Teacher Special Education Teacher
Job Description
Wissahickon Charter School (WCS) is seeking a special education teacher for the current school year for our Awbury Campus to support 7th and 8th grade students in English. Special education teachers are responsible for ensuring that students progress academically and socially in the classroom, as measured by achievement on Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals. The special education teacher must be committed to improving the knowledge and skills of students with disabilities and must be relentless in their efforts to address the wide range of learning styles, needs and interests of students. The ideal candidate will have special education teaching experience in an inclusive, urban school and will thrive in a collaborative work environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement IEP’s that translate into measurable success for students
- Establish and maintain a learning environment that excites, invests, and motivates students to achieve academic and behavioral expectations
- Design and facilitate modified, differentiated unit and lesson plans that are aligned with WCS’ curriculum
- Support general education teachers’ work to include students with special needs
- Implement remedial education as needed
- Work collaboratively with the Director of Learning Support, grade teams, teaching assistants, and other staff to support student growth
- Consistently implement WCS’ student management practices within the classroom and throughout school
- Mentor and coach students on self-regulation and organizational skills
- Establish and maintain relationships with families through regular communication, updates and opportunities for involvement
- Monitor student progress and use data to drive instruction and behavior interventions
- Exemplify WCS’ CARES values in all interactions with students, families and colleagues
- Seek out and be receptive to feedback with the goal of improving instructional and culture-building skills
- Participate in all professional development, team planning and data analysis meetings
- Assume other duties as assigned by the administrative team
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred
- Current PA Special Education teacher certification required
- Experience working with students with various disabilities in an inclusive setting
- Prior teaching experience in a Title 1 school a plus
- Strong knowledge of instructional strategies for students with disabilities
- Solid technology skills and the ability to learn new technologies quickly
- Instructional and classroom management skills, with a record of increasing academic and behavioral growth for students with special needs
- Skilled at collaborating with others
- Flexible and able to adjust priorities and strategies in order to meet the changing needs of the team and of students
- High level of personal organization, planning, and follow-through and comfort with autonomy
- Strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to effectively communicate with students, families, supervisors and colleagues
- Knowledge of Pennsylvania and Common Core Standards
- Familiarity/experience with Responsive Classroom approach a plus
- Receptiveness to feedback, positive attitude, and a desire to continuously improve
- PA Criminal Record Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance, FBI clearance and proof of a negative TB test
- Willing and able to comply with all of WCS’ COVID-19 safety protocols
- Belief in Wissahickon Charter Schools’ mission and the belief that all children can learn and succeed
About Wissahickon Charter School
Wissahickon Charter School’s first campus, Fernhill, opened in 2002 and serves 480 K-8 students from across Philadelphia. Our second K-8 campus, Awbury, opened in the fall of 2014. The mission of Wissahickon Charter School (WCS) is to provide a community of learning that stimulates and builds the child’s intellectual, social, and character development. Wissahickon Charter Schools are planned around three essential elements: an environmental focus that allows students to experience the curriculum, recognition of service learning projects as key in students’ success, and an emphasis on parents as partners in the learning experiences of their children.
