Our Belief in the Importance of Teachers
At Legacy Prep, you will have the support to grow, the freedom to innovate, and you will never stop learning. You will be part of a community of game-changing educators who are creating new generational legacies for historically underserved youth in Birmingham, Alabama. We believe teachers are the soul of a school. We believe they should be treated as the professionals that they are. Teachers have the hardest and most rewarding jobs in the world and we believe in the power teachers hold to give students the opportunities to shine.
Position Overview
The Special Education Teacher will lead supports for Special Education and English Language Learner (ELL) students to help them fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, physical and social growth. The Special Education Teacher will provide critical guidance to Lead Teachers to ensure that all staff are complying with and meeting the needs of Special Education and ELL students. Please note that we envision utilizing an inclusion model for Kindergarten and 1st grades and a combination of inclusion and small group pull-out model for grades 2nd through 4th.
Primary Roles and Responsibilities
Curriculum, Development, and Instruction
Adapt and execute a rigorous, standards-aligned curriculum and assess students’ progress
Develop academically rigorous lessons, adapt unit plans, rubrics, and assessments
Use data to inform instructional decisions
Provide students with daily feedback on mastery performance in character and academics and plan for individual learning needs
Demonstrate strong pedagogy
The inclusion SPED teacher will co-teach alongside a general education teacher in an inclusionoom setting to support all students in theoom. The inclusion teacher will co-plan and deliver lessons that incorporate multiple learning modalities, adapt and modify instruction, and create strategies and meaningful interventions to support students’ learning
Commitment to School andoom Culture
Work collaboratively with your school team
Create aoom environment that is conducive to learning and is developmentally appropriate to the maturity and interests of the students
Help develop a school-wide culture that best fits the needs of our students, teachers, and families
Attend and participate in all staff meetings and communicate openly with staff
Develop positive rapport with students
Create and foster a positive and calm learning environment
Model and uphold the school’s values, student management policies, and culture
Family Engagement and Empowerment
Establish and maintain strong communication lines with all parents and share progress about both character and academics
Be available for open houses, parent-teacher conferences and other events involving families and the community
Make him/herself available to students, parents and other staff members
Conduct home visits to build strong relationships with students and parents
Data, Feedback, and Constant Learning
Pursue challenging professional goals each year
Offer support and receive constructive feedback from colleagues in order to create a professional working atmosphere that is conducive to change and growth
Participate in school-wide and individual professional development, including both over the summer and weekly during the academic year (held during school hours)
Seek to constantly develop and improve teaching practices through ongoing feedback conversations with School Leaders and other school faculty within Legacy Prep
Participate in coaching and professional growth opportunities to improve your instructional practice and support others to improve their craft
Additional Requirements
Be accessible by phone for student emergencies beyond regular school hours
Coordinate and lead field lessons and expeditions both in and out of state to extend student learning
Participate in daily duties (i.e. breakfast, lunch, dismissal) to support school operations
Assist with both student and staff recruitment
Maintain accurate records, grade book, and data tracking systems
Commit to Professional Learning, Development, and Growth
Actively engage in instructional coaching and professional development aimed at improving your practice
Employment Qualifications
Education
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year educational institution (master’s degree preferred)
Experience
Alabama teacher certification in special education (required)
At least two years of special education teaching experience (highly preferred)
Experience working in an educationally and/or economically disadvantaged community (highly preferred)
Demonstrated success in raising the achievement levels of traditionally under-served students (highly preferred)
Skillset
Candidates for this position must have a passion for special education and must be familiar with backwards planning in order to develop the curriculum and differentiation strategies in order to accommodate students with different levels of speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills
Experience teaching via an innovative instructional model (preferred)
A track record of success in theoom, with data that you can explain
Execute our core instructional model, leading high-quality literacy, problem-solving, and social-emotional lessons from the Legacy Prep curriculum
Gap-closing teaching experience with proven record of student growth
Expertise and a passion for teaching at an elementary level and possess a strong desire to grow as a teacher
Utilize data to inform instruction, intervention, and acceleration (personalize the learning experience for all kids)
Mindset
Value the importance of working in a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment
Exhibit a growth mindset as an educator and lifelong learner
Effectively collaborate with others
A collaborative attitude toward teaching and learning
Capability to effectively build, develop and maintain strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders (e.g., students, teachers, administration, clinical team, families, and outside agencies)
Ability to self-direct and prioritize among competing goals, exhibit flexibility, and drive results in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
The ability to be flexible in a new school environment where things change all the time
Adept at thinking strategically/analytically, translating plans into action, and exhibiting excellent judgment
Excellent written and oral communication skills, and presentation skills with keen attention to detail; ability to invest stakeholders in student goals
A solution-oriented mindset and ability to bring a new lens to challenging problems
Be present and willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that all students are on track lives of choice and opportunity
Be willing to work an extended school day and year
Zest, grit, hope, curiosity, social and emotional intelligence, gratitude, self-control, and a sense of humor