2024-2025 Special Education Teacher
About us
The Lincoln Academy is a free K4-12 public charter school located in Beloit, Wisconsin, and will serve over 700 scholars during the 2024-2025 school year.
The Lincoln Academy has three pillars - Academic Rigor, Character Development and Career Exploration.
Academic Rigor: We will ensure all scholars are prepared with foundational skills. This will be accomplished through specifically designed curriculum, longer instructional day, interventions/enrichment, blended learning opportunities, strong professional development, coaching and a growth mindset expectation.
Character Development: A strong emphasis on character development and citizenship will build our school culture. Civic responsibility, service learning and community outreach will play an important role in developing character in our scholars. Restorative Practices and the Jubilee framework for character education will guide The Lincoln Academy in a joyous, collaborative and healthy school environment where all scholars thrive.
Career Exploration: Career exploration will begin in K4 and scholars will develop an Individualized Learning Plan by 8th grade to help guide them in their course selections in high school. Scholars will set career goals and be fully prepared to graduate high school. They will be able to have choices to enroll in a 2 or 4 year college or technical school, enlist in the armed forces or be employed in a living-wage job.
Vision: The Lincoln Academy will be the premier K4-12 school in the state of WI providing college and career pathways for scholars to lead happy, choice-filled lives. We are committed to an equitable environment with rigorous instruction, joyous interactions, and strong community partnerships.
Values:
Children First - Every decision we make is in the best interest of the scholars we serve. We are completely focused on their education and their well-being and we always act accordingly.
Trusting Community - We model and expect transparency, honesty, open communication and respect to collaborate with one another and push each other to always be our best.
Get it Done - We are fiercely determined to do whatever it takes to ensure scholars reach their goals. Innovation and productivity will drive our quest.
Find the Joy - The work is challenging. And in the face of those challenges, we choose joy. We choose positivity. We choose to find the wins. We choose to lift each other up.
Community Focus -We work alongside our families and community partners to build alliances that afford our scholars unique learning opportunities. Shared voices will be honored and help us grow.
Job Description
The Special Education Teacher is the person responsible for providing special education scholars with learning activities and experiences designed to help them fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, physical, and social growth. It is the expectation that this individual will work with the colleagues, parents, and scholars to create a school environment that is focused on scholar achievement, character and success beyond high school. The Lincoln Academy is a school where scholars and families are supported, while maintaining high expectations for all. The Special Education Teacher is expected to fully embrace the school’s methodology and uphold the high expectations of The Lincoln Academy. The Special Education Teacher will support an equitable environment with rigorous instruction, joyous interactions, and strong community partnerships. Though it is impossible to list all roles the Special Education Teacher will fill, specific job responsibilities include:
Essential Functions:
Collaborate with scholars, parents, and other members of staff to develop IEPs
Plan and lead IEP meetings
Maintain compliant IEPs
Write quarterly progress reports to IEP goals
Implement the Universal Design for Learning to differentiate instruction
Use the UDL resources in the school provided curriculum
Support people-first language with all staff
Hold the same high expectations for all scholars, while differentiating the ways to arrive at the goal
Maintain educational equity by writing IEPs to grade level standards
Provide IEPs At-A-Glance for content teachers
Implement an instructional, therapeutic, or skill development program for assigned scholars and show written evidence of preparation as required
Plan and use appropriate instructional and learning strategies, activities, materials, and equipment that reflect understanding of the learning styles and needs of scholars assigned
Work cooperatively with classroom teachers to modify regular curricula as needed and assist special education scholars in regular classes with assignments
Employ a variety of instructional techniques and media to meet the needs and capabilities of each scholar assigned
Conduct ongoing assessments of scholar achievement through formal and informal testing
Provide personal needs for scholars as stated in IEP
Create a classroom environment conducive to learning and appropriate for the physical, social, and emotional development of scholars
Manage scholar behavior, including BIPS
Intervene in crisis situations and physically restrain scholars as necessary according to IEP
Consult with classroom teachers regarding management of scholar behavior according to IEP
Consult district and outside resource people regarding education, social, medical, and personal needs of scholars
Establish and maintain open communication by conducting conferences with parents, scholars, administrators, and teachers
Use effective communication skills to present information accurately and clearly
Keep informed of and comply with federal, state, district, and school regulations and policies for special education teachers
Compile, maintain, and file all physical and computerized reports, records, and other documents required
Work closely with the special education coordinator
Maintain confidentiality
Other duties as requested
Skills/Attributes:
Strong working knowledge of IDEA requirements
Alignment with The Lincoln Academy’s vision and values
Strong people skills and leadership ability to develop a team environment
Belief in maintaining the bar for educational equity for learners at every ability level
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced setting with high expectations
Demonstrated professionalism and integrity
Strong critical thinking skills and strategic problem solving skills
An ability and passion to work with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds
A joyous attitude and drive for personal excellence
Strong organizational skills and ability to adapt to change quickly and efficiently
Interpersonal skills that encompass strong relationship building and communication
Ability to use technology and data to drive toward exceptional outcomes for scholars
Demonstrated strong work ethic
Adaptability in working with various age groups ranging from Kindergarten to high school
Commitment to professional growth and personal development
Requirements
Education
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in special education
Experience
Experience teaching in an urban setting preferred
Licensing
Appropriate license per State of Wisconsin requirements
Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting Certification required annually before first day with scholars
Physical Demands/Working Conditions: The majority of this job involves walking, sitting or standing necessary to observe classroom and school activities, mostly indoors. The ability to physically perform the duties and work in the school setting is required. Some conditions include:
Must be able to stand up to 2 hours instructing staff or instructing a classroom of learners
Must be able to sit and look at a computer monitor, using a keyboard/mouse and typing for up to 2 hours at a time
Must be able to lift up to 25lbs on a frequent basis
May be required to lift and position scholars with physical disabilities; control behavior through physical restraint; and assist non ambulatory scholars.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.