Special Education Teacher and Coordinator
Prospect Academy
Job Title: Special Education Teacher and Coordinator
Department: Leadership, Teaching
Reports To: Principal
Position Summary:
This is a unique opportunity for an experienced Special Education teacher ready to take the next step in their career and add leadership responsibilities. The Special Education Teacher and Coordinator plays a vital leadership role in ensuring the provision of high-quality special education services and supports for students with disabilities. This position requires an understanding of special education regulations, compliance, and best practices. The Coordinator will provide guidance and support to building-level administrators, the special education team, and related service providers to enhance student achievement and ensure appropriate programming and service delivery. This role also involves responsibilities in the IEP process, data management, progress monitoring, and facilitating smooth transitions for students.
About Prospect Academy:
Prospect Academy is a public charter school that opened in August 2022 that believes that all students can achieve their highest potential, regardless of diagnosis or learning difference. The primary focus of the school is serving students who have diagnoses of autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, Attention-Hyperactivity Deficit Disorder (ADHD), and other learning differences. We believe in being data driven with sensitive measurement systems in our approach and instructional sequence, and empower students to use data to make decisions for themselves, leading to greater self-management, awareness, and increased executive functioning skills. We partner with students and families to co-create our learning environments, and believe in actively breaking down systems and structures that have led to inequities, racism, and ableism. Our school includes embedded social-emotional learning and robust wraparound support services for students.
Prospect Academy is located at 5592 Independence Street in Arvada, Colorado, but serves students from around the Denver metropolitan area.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Student Supports, Planning, and Program Management:
- Create and implement structures for teams and staff to ensure quality programming in alignment with regulations
- Ensure compliance with all district, state, and federal special education regulations
- Develop and deliver professional development for special education staff
- Assist in data collection and analysis to inform special education initiatives
- Oversee new 504 evaluations, facilitate 504 meetings, and ensure appropriate documentation
- Understand and apply MTSS practices for accurate identification of students with support needs
- Provide ELL program support in collaboration with ELL Coordinator
- Serve as GT coordinator and provide G/T program support in collaboration with other staff
- Oversee creation of behavior intervention plans
- Oversee Transition Services for students moving to high school, including family connections, high school collaboration, and transfer meetings and for students coming into Prospect from other schools
- Support Extended School Year (ESY) program implementation, documentation and necessary notices.
- Support accommodation planning for testing events (MAPS, CMAS, etc.), in partnership with Director of Assessment
- Coordinate and support Manifestation Determination procedures and DOR notifications.
- Teach 2 classes of either math or reading to small groups of students, supporting their specialized instruction.
Organization and Compliance:
- Maintain accurate organization of student data and Information related to special education and student supports
- Ensure accurate data transfer according to state requirements within the Infinite Campus and Enrich system
- Ensure accurate documentation in Google Drive and SmartVault, adhering to record-keeping and signature retrieval requirements.
- Understand and implement the Procedural Manual and IEP guidelines, including adherence to all IEP and 504 date requirements, including those for annual meetings, evaluations, transfers, progress reporting, etc.
- Manage data collection processes specific to special education and file transfers.
- Understand and communicate CDE licensure requirements for specialized staff.
- Apply LRE principles and programming as it applies to Prospect Academy
Leadership and Supervision:
- Provide knowledge, guidance, and support to building teams and Student Support Services staff to improve outcomes for students with learning and behavioral challenges, Collaborate with, coach, and educate special education teams on developing high-quality specialized support and appropriate opportunities for students with disabilities
- Provide leadership and support for IEP meetings and ensure quality IEP development.
- Ensure compliance and implementation of student service needs for Student Support Services professionals (e.g. SLP, OT, PT, etc.)
- Model strong collaboration, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
- Provide expertise in instructional practices and legal issues related to special education as necessary.
- Establish and monitor a supervisory and accountability structure for special education and support staff.
Education and Related Work Experience:
- Masters degree in Special Education or a related field is preferred; bachelors is required.
- Experience in administration, special education, or a related field is required.
- Teaching or other experience working with students with significant academic learning and/or social/emotional needs is required.
- Knowledge or experience in special education regulation, compliance, and applicable law is required.
Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications:
- Colorado Special Education Teacher or Special Services Provider License is required