Job Summary
We are a company driven by our values excellence, possibility, leadership, service, celebration, and integrity. A Special Education Teacher coordinates the instructional programs, services, and plans of students with developmental disabilities and severe behavior problems in the school environment, sometimes in a one-to-one capacity.
As a Special Education Teacher, you will:
· Classroom Management: Provide research-based specialized instruction and execute educational programs to include structured activities, personalized training programs, and support planning. (Excellence)
· Student Development: Assess student progress and determine the need for additional reinforcement or adjustments to instructional techniques. (Celebration)
· Communication: Engage in clear, effective, and relevant written and verbal communication, relaying critical information, updates, and concerns in an interactive and customer service minded manner. (Possibility)
· Engagement: Interact directly with students to promote independence in the areas of communication, self-help, social skills, and functional living skills. Facilitate student participation, offer positive reinforcement, provide tailored support, collaborate with others, and ensure continuity of care. (Leadership)
· Safety and Health: Ensure the environment is safe and nurturing, intervene in crises, monitor health concerns, report incidents, and act swiftly in emergencies. (Integrity)
· People Management: Guide and direct team members to achieve individual and collective goals to ensure open communication, provide constructive feedback, and foster a supportive work environment conducive to professional growth. Uphold company policies, promote teamwork, and strive to maintain high levels of morale and productivity amongst all. (Leadership)
· Professional Responsibility: Adhere to code of conduct and company policies, review published communications, escalate concerns through chain of command, and ensure confidentiality. Other duties as assigned. (Integrity)
You are a great fit for this role if you have knowledge and abilities in:
· Dependability, reliability, responsibility and are highly ethical
· Emotional control and composure that allows you to quickly assess situations and make appropriate decisions, especially in emergencies
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to demonstrate interpersonal skills and effective listening techniques
· Attention to detail and strong organizational skills that allow you to multi-task effectively while being acutely aware of surroundings
· Exceptional customer service skills
· Collaborative teamwork skills to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.
· Proficiency with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Education and Experience:
SPED Teacher I
Required:
· Bachelor’s degree in related field
· Valid teaching license and credentials from the Kansas State Department of Education
· Valid Kansas drivers’ license
Preferred:
· CPR and First Aid Certification
· Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Certification
SPED Teacher II
Special Education Teacher I requirements plus:
· Master’s degree in related field required
Preferred:
· CPR and First Aid Certification
· Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Certification
SPED Teacher III
Special Education Teacher II requirements plus:
· Minimum 15 years of professional level teaching experience
Preferred:
· CPR and First Aid Certification
· Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Certification
· Leadership Certification/ License
Physical Requirements:
- Lifting: Up to 30 lbs. frequently; 50 lbs. rarely
- Carrying: 10-15 lbs. frequently; 50 lbs. seldom
- Sitting/Standing/Walking: sit rarely; stand constantly; walk frequently
- Climbing: rarely
- Bending/Twisting/Kneeling/Reaching: frequently
- Reaching: frequently
- Pushing/Pulling: 10-15 lbs. occasionally; 50 lbs. rarely
- Dexterity: constant hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity
- Stamina/Endurance: mild exertion frequently; heavy exertion occasionally
- Vision/Hearing: constant ability to see clearly and hear instructions or warnings
- Mind-Body Connection: frequent awareness of body positioning and task execution
Work Environment:
- Environment: Indoor and outdoor work environments
- Safety Compliance & PPE Requirements: Adherence to safety protocols and protective gear use constantly. Mandatory use of Heartspring standard PPE, with additional protective gear (e.g., gloves, helmets, arm guards, leg guards) provided as needed.
- Physical Interactions & Exposure Risks: Frequent exposure to physical interactions from clients, including slapping, hitting, punching, kicking, head-butting, and biting. Potential exposure to infectious diseases, parasites, bodily fluids, and blood-borne pathogens in a school and residential care setting.