SUMMARY:  Responsible for planning instruction and/or adoption of the education program to enable students to benefit from educational experiences.
 
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  Other duties may be assigned.

• Builds trust and confidence with students and staff.
• Plans curriculum, lessons, and special education programs and teaching methods.
• Maintains the physical environment of the classroom for organization and presentation purposes.
• Encourages good citizenship.
• Instructs individuals and groups on Special education skill areas.
• Monitors student progress in and outside resource room.
• Modifies curriculum as necessary.
• Maintains contact with parents of students and administration.
• Evaluates student progress based on work output and observation, determines goals, objectives and directions.
• Prepares report cards, educational records, IEPC forms, classroom observation records, Medicaid forms, and other forms.
• Participates in building and district-wide Special Education Committee Meetings.
• Administers testing evaluations.
• Works closely with other teachers to help the students maintain satisfactory classwork, homework, and behavior.
• Determines specific learning problems, skill deficiencies, or social adjustment difficulties of students and initiates remediation programs in these areas.
• Makes available a wide range of teaching materials and equipment, including reading materials at many levels, instructional games, resource materials, and the like.
• Counsels students in identifying and dealing with their academic and social problems.
• Provides opportunities for students to explore life and career goals.
• Helps parents to understand the specific problems of students with disabilities and the goals and operation of the program, apprising them of problems and progress.
• Keeps abreast of new developments in the field by reading journals and publications, attending professional society meetings, seminars, and the like, and discussing problems of mutual interest with others in the field.

 
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:  Supervises students and directs paraprofessionals as assigned.
 
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS:  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.
 
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:  Bachelors degree in education.  Two (2) years experience in Special Education preferred.
 
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:  Valid Michigan Teaching certificate with one or more special education endorsements.
 
LANGUAGE SKILLS:  Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of students, parents, staff, and the general public. 
 
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:  Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry.  Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.
 
REASONING ABILITY:  Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.  Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
 
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:  Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program; ability to plan and implement lessons based on division and school objectives and the needs and abilities of students to whom assigned.  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, parents and community; ability to speak clear and concisely in written and oral communication.
 
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 is regularly required to talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include peripheral vision.
 
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. 
 
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.  The employee is frequently required to interact with the public and other staff.  The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being and work output of students.
 
The information contained in this job description is in compliance with the Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position.  Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.