Special Education Teacher - AAC School

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• The Learning Zone at Real Life Colorado (RLC)
• Special Education Teacher - AAC School

Days : Monday - Friday

Days / Report times - Monday - Friday 7 : 30 am -3 : 30 pm

Compensation : $60,000 to $80,000 per year (DOE)

Time Off : Accrues stating day 1 plus holidays and standard school breaks

Benefits : Offers medical, dental, vision, life AD&D, STD / STD insurance, & 401k

Supervisor : Reports to the Director of Academics at Real Life Colorado

• About Learning Zone

The Learning Zone is an innovative academic program serving students with complex communication needs (CCN) and / or IDD who use speech generating devices (SGDs) to communicate. Run by experienced leaders with over a decade of experience in the field of special education and speech language pathology, the program is focused on a mission of providing the optimal learning environment for our unique student population and is dedicated to helping each student become literate and reach their full potential.

We are a collaborative team with a supportive culture and welcome all voices and ideas as we build this program. We are looking for people with a strong desire to approach education from a different perspective and contribute their knowledge and experience with a dedication to student success and outcomes.

Everything we do is based on research and best practices! The execution of daily instruction requires a creative and flexible mindset because our students’ needs vary. We are looking for team members excited to grow and evolve professionally within the organization and are eager to be part of this truly exciting opportunity!

• Job Summary

A Special Education Teacher will work closely and collaboratively with our team of educators and specialists to support the development and delivery of a comprehensive curriculum. Our academic program was designed and continues to be developed to meet the needs of our student population who have intellectual disabilities and utilize SGDs to communicate.

Responsibilities include creating and delivering individualized and differentiated curriculum across multiple disciplines. This role includes developing lessons, leading classroom instruction, creating / using assessment tools, regular data collection, and reporting on student progress.

All of what we do each day is focused on promoting access and engagement to academic curriculum to achieve positive student outcomes academically, socially, and communicatively. Curriculum is taught to small groups (typically academic rotation ratio is 1 : 2 average ratio) of students at the Learning Zone ranging in age from 7 to 15.

• Essential Job Functions
• Work closely with the Director of Academics to support the growing needs of the program and future success of the Learning Zone.
• Serve as a collaborative professional and "team player" with other educators and specialists in the organization.
• Assist with training, onboarding, and on-going professional development to teachers and classroom aides.
• Collaborate closely with speech-language pathologists and teachers to select appropriate curriculum that meets varying student needs and abilities.
• Work as a team with all relevant stakeholders to student success (i.e., PT / OT, SLP, parents, psychologist, BCBA, educators, aides) and integrate cross-disciplinary recommendations into daily routines and academic curriculum to support generalization and optimal learning environment.
• Become proficient using a speech generating device to support student learning (training provided).
• Design creative and engaging lessons incorporating a speech generating device.
• Develop and implement assessment plans to collect baseline data and conduct regular progress monitoring.
• Gather student data and articulate student growth in assessment reports.
• Implement a variety of teaching methods and student engagement strategies to ensure active participation and build student independence incorporating a talker and device icons into daily practice.
• Provide preventative and de-escalation behavior management strategies to support students exhibiting disruptive behaviors to maximize instructional time and minimize loss of time in academic settings.
• Develop an understanding of individual student needs and interests to make necessary modifications and accommodations to create accessible and engaging lessons.
• Promote a classroom environment that is safe and conducive to individualized and small group (2 students-5 students) instruction.
• Provide direction, guidance, and on the job training (feedback) to aides and utilize them effectively during instruction to support student learning.
• Promote the equity and appreciation of diverse students to ensure equitable opportunities for student learning.
• Support with the personal needs of students (toileting, lunch oversight, medical needs, etc.)
• Participate in required professional development as scheduled.
• Work collaboratively with public education school districts to maintain healthy relationships and support continued enrollment / placement at the Learning Zone.
• Facilitate positive peer interactions, communication, generalization of academic and life skills in large group settings.
• Communicate professionally and effectively with team members, families and support staff.
• Requirements
• Bachelor or Masters Degree in Special Education
• Active Special Education Teaching License
• 2+ years experience teaching students in Special Education
• Passion for students : A genuine desire to work with our student population and build strong connections and deep understandings of each child individually.
• Flexibility and patience : Ability to adjust to changing schedules or plans as needed to meet students where they are on any given day. Must be able to jump in where needed and re-adjust based on program needs / changes quickly.
• Demonstrate the ability to remain calm, empathic, and supportive of students through challenging situations or times of dysregulation.
• Creative problem solving : Ability to try new strategies and / or identify potential solutions that align to the needs of students individually and as a group.
• Strong sense of initiative : Ability to identify and perform daily program / student assistance tasks with minimal prompting or oversight once trained.
• Team player : Must be committed to working as a cohesive group with co-workers and families. Demonstrating the ability to maintain a positive attitude and have a strong desire to contribute and collaborate on tasks big and small.
• Growth mindset : Willingness to learn new strategies and practices specifically designed for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities using a speech generating device and apply them when working with kids daily.
• Leadership mentality : Willing to take on new tasks and support staff as the organization grows and needs arise. You will be a critical team member contributing to the success of a young and rapidly growing organization.

_Real Life Colorado is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws._

_This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Learning Zone at Real Life Colorado makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time._

Job Type : Full-time

Pay : $60,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year

Benefits :
• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Ability to Commute :

• Littleton, CO 80123 (Required)

Ability to Relocate :

• Littleton, CO 80123 : Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location : In person