Middle School Special Education Teacher (2024-2025)

Description

Who Are We?

At STRIVE Collegiate Academy, our mission is to prepare middle school students for success in high school, college, and career. We will achieve this by empowering each student with a literacy-based curriculum aligned across all content areas in a culture that encourages leadership, virtue, and excellence as the foundation for success in all endeavors.

STRIVE Collegiate Academy is a tuition-free college preparatory charter school, serving students of Nashville, TN. We are dedicated to closing the achievement gap between low-income students and their more advantaged peers. STRIVE is a middle school serving about 400 students grades 6-8. STRIVE serves students in the McGavock Cluster (Donelson, Hermitage, Old Hickory & Napier) and are committed to going above and beyond to ensure students are successful in high school, college, and life.

A STRIVE Team Member possesses the following qualities/characteristics…

• SELF-ADVOCATES for themselves and their students.
• Is TEAM-oriented by working with peers, families, and students to support teaching and learning through academics and character development.
• Is RESILIENT by demonstrating perseverance through challenging situations to ensure professional and personal growth. 
• Models INTEGRITY by being transparent as educators through self, peer, and school leadership feedback and committing to strengthening skills needed to develop professionally.
• Models VIRTUE by exhibiting moral excellence in what they think, say, and do.
• STRIVEs for EXCELLENCE by providing a top-quality education for every student, every day.

A STRIVE Special Education TeacherSTRIVES for daily excellence through…

Duties & Responsibilities: 

•  Further develop one’s knowledge and understanding of federal and state Special Education laws. 
• Help develop and implement an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for students who are in Special Education and students who are not performing on grade level. 
• Work closely with parents to inform them of their child's progress; address any parental concerns; and/or suggest techniques to promote learning outside of school. 
• Help general educators adapt curriculum materials and teaching techniques to meet the needs of all students. 
• Coordinate the work of teachers, teacher fellows, and related personnel (i.e. therapists and social workers) to meet the individualized needs and IEP goals of students within STRIVE Collegiate Academy. 
• Communicate and coordinate with others involved in child's well-being, including parents, social workers, school psychologists, occupational and physical therapists, school administrators, and other teachers. 
• Work as specified students’ special education teacher and offer individualized help to students in general education classrooms. 
• Prepare for SPED meetings, including, but not limited to, mailing notices to parents, setting up meetings, and ensuring all documents and signatures are complete from all acting parties. 
• Determine necessary testing, dates for testing, test administrators, and reports regarding testing. 
• Maintain office hours that will allow teachers and/or parents access during the school day to discuss issues including, but not limited to, assistance with planning lessons for struggling students, finding and implementing strategies for differentiation and modifications, etc. 
• Lead and/or participate in ongoing meetings with the entire grade level/content team to discuss all struggling students, including those who are not in Special Education. 
• Create “how-to” documents that model the appropriate documentation for SPED meetings, modifications and accommodations, using IEPs to guide instruction. 
• Compose a form that documents the date and time of interventions for general and special education students who receive assistance. 
• Monitor students during lunch, transitions, before, and after school. 
•  Participate in, and positively contribute during STRIVE Collegiate Academy Professional Development. 
• Perform other duties as required by the School Leader. 

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree
• A valid Tennessee Teaching Credential (or commitment to obtain one)
• Minimum of two (2) years of classroom instruction experience preferred
• Previous experience of improving students' academic performance and behavior
• Experience in preparations of lesson plans aligned with state requirements and teachers' curriculums
• Experience in collaborating with other educators on grade level and by content
• Has an analytical view of student progress towards standards
• Strong knowledge and appreciation of working with students in under-resourced communities
• Be in attendance every scheduled work day (7:00am-4:00pm) and a few after hours events a year, except in the case of emergency or serious illness.
• Dress professionally at all times.
• Maintain an appropriate professional relationship with students, parents, and staff. 
• Pass a criminal background check as required by law.

General Sign Off:The employee is expected to adhere to all company policies. Duties may be changed at the discretion of STRIVE Collegiate Academy at any time.

Statement of Non-Discrimination: STRIVE Collegiate Academy is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals applying for employment. STRIVE Collegiate Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.