Position Summary
The Special Education Teacher is responsible for planning, delivering, and assessing instruction for students with significant social, emotional, and behavioral needs, including students diagnosed with autism or who display characteristics and needs associated with autism, in a self-contained 8:1+1 special class setting. Students in the program may demonstrate significant needs related to social communication, social-emotional development, emotional regulation, behavior, executive functioning skills, and/or accessing the general education curriculum, while potentially demonstrating a range of academic abilities.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Instruction and Curriculum
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Develop and implement individualized, standards-based instruction aligned with New York State Learning Standards and IEP goals.
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Provide differentiated and specially designed instruction that allows students to access grade-level academic content.
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Integrate social-emotional learning (SEL), executive functioning skills, and coping strategies into daily instruction.
Behavioral and Emotional Support
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Establish and maintain a highly structured and predictable classroom environment.
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Implement positive behavior interventions and supports, and behavior intervention plans (BIPs).
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Collect and analyze behavioral data to monitor progress and adjust interventions as needed.
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Support students in de-escalation, self-regulation, and conflict resolution.
IEP and Compliance Responsibilities
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Develop, implement, and monitor IEP goals and objectives.
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Maintain accurate documentation, progress monitoring, and required special education records.
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Participate in CSE meetings, annual reviews, and reevaluations.
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Communicate regularly with families regarding student progress and needs.
Collaboration and Teamwork
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Effectively supervise and collaborate with teacher aide(s) assigned to the 8:1+1 classroom.
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Coordinate with related service providers to support integrated service delivery.
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Collaborate with general education staff to support inclusion opportunities when appropriate.
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Maintain open communication with administrators and support staff.