Teacher Academic & Behavior Specialist
Job Description
Academic & Behavior Specialist
Mott Haven Academy Charter School (Haven Academy) was founded in 2008 and currently serves students in grades Pre-K through 6. As the first charter school in the country specifically designed to meet the needs of children in the child welfare system, Haven Academy is a one of a kind place that offers passionate educators an opportunity to make a difference in today’s educational landscape.
Located just two stops from Manhattan in the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx, our unique educational model combines rigorous, data-driven instruction with a variety of on-site social-emotional supports for our distinctive population of general community and child welfare students. Haven Academy is expanding to middle school grades with a target launch date of the 2017-2018 school year. We plan to add one grade per year until we reach full capacity at grade 8. In preparation for this expansion, we are seeking an Academic & Behavior Specialist. This role is an integral part of the school’s educational program. In addition to planning and supporting individualized instruction and intervention plans for students in the classroom, the Academic & Behavior Specialist will collaborate and consult with classroom teachers and other academic and social emotional support staff to meet the needs of individual students in the classroom as well as the greater school environment. This role includes planning time in July and August.
Our outstanding educators are provided with unmatched opportunities for rewarding professional growth, are committed to using data to improve student results, possess exceptional professionalism, and embrace our school’s belief that all students, regardless of economic status or family structure, are entitled to learn in a system that gives them the best chance for success. Join our team as we pave the way for children in foster care in our groundbreaking academic program.
Responsibilities:
- Assess students identified with a learning or social emotional need and collaborate with teachers and other support staff to develop and implement classroom and/or greater school environment intervention plans, accommodations, and/or modifications
- Collaborate with teachers and other support staff to track intervention plan, accommodation, and/or modification data for effectiveness and adjust plan as needed
- Stay current in best practices for Special Education and Inclusion classrooms
- Provide staff development in areas such as learning disability and behavior disorder awareness, positive behavior support, crisis intervention, and the effects of trauma on learning
- Participate in Haven Academy Student Update Meetings (SUM)
- Respond to periods of student crisis, outbursts and/or emotional tantrums, and follow up with all involved to develop support plans to minimize incidents
- When appropriate, collaborate with Social Worker and families to develop strategies for increasing academic and/or social emotional skills
- Attend Family Team Conference (FTC) meetings at Foster Care agencies as needed
- Ensure that student records, child welfare status, and family details are kept confidential and are only discussed with school employees when relevant
- Encourage students’ positive interactions with other students and adults
- Value and promote peaceful conflict resolution and creative and authentic problem solving; Uphold the school’s system of logical consequences;engage in effective and appropriate classroom management
- Participate in a variety of staff development programs, including a yearly individualized professional development plan, two-week summer PD, and individual PD sessions
- Uphold and promote the school’s mission and vision
- Perform other duties as needed to support the ongoing development of Haven Academy (e.g. Lunch and/or recess peace-keeping, crisis intervention, etc)
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in educational leadership, education, special education, or related field
- Minimum two years full-time classroom teaching experience in an urban setting
- Proven track record of raising student achievement scores in an urban environment
- Strong desire to work within an innovative, urban educational program
- Excellent oral and written communication/interpersonal skills as well as a desire to collaborate with various stakeholders to help develop a whole-school community
- Experience managing and developing family leadership
- Outstanding instructional skills, including the ability to motivate and challenge students
- Demonstrated ability to create and maintain a warm and orderly environment
- A strong sense of personal accountability for student achievement
- Unwavering conviction that all students can learn at a high level
