Special Education Teacher - Autism School

SUMMARY:

Responsible for designing and implementing a multi-sensory individualized educational plan (IEP) for each child in a self-contained classroom with up to 12 students or up to 14 students in the high school; and maintaining a classroom environment that is conducive to effective individual diagnosis, prescription, correction and evaluation.

JOB DUTIES:

• Reviews prior records of students in order to identify specific educational needs
• Participates in IEP meetings in order to develop an educational plan that is also supportive of the student's therapeutic program; periodically assesses and reports accomplishments relative to IEP.
• Works cooperatively within the multi-disciplinary milieu, therapeutic treatment setting with psychologists, child care staff, parents, various therapists and others to develop, implement, and facilitate each student's overall treatment plan and IEP.
• Administers formal and informal assessments to determine baseline levels of functioning and measure student progress.
• Utilizes current teaching methods and strategies to design lesson plans that will engage students in the learning process; ensures opportunities for all students to actively participate in the learning process; assigns homework that can be accomplished independently by the students.
• Prepares lesson plans weekly for review of Principal; ensures plans are sufficiently detailed for substitute staff to follow in the event of an absence; ensures lessons comply with course of study from the local school district and the California State Frameworks.
• Develops and implements effective behavior management techniques appropriate for students with autism and commensurate with the Agency's therapeutic and positive reinforcement philosophies; maintains a structured, organized and safe educational environment with posted classroom rules and schedules; models appropriate behaviors.
• Develops and maintains individual and classroom records including progress reports, daily attendance records, formal educational assessments, and transcripts in accordance with school policies; ensures confidentiality is maintained; prepares daily student evaluation reports relative to academic and behavioral performance for information and use by child care staff, parents, and others when working with the student after school.
• Counsels students on classes required to meet graduation standards, as appropriate.
• Participates in Student Study Team to identify ways to remediate and enrich academic learning and behavioral growth for each student.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

In the course of performing this job, the incumbent typically spends time standing, walking on sloped/hilly areas of campus, carrying, driving, lifting (up to 40 pounds), listening, speaking, reaching, writing, and participating in restraint procedures.

Qualifications

• Special Education Credential or credential eligible
• Demonstrated skill in working with children with autism
• Demonstrated skill in behavior management
• Demonstrated skill in curriculum development
• Ability to pass and utilize Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (CPI) within three months of hire
• Ability to pass and utilize First Aid and CPR certification within three months of hire
• Very effective oral and written communications