Life Skills Special Education Teacher - Full Time (1.0 FTE) - Moore Middle School (GHOST POSTING DA)

Job Description

Life Skills Special Education Teacher - Full Time (1.0 FTE) - Moore Middle School

The Life Skills Special Education Teacher will provide specially designed instruction in a Middle School Life Skills classroom to students on Individual Education Plans. They will also provide consultation and collaboration with related service providers and general education teachers on a regular basis regarding students' educational needs, accommodations, and modifications.

Successfully leading a team of program staff is required, as is the ability to create positive relationships with students, parents, and colleagues. Previous experience as a special educator, particularly in an FLS or other specialized program, as well as experience with special education case management responsibilities (such as conducting IEP meetings and writing IEPs and Written Notices), is highly preferred.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Serves as the special education case manager for the students served on their caseload. Maintains accurate and complete records as required by law, PPS policy and administrative regulation.
• Creates a classroom environment that provides for student involvement in the learning process and enables each student to achieve learning objectives.
• Provides instructional programming to meet the needs of all students including students with disabilities.
• Establishes learning objectives consistent with an appraisal of student needs, requirements of PPS curricula framework, and knowledge of human growth and development.
• Takes all necessary and safety precautions to protect students, equipment, materials and facilities.
• Establishes relationships with colleagues, students, parents and community which reflect recognition of and respect for every individual.
• Appraises their own effectiveness and demonstrates successful application of skills and information acquired to increase effectiveness. Strives to maintain and improve professional competence.
• Participates in school management and shares responsibility for the total school program.
• Attends staff meetings and serves on staff committees as required. Performs related work as required.

Professional Knowledge:

• Demonstrated ability to develop working knowledge of PPS curriculum, techniques for integrating curriculum, PPS policies, and effective instructional practices.
• Ability to develop and deliver standards-based, specially designed instruction (SDI) across curricular disciplines and grade levels.
• Ability to lead therapeutic, instructional team via collaborative processes
• Understanding of the teaching/learning process for students with disabilities, specifically students within the functional life skills classroom.
• Ability to provide instruction that reflects multiple perspectives and multicultural education.
• Ability to infuse technology into curricula.
• Ability to work effectively with administrators, colleagues, central office and school based staff, students, parents and community.
• Excellent oral and written communication and human relations skills.

• Willingness to reflect on personal implicit bias and a commitment to challenging personal perspectives and deepening self-awareness.
• Knowledge of positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS).
• Preferred qualifications: experience working with behavioral disabilities, experience with standards-based experiential and/or expeditionary learning

Education, training and experience:

• Bachelor's degree in an applicable field of special education from an accredited college or university.
• Experience with Acuity, Google suite, preferred
• Certified in CPI and/or SafetyCare or able to be certified.
• Combinations of applicable education, training, and experience, which provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform effectively in the position, will determine salary.

Certificate and license requirements:

• Maine State fingerprint (CHRC) authorization. Website: Fingerprinting | Department of Education
• Maine State Teacher - Severe Impaired (K-12) 286 certificate or Special Education teacher (K-8) 282 certificate. Website: https://www.maine.gov/doe/cert/application

Welcome to ATX Learning

Maine's largest school system has 10 elementary schools, three middle schools and four high schools serving nearly 7,000 students in kindergarten through grade 12 and about 4,700 adult learners. The district takes full advantage of its location in a vibrant city with a thriving arts life. Schools draw on the resources offered by museums, theaters, local businesses and the city's colleges and universities. Portland has a highly trained teaching staff. Many teachers hold advanced degrees. All of the district's teachers continue their education by pursuing professional development activities on a regular basis. The district provides technology to support instruction, including laptops for each student in grades seven through 12 and wireless access at all schools. Volunteers, parent-teacher organizations and businesses donate generously of their time and money to the district - an estimated 100,000 hours per year. Graduates of the Portland Public Schools attend the country's top colleges and universities. See www.portlandschools.org for colleges attended by recent graduates. The Portland Public Schools gives parents an array of program choices. The district as one of the first in the country to offer project-based Expeditionary Learning from kindergarten through 12th grade. High school students have access to one of the broadest selections of Advanced Placement courses in Maine. Qualified high school students may take up to two college courses with tuition paid by the state. A regional arts and technology high school provides hands-on courses in growth fields such as health care, robotics and "green" construction. More than 60 languages are spoken by students attending the Portland Public Schools. Multilingual students represent about a quarter of the district's enrollment. The district's diversity prepares all students for their roles as world citizens. Portland residents can pursue lifelong learning and professional success through the academic, jobs skills and enrichment courses offered by Portland Adult Education. Most of Portland's middle and high school students participate actively in co-curricular activities such as athletics, drama, music and service clubs. Portland students regularly excel in academic and athletic competitions at the regional, state and even national level. See a list of recent honors, awards and recognition for the Portland Public Schools at: www.portlandschools.org. Join Portland ME Public Schools on Facebook. A focus on service learning-- connecting the schools to the wider community-results in students undertaking many projects that benefit greater Portland.