Special Education Teacher

JOB GOAL                              

To give specialized academic and physical training to special needs students.

QUALIFICATIONS

Holds a valid Tennessee teacher's license with appropriate endorsement, has strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal skills; and meets health and physical requirements.

REPORTS TO               Building Principal

FLSA STATUS              Exempt

SCHEDULE                   200 Day 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Plans curriculum and prepares lessons and other materials, considering factors such as individual needs, abilities, learning levels, and physical limitations of students;
• Prepares for assigned classes and shows evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisor;
• Devises special teaching tools, techniques, and equipment;
• Provides intensive and systematic instruction according to each student's unique needs;
• Evaluates students using screening measures (i.e., Brigance, A.D.D. scales, vision screenings, hearing screenings, etc.);
• Grades and evaluates student performance, both written and demonstrative;
• Establishes guidelines for student behavior, monitors student behavior, and establishes and implements behavior modification programs;
• Maintains order in the classroom;
• Observes student behavior and performance within the regular classroom and provides consultative services to regular classroom teachers, as needed;
• Conducts IEP-team meetings and conferences with parents; plans, writes, and implements appropriate individualized education program (I.E.P.);
• Schedules student instruction and follows strict scheduling guidelines;
• Monitors and adjusts student programming as necessary;
• Counsels with parents and students;
• Knows and follows all safety rules and procedures;
• Maintains necessary records and completes the necessary paperwork;
• Administers diagnostic tests and evaluates student progress on a regular basis;
• Keeps attendance and grade records as required by the board of education;
• Observes students to detect signs of ill health or emotional disturbance and reports, as appropriate;
• Fosters cooperative social behavior; 
• Reports to the principal any reasonable suspicion that a student's health or welfare has been or appears to have been harmed as a result of abuse or neglect;
• Represents the school and the community in a positive manner;
• Complies with board policies, school rules, and administrative regulations; 
• Meets assigned classes in the locations and at the times designated;
• Attends work regularly and on-time;
• Participates in faculty and professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops; and 
• Performs other duties as assigned.

TEMPERAMENT (Personal Traits)

• Adaptability to performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure;
• Adaptability to accepting responsibility for the direction, control, and/or planning of an activity;
• Adaptability to working with students; and
• Adaptability to making generalizations, evaluations, or decisions based upon sensory or judgmental criteria.

CAPACITY AND ABILITY REQUIREMENTS

Specific capacities and abilities may be required of an individual in order to learn or perform adequately a task or job duty.

• Intelligence: The ability to understand instructions and underlying principles; the ability to reason and make judgments.
• Verbal: The ability to understand meanings of words and the ideas associated with them.
• Numerical: The ability to perform arithmetic operations quickly and accurately.
• Data Perception: The ability to understand and interpret information presented in the forms of graphs, charts, or tables.
• Spatial: The ability to comprehend forms in space and understand relationships of plane and solid objects.
• Manual Dexterity: The ability to move the hands easily and manipulate small objects with the fingers rapidly and accurately.
• Color Discrimination: The ability to perceive or to recognize similarities or differences in colors or shades or other values of the same color.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This job may require lifting or carrying of objects that exceed fifty (50) pounds, with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to twenty-five (25) pounds. Other physical demands that may be required are as follows: pushing and/or pulling, stooping and/or kneeling, reaching and/or handling, talking, hearing, seeing, and climbing.

WORK CONDITIONS

Normal working environment.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position.  They are not intended to be a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills of personnel so assigned.

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

The Wilson County Board of Education does not discriminate because of age, race, color, gender, national origin, disability, religion, genetics, creed, or veteran status in the provision of services, in programs or activities, or in employment opportunities or benefits.  The Wilson County School System is an Equal Opportunity Employer and member of TN Drug-Free Workplace.  Employees or applicants who need reasonable accommodations should contact Human Resources for assistance.