructional Strategies Desired, Continued
- Ability to work collaboratively in a relationship-centered environment
- Ability to multitask
- High level of integrity and honesty
- Articulate and clear communicator
- Team player
- Adaptable and flexible
- Professional and diplomatic
- Excellent judgment
Physical Requirements
Working and engaging/playing with students at Oak Hill School require a considerable amount of strength and physical movement. Employees must be able to perform the following movement functions as needed:
Regularly
- Sitting - Resting position in which the body weight is supported primarily by the buttoks in contact with teh ground or a horizontal object such as a chair seat.
- Exert - up to 20 lbs. of force to move objects or equipment and to work/play with students.
- Motor Skills - Picking, pinching or otherwise working primarily with fingers as in handling, typing or writing.
Frequently
- Standing - Remaining upright on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time.
- Walking/Running - Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances for community outings or moving from one classroom/office to another. Running is required for potential emergency situations.
- Reaching - extending the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
- Exert - up to 40 lbs of force to move objects or equipment and to work/play with students.
- Handling - Seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with hand(s).
Occasionally
- Lifting - Up to 25 lbs. raising objects from a lower to higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position.
- Exert - Up to 80 lbs of force to move objects, equipment and to work/play with students.
- Climbing - Ascending or descending stairs, ramps or hills using feet and legs.
- Balancing - Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling.
- Stooping - Bending body downward and forward.
- Kneeling - Bending legs at knees to come to rest on knee or knees.
Physical Requirements, Continued
Occasionally, Continued
- Crouching - Bending body downward and forward by bending legs and spine.
- Crawling - Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
- Pushing - Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
- Pulling - Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in sustained motion.
Important: An Oak Hill School student may exhibit behaviors such as aggression (e.g. biting, kicking, hitting), property destruction, self-injurious behavior, screaming, etc. Due to the potential safety risk for staff and students associated with working with those who may engage in behaviors of concern, all staff are required to be certified by the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) to handle potentially dangerous situations and work to prevent crisis situations and/or hazards associated with those who engage in behaviors that pose a safety risk. Staff will not be allowed to perform Nonviolent Physical Crisis Intervention or any type of physical management unless they have received the initial CPI training/certification through Oak Hill School.
The CPI program is a safe, non-harmful behavior management system designed to aid staff members in maintaining the best possible Care, Welfare, Safety and Security for agitated or our of control individuals even during their most violent moments. In the event that a students requires physical management because he/she poses a serious imminent safety risk to him/herself and/or others, Nonviolent Physical Crisis Intervention will be used as a last resort.
Terms of Employment
Employment at Oak Hill School is based on mutual consent, and both the employee and Oak Hill School have the right to terminate employment “at will”, with or without cause or advanced notice.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $51,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
Work Location: In person