Teacher 20-21 Middle School Special Education Teacher
Job Description
About Great Oaks Charter Schools
At Great Oaks, students will shape the world, not be defined by it. Therefore, we believe that children learn best through a combination of project-based, authentic learning experiences, and direct instruction to support skill development and accelerate learning. Instruction and culture are grounded in our design principles of Mastery, Leadership, and Community. As part of the model, Great Oaks Americorps Fellows provide students with additional opportunities to engage in critical content, which helps to close academic achievement gaps and level the playing field. We are seeking talented, tenacious people who share our belief that all students deserve a high-quality education.
Great Oaks Design Principles
Mastery: For students to shape the world and not be defined by it, they must have deep knowledge and the ability to apply that to new contexts. Therefore, we emphasize hands-on, project-based curriculum and joyful teaching.
Leadership: The purpose of leadership is to support a vision of the world in which equity and justice are essential. Therefore, we offer leadership opportunities to students so that they can persist through challenges, plan proactively for their future, and collaborate with others.
Community: Community is predicated on the understanding that if it takes a village to raise a child, why not help raise the village. Therefore, we support the whole child in the development of healthy self-esteem and confidence through building deep relationships with others and themselves.
About Great Oaks Charter School – New York City
Great Oaks (GO) Charter School – New York opened in 2013 with a focus on serving a heterogeneous population of students. Currently, Great Oaks-New York City serves 300 students in grades 6-8. GO NYC is growing to serve students in grades 6-12 by adding one grade – level each year until we reach full enrollment. The first 9th-grade class is slated to start in 2021-2022.
Position Summary
Great teachers are at the heart of what we do and are the key to our students’ college/post-secondary success. The Special Education Teacher is responsible for ensuring that every student at Great Oaks is supported in their academic development. S/he will be responsible for maintaining records for students with special needs, participating in IEP implementation and evaluation, and co-teaching. S/he will be responsible for ensuring that students with special needs receive the proper accommodations within the classroom, during tutorial sessions, and throughout our building. S/he will also work closely with classroom teachers to analyze student results and work with teachers to make data-driven curricular decisions. Our most successful teachers are those who operate with a team mindset – we are all in this work together and it will take each and every one of us to achieve college success/post-secondary success for our students.
Outcomes:
Throughout the year, the Special Education Teacher will:
Ensure that the school is meeting the needs of all students by:
- Reviewing IEPs of incoming students and becoming knowledgeable about students’ recommended placements, services, and individual needs
- Ensuring that all general education teachers and tutors know and understand the needs of their students with special needs and appropriate accommodations to use
- Preparing for and participating in students’ IEP conferences
- Co-teaching with general education teachers to ensure students needs are met within the classroom
- Maintaining consistent communications with families regarding student progress
Maintain a strong classroom culture by:
- Setting a respectful and positive tone in the classroom
- Building relationships with students that communicate that succeeding in college/post-secondary is important, that the student can do it, and that we will not give up on a student
- Co-plan a rigorous curriculum and deliver strong instruction by:
- Using a multitude of instructional strategies in response to students’ individual needs
- Taking responsibility for student progress and constantly working to respond to students’ needs
Contribute to the creation of a data-driven culture by:
- Tracking and analyzing student data both publicly and internally to identify learning needs
- Using student achievement data to set ambitious goals for the students
- Planning and implementing strategies to achieve targets related to student learning outcomes
- Collaborating with other teachers to develop and revise curriculum based on assessment data
Competencies:
- “GRIT” – must have the ability to persevere and succeed at a challenging task
- Relationship-building – must show evidence of building and leveraging strong relationships
- Relentlessness – must be willing to do whatever it takes to constantly improve student achievement, including occasional evening and weekend commitments
- Communicate Effectively – must be able to clearly communicate with peers and supervisors
Qualifications:
- Teaching experience in an urban school with a proven track record of improving student achievement
- Special Education Certification issued by New York State
- A strong academic record with a bachelor’s degree from a competitive college or university required; advanced degree in the subject area preferred
- A strong belief that all students can succeed
- Exceptional ability to respond well to feedback and implement it immediately
Compensation
Great Oaks provides a competitive compensation and benefits package; exact compensation will vary based on experience and education.
General Information
This position is for the 2020-2021 school year and the successful candidate will start in the summer of 2020. Selected candidates will be contacted to set up an interview.
