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Special Needs Teacher (Sikeston HS)

Sikeston, United States

Position Purpose: To provide a successful, safe and supervised special educational setting for a maximum of 10 children while they are in the Head Start environment. Encourage parent involvement in all aspects of the program. The Teacher will coordinate and implement a curriculum designed to promote Head Start School Readiness goals for children to facilitate transition into kindergarten. Must meet requirements per Federal Head Start Performance Standards and any local, state and/or agency policies and procedures.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

Prevention and Early Intervention/Disabilities Services

Supervise and monitor children at all times, ensure a safe environment at all times.

Participate in regularly scheduled team meetings to plan for and deliver collaborative services across all components.

Respond appropriately to crisis or emergency situations that may occur.

Coordinate with special needs staff in the classroom when indicated, developing a collaborative approach that benefits all children in the classroom.

Curriculum and Assessment

Develop and utilize integrated curriculum plans, which reflect mandated elements and components, parental and cultural influences, and promote the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of children.

Follow a consistent schedule, which includes small and large group experiences, self-select time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, meals, and effective transitions between activities.

Utilize Information Systems to support child/family and agency outcomes.

Ensure appropriate data is entered ongoing into the program’s software system or communicated and submitted to appropriate specialist concerning child and family records reporting required by Head Start Performance Standards.

Ensure all significant classroom concerns, parent contacts and home visits are routinely documented and stored appropriately.

Support Family Advocate in documentation regarding particular concerns with families and children at scheduled staffing’s.

Monitor and report child abuse and/or neglect.

Individualization

Adapt curriculum to address and meet individual goals for children as identified in their individualized education plans.

Assess individual and group needs, attending to special needs, specific interests, strengths and concerns, and parent-teacher conferences for all children.

Additional Job Responsibilities

Assist with breaks, food service, bus monitoring, meal counts, parent meetings, and other required program classroom needs as requested.

Attend meetings, training and appropriate professional development activities.

Incorporate into classroom professional practices the suggestions for improvement made by program management staff.

Assure general maintenance and security of the facility and assist with inventory of equipment and supplies.

Performs other duties as requested.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Special education eligibility criteria and procedural requirements of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Frequent significant decision and problem solving abilities.
Ability to work as a team member collaborating with staff, parents and community resources.
Ability to supervise pre-school children and ensure a safe/clean environment including the ability to monitor and respond to events going on at all times in classroom and outdoor play areas. This includes the physical ability to move quickly in order to respond to children who are very active and may need redirection in order to insure their safety or the safety of others in the environment.
Ability to apply developmentally appropriate practices to daily activities and adapt to the individual needs of children.
Ability to respond appropriately to an emergency or a crisis situation.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of all information relating to children, families, and staff.
Maintains knowledge of and compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, program policies and procedures, and service plans.
Ability to respect the diversity and culture of each child and family
Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with children and families served through the Head Start Program.
Ability to provide parents and public with appropriate literature and materials regarding Head Start and other community resources.
Ability to generate and document in-kind for the Center/Program.
Maintains respectful and professional demeanor with children, families, public, coworkers, and management.
Occasional driving for home visits sometimes in outlying areas.
Daily kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend to children's needs.
Occasional lifting up to 50 lbs.
Completes developmental screenings, assessments, child observations, and portfolios according to program policy and procedures.
Make appropriate referrals for developmental delays.
Develop with parent(s) educational and developmental goals for the child based on screenings and assessment, observations, and evaluations.
Arrive and depart work site on a timely basis.

Minimum Requirements:

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Educational requirements: Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education preferred. A Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education (Pre K) or an Associate’s Degree or higher that includes coursework equivalent to a major in Special Education is required. Transcripts are required to validate educational requirements.
Special Education Pre-school (ages 3-5) classroom teaching experience is required, two years is preferred. Experience should include the ability to adapt curriculum to meet the social/emotional and academic needs of the children.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

COMPUTER SKILLS

Intermediate to advanced computer skills, internet and e-mail.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Must have a valid Missouri Driver's License and proof of insurance and must provide own vehicle for home visits.
Within 30 days of employment must be Pediatric CPR & First Aid certified.
A completed physical is required at hire and will be updated annually.
At time of hire must be currently enrolled in Child Care Division-Central Background Registry and must renew every two years.

Great Benefits!

Employer Paid Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance
Employer subsidized retirement plan
Paid Holidays
Paid Sick and Vacation leave
Tuition support for ongoing training.

DAEOC is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy to comply with all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination in employment based on race, age, color, sex, religion, national origin or other protected classification.

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