Hybrid Special Education (Elementary Emotional Support) at Whitehall-Coplay School District

Special education teachers participate as members of the instructional staff in directing the learning experiences of students.  Special education teachers work toward attaining the general and specific objectives developed in each student’s Individual Educational Program. Teachers report to the building principal or to the assistant principal for tasks assigned to teachers.  Direction for the instructional program is determined by a multidisciplinary team, which includes other staff members who teach the student.  Special education teachers work coordinately with specialists as well as other teachers.

Qualifications:

1. Certification: Pennsylvania special education certification PK-12

Functions/Duties/Responsibilities:

1. Planning for Teaching
   The special education teacher has the responsibility to:

1. Plan long and short-range objectives for each student and write an Individual Educational Program (IEP) for each student assigned to the special education classroom.
2. Meet with the multidisciplinary team, parents, and students to develop this IEP.
3. Meet with parents to approve the IEP and provide an evaluation on the student’s progress during previous IEPs.
4. Select and use a variety of materials and provide appropriate learning experiences considering both the subject matter and the development of the child.
5. Collect information about assigned students that will help in planning appropriate learning experiences.
6. Work cooperatively with any regular education teacher who is assigned exceptional/special education student
    

2. Motivating Students:
   The special education teacher has the responsibility to:
   1. Present learning experiences in a manner which motivates learning.
   2. Establish standards for individual students in terms of each student’s ability and need.
   3. Use appropriate activities to develop each student’s IEP.

3. Developing and Managing Classroom Climate
   The special education teacher has the responsibility to:

1. Create an atmosphere conducive to the individual, social and emotional development of the students.
2. Control the behavior and activities of the students in order that these goals can be obtained.

4. Interacting with Students
   The special education teacher has the responsibility to help students achieve the learning objectives by interacting with the student in generalizations and concept formation.

5. Evaluating Students
   The special education teacher has the responsibility to:

1. Determine the nature and extent of direction needed to attain goals.
2. Evaluate performance according to the objectives and tasks established in the IEP.

6. Clerical
   The special education teacher has the responsibility to:
   1. Perform those clerical duties assigned by the building principal, which are necessary to operate an instructional program in the school.
   2. Determine the grades of students and report these to the parents through the reporting system adopted by the district.
   3. Report the attendance of students as directed by the administration.

7. Miscellaneous
   The special education teacher has the responsibility to:

1. Serve in various monitoring capacities, attend evening programs, faculty meetings, in-service programs, and serve on district and building committees as established by the Teachers Association Agreement and district policy.
2. Participate in appropriate professional organizations and continue professional growth by attending conferences, workshops, reading, or by attending graduate school.

Special Assignments

Within his/her own area of expertise, the teacher may be assigned tasks by the building principal or Director of Pupil Services.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear.  The employee may regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Must be able to hear (40 decibel maximum) and verbally communicate.

Work Environment:

The noise level in this environment is quiet to loud, depending on the activity in the particular part of the day.

The information contained in this position description is in compliance with state and federal law (ADA, EEOC).

Terms of Employment:

Salary, work year, and other terms and conditions of employment as established by contract between Whitehall-Coplay School District, Superintendent, and the Whitehall-Coplay School District Board of Directors.

Physical Requirements which are requisite to complete the functions/duties/responsibilities listed above 

1. Ability to stand, bend, stoop, sit, lift, reach, communicate (vision, hearing, and speech), carry, or convey sufficient weight to safely and effectively carry out functions, duties, and responsibilities.  
2. Ability to independently ambulate in and around school buildings and office areas.  
3. Ability to travel to and from assigned work locations without employer support.  

This job description may be updated and/or altered at the sole discretion of the employer.  

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary function/ duty/responsibility at acceptable standards as set by the employer. In accordance with both state and/or federal law, reasonable accommodations will be considered upon employee request.