Special Education Teacher - Early Childhood (Preschool)

POSITION SUMMARY :

An early childhood special education preschool teacher works with students who receive special education services and their developmental peers in an inclusive environment.

The classroom setting will meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities such as autism, developmental delays, and health impairments.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive. Some incumbents may not perform all the duties listed while in other cases related duties may also be assigned.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Develop and maintain compliant individual education plans (IEPs) and other compliance documents.
• Develop, implement, and adjust appropriate programming to provide access to a student’s least restrictive environment (LRE).
• Provide interventions and systematic purposeful instruction at students’ instructional levels, linking district initiatives and grade level expectations to IEPs.
• Coordinate with general education teachers to address students’ instructional needs in order to support further involvement in core instruction.
• Design and implement intervention based on student assessment and evaluation.
• Collect and utilize data and frequent ongoing progress monitoring systems to inform instructional decisions or revisions.
• Design and implement appropriate accommodations and modifications.
• Train and supervise paraeducators.

The preceding list of responsibilities is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS :

Education and Experience

A current Washington state teaching certificate with an early childhood special education endorsement

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS :

Provide medical or health services such as catheterization, diapering, toileting, feeding, tube feeding, and assisting students with other activities involving self-care, as required

Work scheduled hours on a consistent basis

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS :

Training or experience in serving students with moderate to severe disabilities

Proficiency in conducting functional behavior assessments and developing behavior intervention plans

Bilingual

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT :

Criminal background clearance

Washington state driver’s license and proof of insurance

Possess and maintain a current district-approved CPR / First Aid card within 90 days of employment. District approved courses must include hands-on and written exam

Successfully complete the FWPS district-approved Right Response training at the advanced level at the next available time;

maintain current certification at the advanced level through an annual recertification class

KNOWLEDGE OF :

Special education laws

School board policies and procedures

Computer systems and various software programs

Evidence-based classroom and behavior management practices

ABILITY TO :

Plan, implement, and evaluate individualized programs for students

Establish and maintain effective working relationship with staff, parents, and community members

Skill in operating a computer and ability to learn and use various software programs

Work effectively under varying levels of pressure

Intervene in situations of imminent likelihood of serious harm using district approved Right Response techniques, including de-escalation strategies and restraint when needed

Comply with school board policies and follow administrative procedures

Organize and perform job responsibilities efficiently and independently without close supervision and able to pay strict attention to detail

Communicate effectively through spoken and written word; read and follow written or verbal communications

Practice effective safety and security within individual work routines

Develop and maintain positive relationships with staff and service providers

Work collaboratively with District staff and promote teamwork with co-workers

Practice ethical and professional standards of conduct including the requirements of confidentiality

Relate effectively with parents, staff, students and community members in a multicultural and multiracial community

Perform job responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodations

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES RELATED TO CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND EQUITY :

Knowledge / awareness of own cultural identity and how this influences behavior, and desire to learn about the cultural identity of others.

Ability to establish and nurture an environment that promotes cultural competence and equitable treatment of staff, students, and patrons of the District.

Ability to understand and hold self and others accountable for promoting the Federal Way Public Schools’ commitment to Each Scholar : A Voice. A Dream. A Bright Future.

Ability to recognize that each person is a unique individual even as we celebrate their group cultural heritage.

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.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will frequently be required to reach, bend, stoop, squat, kneel, handle / grasp, talk, and hear.

The employee will occasionally be required to stand, walk, sit, climb stairs, lift and reach overhead, twist torso and neck, and fine motor manipulation.

The employee will occasionally be required to lift / carry a maximum of 50 pounds. The employee will occasionally be required to push / pull a maximum weight of 100 pounds.

Anything over the weight limits will be performed as a two-person lift or with a mechanical lift.

WORK ENVIRONMENT : The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this 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 regularly works in indoor conditions and regularly works near video display.

The employee will experience constant interruptions; required to meet deadlines. The employee will be exposed to infectious diseases carried by students and exposed to unpredictable students who may grab or bite.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

WORK SCHEDULE

This position has a school year schedule.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP

Position reports to, and is evaluated by, a building administrator, department director, or designee.

REPRESENTATION

Federal Way Education Association (FWEA)

LEVEL OF COMPENSATION

Federal Way Education Association (FWEA) Salary Schedule.

This position includes the following benefits prorated based on FTE Medical, dental vision, wellness leave, life insurance, retirement, professional development dollars.

CLASSIFICATION HISTORY

Update 12 / 2015

Update 1 / 2017

Updated Right Response language 07 / 2017

Disclaimer

The preceding list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the scope of responsibility and the level of knowledge and skills typically required, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements, skills or duties so classified.

All personnel may be required to perform duties outside their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed.

All employment open positions are made available on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or veteran status.

Job descriptions are written as a representative list of the ADA essential duties performed by the entire classification.

They cannot include, and are not intended to include, every possible activity and task performed by every specific employee.