High School Special Education Teacher (2021-2022)
DSST Public Schools (DSST) seeks a Special Education Teacher to join one of the leading charter school organizations in the nation. We serve 6-12th grade students across Denver and Aurora. Our mission is to transform urban public education by eliminating educational inequity and preparing all students for success in college and the 21st century.
We believe a diverse, equitable and inclusive team leads to innovation, which allows us to better support our students, families, and the community – regardless of background, experience, social and/or cultural identity. DSST aims to be an inclusive & equitable workplace by valuing race, gender, sexual orientation and all aspects of individual identities. When reading this job description, we hope you feel energized by what you see, feel and hear. If you believe you could bring passion and commitment to the role but aren't sure you meet every qualification, please apply! Above all, we are looking for people who believe in our mission to eliminate educational inequity.
Overview of Position:
DSST Public Schools seeks teachers with the potential for and a track-record of raising student achievement to join a team of educators dedicated to providing a rigorous college preparatory program to a diverse population*. At DSST teachers are leaders who play an integral role in ensuring student success through the promotion of cultures of difference, developing and instructing a rigorous core curriculum that is responsive, relevant, and youth informed, and using data to analyze and drive their daily practice.
*Please visit our website to better understand the demographics of each of DSST’s campuses.
Essential Functions:
Instruction
- Plan and complete intellectual prep for co-teaching, push-in and pull-out classes.
- Lead team in providing appropriate accommodations and modifications and ensuring consistency with implementation.
- Focus constantly on student learning, thinking critically and strategically to respond to the needs of exceptional learners.
- Ensure that students with disabilities receive a high number of learning at bats and practice opportunities in all classrooms.
- Design and administer rigorous, standards-based assessments and use assessment data to refine curriculum and instruction.
- Ensure students with disabilities receive all modifications and accommodations on assessments, including district and classroom-specific assessments
- Monitor student progress by assessing and reporting on individualized education goals.
Collaboration and Communication
- Provide each general education teacher with information regarding each student’s disability and unique needs.
- Collaborate with colleagues to ensure that students are receiving all IEP mandated services.
- Consult with and support grade level teammates to ensure students receive accommodations and modifications in all classes.
- Attend house/grade level meetings at least once a month and advocate for student needs.
Case Management
- Lead team in managing services for students on their caseload.
- Develop and implement students’ IEPs including progress monitoring IEP goals.
- Complete all IEPs and evaluations before Annual or Triennial deadlines.
- Complete progress reports by the end of each trimester and send home copies to families.
- Build strong relationships with students and families through frequent contact and support.
Culture
- Collaborate with each student’s advisor to serve as a second trusted adult for students on their caseload by being a go-to and point person for the student as well as the family.
- Advocate for the needs of students on their caseload and inclusive practices schoolwide.
- Collaborate with culture leaders to educate all staff on how to best support students with disabilities so all staff feel equipped to support our students.
School Life
- Model, live, and reinforce the school’s core values and policies inside and outside the classroom.
- Build strong relationships with colleagues and leadership.
- Provide feedback and coaching to center program paraprofessionals and staff.
- Model inclusionary practices and facilitate problem solving to enhance inclusion.
- Perform as an advisor to a group of advisees by overseeing their academic and student life. This responsibility includes taking attendance, holding regular conferences, meeting with advisee’s parents and communicating with students and parents regularly, leading reading circles, overseeing digital portfolios, and overseeing advisory competition activities.
Professional Development
- Participate in weekly feedback sessions with an instructional coach.
- Devote the necessary time and energy required to master the craft of teaching. To be open to innovative approaches to teaching and to feedback from colleagues and school administration.
- Actively participate in the school’s professional development programs including data analysis and planning, leading and participating in best practice sessions, peer coaching, and attending conferences.
Additional Duties:
School Life
- Model, live, and reinforce the school’s core values and policies inside and outside the classroom with colleagues, students, parents, and the larger community
- Serve as a recruiter for new students; actively engage prospective families in an effort to draw more students to choose your school; be willing to take on additional tasks to support recruitment, as needed
- Student Advisor
- Serve as an advisor to a small group of advisees by overseeing their academic and student life
- Taking attendance
- If applicable, leading reading and culture circles
- Leading weekly Advisory activities and lessons
- Meeting & communicating with families regularly
- Holding regular academic and behavioral conferences
- Checking homework completion
Grade level teammate
- Participate in weekly meetings to support student culture and academics for the whole grade
- Participate in data tracking and observations for students via Multi-tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS)
- Participate in planning and execution of grade level events
Weekly Staff Meetings
- Participate in weekly whole school staff meetings to support school culture and teacher initiatives
- Participate in planning and proctoring extra teacher responsibilities throughout the week, as needed
- Lunch Duty, Morning Duty, After School Duty, Enrichment, Academic Interventions (College Prep, Mandatory Tutoring), Hallway duty, etc.
- Behavioral Support Intervention (depending on campus)
- Refocus, silent lunch, core values point system, etc.
- Act as a substitute teacher if necessary
- College Prep
- Mandatory Tutoring
- Behavioral Support Intervention
- Refocus
**There may be additional duties depending on the DSST campus**
Job Requirements
Candidates are required to have a Bachelor's Degree.
Applicants for Special Education teaching positions must meet the following requirements:
Have both a teaching license and a special education endorsement:
Type of License:
- A7- Special Education Teacher in Residence
- ATL- Alternative Teacher License
- ATLW- Alternative Teacher License Waiver
- INTL- Initial Teacher License
- PFTL- Professional Teacher License
- PFTM- Professional Teacher License- Master
AND
License Endorsement:
- Special Education Generalist
- Special Education Specialist
- Teacher 1-Moderate Needs
- Teacher- Educationally Handicapped (EH)
Applicants for teaching positions in core subject areas should generally meet the following requirements:
Commitments:
Commitment to Equity
- We believe that if we actively commit to equitable and inclusive practices aligned to our mission and values, our students and staff will achieve at high levels.
Commitment to Continuous Growth
- We believe that if we foster our own growth mindsets, our students and staff will develop a commitment to continuous improvement and thus maximize their potential.
Commitment to Healthy Team
- We believe that if we commit to modeling and fostering healthy teams, our students and staff will achieve a collective success that surpasses that of the individuals
Drives to Results
- We believe if we strategically develop systems and people with a driven sense of urgency and focus on results, our students and staff will achieve ambitious goals.
Classification: Exempt
Reports to: School Director
Compensation and Benefits:
Starting salary for this position will be between $46,000- $61,000 and is commensurate with experience*
*Final salary may be adjusted based on years of experience in a relevant, aligned role of similar level and responsibilities up to 6 years of experience.
DSST Public Schools is committed to providing our staff with benefit offerings that empower each of our employees to make the choices that best meet their individualized and personal needs while also keeping cost in mind.
DSST Benefit highlights include:
• Paid leave beginning from day one
• Instant access to benefits concierge for medical, dental, vision, appointment booking, and online doctor consultations etc.
• KISX Card assistance with high cost/low incidence surgeries, procedures, and major imaging
• Aflac supplemental insurance to help with out-of-pocket expenses not covered by insurance
• Employee Assistance and Counseling Support
• Annual Health Savings account (HSA) gift from DSST Public Schools
• Access to additional discounts through our benefit partners exclusively for DSST staff.
• Two Dental Plan options offered through Aetna
*Candidates placed in Aurora Science & Tech. will be eligible for a PERA Retirement Plan
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 this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is active and may require standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, and crouching throughout the day. The employee must lift and/or move items up to 30 pounds. The employee must have sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate a computer keyboard and other office equipment. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.