Special Education Teacher

The Opportunity:

The Special EducationTeacher will have the opportunity to teach and support students in the field of special education at our campus located in Lawrence. This role entails planning lessons, administering assessments, collecting and analyzing data, and providing consistent support to help students achieve academic excellence. In addition to teaching academic subjects, the Special Education Math Teacher will also serve as an adviser and mentor to students. Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities:

• Design and deliver rigorous instructional content, including lessons, curriculum supplements, scope and sequence plans, and performance assessments, in alignment with the curricular framework and Individual Education Plan (IEP) requirements.
• Support the social-emotional learning of students to promote college and career readiness, offering one-on-one support as needed.
• Participate in weekly professional development sessions on Fridays from 1:30 - 4:30 PM.
• Engage in supervision, weekly coaching cycles, and formal mid-year and end-of-year evaluations, in alignment with goals set by the Director of Curriculum and Instruction.
• Collaborate frequently with colleagues, including English as a Second Language Teachers, general education teachers, and other Academic Support staff, to ensure appropriate supports are in place for all students.
• Collect and analyze student academic data to inform instruction and meet individual student needs.
• Provide push-in support across subject areas as needed.
• Educate all necessary staff on the specific needs of each scholar on the caseload and plan necessary academic and behavioral interventions; oversee the implementation of interventions.
• Write Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and attend all necessary meetings related to the students' educational needs. Maintain records of all meetings, meeting invites, and other staff responsibilities. Coordinate and invite necessary staff outside of the Academic Support Office for the caseload.
• Track the progress of all scholars on the caseload throughout each quarter in terms of holistic progress (academic and social-emotional). Reach out to parents or adult supporters after each progress report.
• Communicate with parents and other adult supporters through phone calls, email correspondence, and/or in-person meetings.
• Provide school support and coverage duties as deemed necessary by the Head of School or administrative staff.
• Publicly display evidence of great scholarship in and around the classroom.
• Build meaningful and supportive relationships with students to facilitate academic growth and achievement.
• Communicate scholar support needs with the Director of School Culture and Social Worker whenever necessary.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree is required.
• At least 1 year of direct scholar-serving experience (teaching, tutoring, academic support, etc.) is preferred.
• Bilingual/Spanish-speaking candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to convey information effectively and efficiently using verbal, non-verbal, and written communication.
• Strong scholar orientation, working to deepen understanding of students and centering their needs in all aspects of the work.
• Adaptability to adjust and align work with the school's mission in complex and changing environments.
• Employment is subject to qualifications for the role and successful completion of a background check.

Who We Are

Phoenix Charter Academy aims to show the world what all young people can do, and to defy the limitations of societal assumptions, classism, and racism. Phoenix Charter Academy was founded on the unwavering belief that all students can succeed at high levels. While this mantra is typical of high-performing schools, particularly those in the charter sector, Phoenix truly endeavors to reach every student, focusing on a growing number on the margins of the traditional public district education system: students who have dropped out of high school, students who are parenting children of their own, students who are or have been involved with the juvenile justice system, students who are older and new to the country and cannot gain access to public schooling, and students who are under-credited relative to the number of years they have spent enrolled in high school. We believe that these students, like all students, are completely capable of developing the skills necessary to set themselves up for lifetimes of economic prosperity and success. We support our students with individually tailored and academically rigorous curricula and push them to succeed at the highest levels by providing them with the resources and mentoring that they need to reach their full potential.

Why Our Work is Important

Students across America are dropping out of high school at an alarming rate. Dropping out of high school has a substantial impact on a young person’s life. Over the course of their lifetime, an individual who drops out of high school is more likely to have reduced earning power, greater social service dependency, increased rates of criminal involvement, and shorter life expectancy. Phoenix Charter Academies addresses this trend by creating environments where students can demonstrate their talent and resilience and prepare themselves for success through high school, college, and beyond.

Commitment to DEI

At Phoenix, we recognize the importance of forming a school community inclusive of all visible and invisible identities. We act to ensure that our students and staff always see reflections of themselves and their communities.

At Phoenix, we aim to break down systemic barriers by providing access to resources, experiences, and differentiated supports for historically marginalized groups.

At Phoenix, we solicit, value, understand, connect, and leverage multiple perspectives and experiences. We invite all perspectives except those that perpetuate oppression or dehumanization.

At Phoenix we do not just accept difference - we celebrate it, support it, and thrive on it for the benefit of our scholars and the communities we serve. We believe difference makes us stronger. Phoenix Charter Academy is an equal opportunity employer and as such, we do not discriminate against any team member or candidate because of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. Phoenix Charter Academy is committed to making any reasonable accommodations necessary to support an individual's employment.

Qualities of Phoenix staff member:

• Unwavering belief in our students - Phoenix staff operate with the deeply held belief that all young people want to and can succeed even in the face of substantial systemic barriers and societal constraints.
• Continuous Improvement - Phoenix staff approach problem solving with curiosity and desire to understand the perspectives of others. They carry an internalized sense of “I can always learn more” and know that adults at Phoenix must model the qualities of being open-minded and willing to make mistakes and learn from them. Phoenix staff members embody “lifelong learner” mindsets and strive for constant improvement.
• Eager to Learn - Phoenix staff must be able to learn as they go in a fast-paced, ever-evolving, urgent environment. They have the desire to receive direct feedback and the ability to implement the feedback into practice quickly.
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Phoenix staff commit to understanding how their self-identity and experiences impact and interact with their daily work, colleagues, and students, and work toward furthering initiatives that promote a more equitable society.

What You’ll Bring:

• Communication - Conveys information effectively and efficiently using verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills; has knowledge and flexibility to communicate across lines of difference.
• Scholar Orientation - Works to deepen understanding of scholars and centers the needs of scholars in all aspects of how the work is done.
• Adaptability - Adjusts and strategically aligns work to the school's mission while navigating complex and changing environments internally and externally.
• Strong work ethic with the ability to work independently and in a team environment

What You’ll Get

We want you to be the best you can so you’ll receive professional development, coaching, and the resources needed for you to succeed. An open, curious, and celebratory culture that embraces diversity as a leading asset and fosters equity and inclusion through affinity groups and continuous capacity building supported by our Racial, Justice, and Equity working group. Competitive market comp, medical, dental, vision, mental health, and wellness plans, a 403b, and employee perks such as longevity bonus and pet insurance.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and as such, we do not discriminate against any team member or candidate because of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. Phoenix Charter Academy is committed to making any reasonable accommodations necessary to support an individual's employment.

**The Network retains the right to modify this job description at any time, for any reason, at the Network’s sole discretion**