Teacher, Early Childhood Special Education

Bay-Arenac ISD Position Description

JOB TITLE:           Teacher, Special Education – Early Childhood

DEPARTMENT:  Special Education

REPORTS TO:      Director, Early Childhood

PREPARED BY:   Gretchen Wagner                          DATE: 06/19/2024                        FTE:  1

APPROVED BY:  Becky Smith                                     DATE: 06/19/2024

SUMMARY

Responsible for planning instruction and/or adaptation of the education program to enable students to benefit from their educational experiences.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Provide a basic core program for assigned students.
• Compile and maintain attendance, behavior, achievement, and health records consistent with current established policy.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of special education rules and procedures.
• Prepare written reports and recommendations for IFSP/IEP meetings.
• Work cooperatively with staff to coordinate goals and objectives.
• Schedule and attend meetings with students, parents, and staff as necessary.
• Individualize instruction to meet the varying needs of students and caregivers.
• Plan and deliver instruction consistent with the local, state, and federal established curriculum.
• Maintain and apply knowledge of current research regarding student development, behavior management, and learning theory.
• Evaluate and monitor student progress through subjective and objective means including written work, test performance, and personal observation. 
• Provide parents and students with clear and consistent feedback regarding student progress.
• Maintain and encourage open lines of communication with parents.
• Establish and maintain a physical and social classroom and home environment conducive to learning. 
• Assist students and parents in establishing educational goals consistent with student aptitudes, abilities, and preferences.
• Assist in screening, evaluating, and recommending placements of students in various programs and/or services.
• Prepare reports, records, observation records, and other miscellaneous forms.
• Organize, plan, and monitor activities for instructional support staff and others.
• Adapt teaching methods to keep pace with current best practices.
• Maintain appropriate certification.
• Works as part of a team in a primary service provider model, in which the team member will be required to work on all aspects of a child’s development and utilizes other team members for support and guidance. 
• Actively participates in all team meetings to build personal capacity and ensure all families benefit from the team approach.
• Directs instruction to parents by providing meaningful coaching to facilitate the skills necessary to support their child’s development.
• Participates in co-visits with other staff to learn from and/or support staff and family needs.
• Is flexible with respect to work schedule including days, hours, and dosage in order to meet the federal timelines and support family’s needs when learning a new skill.
• Is an early interventionist with specialized training and expertise in a specific area(s). 
• Demonstrates a strong foundation and understanding of early childhood development across domains. Is an asset to the team, bringing knowledge and experience and sharing expertise. 
• Pursues appropriate professional development for his/her discipline as well as best practices in early childhood and demonstrates ability to share that knowledge with the team. 
• Organized and able to work independently.
• Be present in buildings with regular and continued attendance and punctuality.
• Follow all Board Policies, Staff Handbook and Administrative Guidelines.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: 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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor of Arts degree in education; Valid Teaching Certificate with ZS or both an Early Childhood endorsement and Special Education endorsement.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Valid driver’s license.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups, clients, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:  

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of algebra and geometry.  Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY:  

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:

Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program; ability to plan and implement lessons based on program and district objectives and the needs and abilities of students to whom assigned.  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, parents and community; ability to speak clear and concisely in written or oral communication.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently sitting and standing while performing the duties of this job. The employee may occasionally bend or twist at the neck and back while performing the duties of this job. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read typewritten material.  The employee may occasionally lift up to 50 pounds to assist students in bath rooming, positioning or to assist disruptive students and equipment and wheelchairs.

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 what would be found in a typical home or classroom environment.  The employee is frequently required to interact with the public, parents, and other staff.  The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being and work out- put of students.

Policy Against Discrimination and Retaliation (Title II, Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Section 504) 

The District Board of Education complies with all federal, state and local statutes and laws prohibiting discrimination and retaliation and expressly prohibits unlawful discrimination or unlawful retaliation in any form.  Specifically, Bay-Arenac ISD provides equal employment opportunity and treatment regardless of race, religion, color, gender, age, national origin, disability, height, weight, or any other orientation status protected by federal, state or local law.

Grievance Procedure:  If any person believes the Bay-Arenac ISD or any part of the school organization is in some way discriminating on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, handicap or disability, height, weight, marital status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law, in providing instructional opportunities, job placement assistance, employment practices, policies governing student conduct and attendance, or in any other services provided by the Bay-Arenac ISD, he/she may bring forward a complaint which shall be referred to as a grievance, to the Bay-Arenac ISD Civil Rights Coordinator at the following address:  Becky Smith, Director of Human Resources, Civil Rights Coordinator, Bay-Arenac ISD, 4228 Two Mile Road, Bay City, MI  48706, 989-667-3201.