Easterseals Academy is a therapeutic school that provides schooling for children with an autism spectrum disorder, emotional disability, developmental delay, or intellectual disability. School districts refer students to Easterseals Academy where the schools provide an alternative school placement for these students to help them to achieve independence. Easterseals Academy has three campuses, located in Chicago, Machesney Park, and Tinley Park.

For more information about our organization, please visit us online at www.eastersealschicago.org.

The primary responsibility of the Special Education Teacher is to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of each student while engaging each student in working toward his/her IEP goals and academic standards to show progress. The Special Education Teacher is accountable for the development, implementation, and monitoring of all aspects of classroom programming to ensure the implementation of student IEPs and student growth.  

$3,000 SIGN ON BONUS!

This position is located at the Easterseals Academy - Tinley Park Campus at 17300 Ozark Avenue, Tinley Park, IL 60477.

MAJOR FUNCTIONS/ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Classroom Leadership/Student Instruction:

• Develop weekly lesson plans in alignment with student IEP goals and referencing student assessments.
• Arrange for and perform activities, materials, and prompting hierarchies that relate to the IEP goals.

Compliance:

• Perform and submit formal assessments at least 10 days prior to each student’s annual review, but not earlier than 30 days prior.
• Develop, in collaboration with team members, appropriate IEP goals based on assessment results 10 days prior to the annual review.
• Update and provide data-based quarterly progress reports and IEP benchmarks.
• Maintain and update all required components to student main files.
• Participate in student IEP/MDC meetings throughout the school year.
• Participate in review meetings for students as necessary throughout the school year.

Communication and Collaboration:

• Conduct weekly meetings with paraprofessional staff members to outline student goal support and instructional/behavioral strategies. Document weekly meetings and present minutes to administration.
• Collaborate with administration and clinical teams to develop and implement strategies that support student progress and meeting IEP goals.
• Notify the administration of the onset of unacceptable performance of classroom staff.
• Communicate as needed, but at least weekly, with parents via confidential approved means such as the Remind App regarding the ongoing performance of students and other updates relevant to the school and classroom

Supervision:

• Mentor, direct, support, and evaluate classroom and 1:1 aides to support students in making progress on IEP goals and accessing instructional materials, as well as collecting data relevant to student goals. Inform annual evaluation, in partnership with administration for each paraprofessional working within the Teacher’s classroom.

Training and Development:

• Engage in needs assessments and surveys related to ongoing professional development for the Academy.
• Attend all Academy-wide training and bring the material back to classroom practice by implementing the training.
• Adhere to all mandated reporters and OIG guidelines at all times

All other duties as assigned

Education/Certification:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and Illinois State Type 10 teaching certificate or LBS1 (limited or unlimited) or;
• Bachelor’s Degree and an Illinois State teaching certificate in an area of regular education, and a Special Education endorsement, letter of approval, or a short-term emergency letter of approval.

Experience Required:

• Completion of required clinical hours for teaching degree/certificate.
• Experience working with special needs populations is necessary.

Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to perform all functions necessary to obtain certification in Professional Crisis Management training (PCM) and CPR
• Ability to perform all functions necessary to obtain full certification in Professional Crisis Management (Practitioner 2)
• Ability to multi-task in a high-stress environment
• Ability to interact with diverse personalities

ADA: Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to possess the ability to perform the physical tasks necessary to treat clients, i.e., bending, floor-sitting, etc., as well as to have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.

**Outstanding Benefits Package **

Comprehensive Healthcare

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for select plans available to you and your eligible dependents

Excellent Insurance Protection

• Employer-paid life insurance and AD&D coverage
• Long-term disability insurance at no cost to you
• Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work-life balance support

Exceptional Career Growth

• Up to $40,000 in eligible education reimbursement to fuel your professional development

Generous Retirement Benefits

• Automatic 3% non-elective contribution to your 401(k) - no match required
• Additional dollar-for-dollar match up to 3% - earn up to 6% of total employer contribution

Work-Life Balance

• 13 paid holidays to enjoy time with family and friends
• Flexible PTO policy that respects your need for rest and rejuvenation

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