Position Type: UMEA (PDE Cert or Licensure Required)/Teacher - Special Education (Learning Support)Date Posted: 9/9/2024Location: Upper Moreland Middle SchoolClosing Date: 09/16/2024Position: Middle School Special Education Teacher- Long-term Substitute (September- March) Department: Assigned Building Reports to: Assigned Building Principal FLSA Status: Exempt - Upper Moreland Education Association Schedule: Full Time, 7.5 hours/day, (September -March) MISSION STATEMENT: The Upper Moreland Township School District is an educational institution working in partnership with the community to provide all students with educational opportunities to develop knowledge, skills, behaviors, and habits of mind necessary for excellence and success as critical thinkers, as caring and confident individuals, and as contributing members of society. The District reflects the shared values of a diverse community of stakeholders and focuses on student success socially, emotionally, physically, and academically. Students of the Upper Moreland Township School District will be provided with the foundation and skills necessary to excel in the exciting, complex, and interdependent world in which they live. SUMMARY: The Special Education Teacher (K-12) works with students who have learning, cognitive, social/emotional, and/or physical disabilities, and adapts general education lessons and subjects to guide and encourage students to develop and fulfill their academic potential. Work is performed under the supervision of the Principal and/or Special Education Supervisor. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following: (Other appropriate duties may be assigned.)
- Creates a classroom and/or instructional environment that is attractive, safe, supportive, and conducive to learning and appropriate to the maturity, interest, and abilities of students. Risk-taking is encouraged, students feel free to contribute their ideas, and teacher and student interactions are respectful and polite to promote a positive learning environment for all students.
- Creates a classroom and/or instructional environment that have materials in good condition and accessible to students, including but not limited to creating educational bulletin boards, web pages, parent/student newsletters, and other similar communication vehicles consistent with district practice.
- Use relevant technology to support and differentiate instruction.
- Provide research-based specialized instruction to address the instructional goals and objectives contained within each student's IEP.
- Teaches District approved curriculum.
- Teaches skills and knowledge of subject matter in accordance with the requirements of approved courses of study using District curriculum and other appropriate learning activities.
- Guides the learning process toward the achievement of established District curriculum goals and establishes and communicates clear objectives to the students for all lessons, units, and projects.
- Strives by instruction and action to employ the District's philosophy of education, instructional goals and objectives, and performance expectations.
- Encourage and monitor the progress of individual students and use information to adjust teaching strategies.
- Assess student progress and determines the need for additional reinforcement or adjustments to instructional techniques.
- Prepares for classes and shows written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisor.
- Develops lesson plans and instructional materials and employs a variety of instructional techniques and teaching strategies to meet different aptitudes, interests and abilities of students, including current technology and whole-group/small-group learning.
- Translates lesson plans into developmentally appropriate learning experiences to best utilize the available time for instruction.
- Designs activities to engage students in cognitively challenging work aligned to standards.
- Employ various teaching techniques, methods and principles of learning to enable students to meet their IEP goals.
- Manages allotted learning time to maximize student achievement.
- Uses resources that will promote high levels of learning and student engagement in the classroom environment.
- Reflects on practice and student work to determine what went well and what changes could improve instruction and uses reflection to inform future instruction.
- Assesses students' academic and social growth on a regular basis, keeps appropriate records and prepares progress reports as required, and communicates with parents as deemed necessary or when directed by the principal.
- Maintains accurate, complete, and correct records as required by the District Policy, Administrative Policy, and Pennsylvania law.
- Closely monitors student learning in order to understand how students are progressing toward the learning objectives and provides age-appropriate communication with students on instructional expectation and keeps them informed of their progress in meeting those standards.
- Seeks the support of district specialists when concern regarding student progress arises. Cooperates with other professional staff members in assessing and developing strategies to help students solve health, attitude, and learning problems.
- Follows the District multi-tiered system of supports and develops strategies for individual education plans.
- Develops a code of conduct for the classroom which is consistent with established Administrative
- Polices and develops rules of classroom behavior which are enforced in a fair and just manner.
- Provides clear behavior expectations for students and monitors student behavior throughout the class and school.
- Communicates regularly with parents/guardians during and outside normal classroom day to create partnership around student learning by means of newsletters, notes, phone calls, conferences, and other means to discuss student's progress and the school program.
- Develop and implement annual Individualized Educational Program (IEP) plans for students to include: present levels of educational performance, special education needs, instructional goals and objectives, and the special education and related services required to meet those goals.
- Facilitates and attends IEP, or other related meetings necessary for student assessment and/or compliance with federal and/or state law.
- Schedule team meetings and work cooperatively with child study team members and others in developing instructional goals and strategies.
- Coordinate the delivery of special education services in each student's IEP.
- Responsible for implementing IEP, complying with all legal documents, and ensuring that individual student needs are being met.
- Attends district department and faculty meetings and serves on district committees as required.
- Attends established traditional school-sponsored activities (i.e.: back-to-school night, open house, and other activities customarily attended by classroom teachers and/or faculty members).
- Actively participates in building or district educational experiences such as science fairs, mathematics competitions, programs associated with the arts and other student activities.
- Participates in curriculum related and programmatic activities that are a part of the regular District program, including but not limited to field trips or overnight camping trips that have been historically part of the school curriculum and programming.
- Participates in in-services and staff development activities and staff meetings as required or assigned.
- Maintains an ongoing program of professional growth that satisfies District requirements but also satisfies personal expectation as a professional.
- Provides, when appropriate, information and recommendations (verbal and written) when requested for student placement, course selection, awards, scholarships and in pursuit of other academic, extra- curricular endeavors or employment.
- Collaborate and consult with educational professionals and community service providers (i.e., social services, public health, medical providers etc.) regarding the needs of students.
- Provide consultation to classroom teachers regarding classroom adaptions, instructional modifications, adaptive equipment, behavior modification plans and other similar instructional interventions to meet the needs of students with disabilities.
- Establishes partnerships with the community as appropriate in support of the academic program.
- Demonstrates professionalism and adheres to the Professional Code of Conduct.
- Administers group standardized tests in accordance with District testing program.
- Plans and coordinates the work of paraprofessionals, parents/guardians, and volunteers in the classroom and on field trips.
- Selects and requisitions books and instructional materials.
- Follows established policies and procedures for reporting incidents (e.g., child abuse, substance abuse,
- harassment, and violence).
- Other duties as assigned by the Building Principal and/or Administration.
QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Bachelor's degree in teaching from an accredited institution or related field teaching
- Pennsylvania Certification in teaching in the appropriate subject area or areas
- Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others
- Ability to communicate orally and in writing
- Must have the ability to report to work on a regular and punctual basis
- Perform all other related work delegated or required to accomplish the objectives of the total school program
- Knowledge and implementation of relevant technology
- Meet professional teacher education requirements of the school, District, and state
- Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, operate a computer, hand-held learning devices and other office equipment, reach with hands and arms, and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds
- Must successfully complete and maintain compliance with all federal and state background and criminal record check requirements.
- Candidate must adhere to all local, state, federal, and school code requirements for employment.
- The position holder must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. It is the responsibility of the employee to inform the Director of Human Resources of any and all reasonable accommodations that will be required.
Upper Moreland Township School District shall not discriminate in their educational programs, activities or employment practices based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, veteran status, ancestry, genetic information, or any other legally protected classification. This policy is in accordance with state and federal laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. Information relative to special accommodation, grievance procedure, and the designated responsible official for compliance with Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504 may be obtained by contacting the school district.