Special Education Teacher Consultant

Great things are happening at Battle Creek Public Schools

Battle Creek Public Schools (BCPS) is located in Calhoun County, Michigan (between Chicago and Detroit), serving the City of Battle Creek as well as parts of Emmett, Pennfield and Bedford townships, and the City of Springfield. With a bold goal of achieving 100% success for every Bearcat, we offer a broad range of educational experiences to meet the individual needs of students at all levels, including experiential learning, individualized instruction, advanced and accelerated curricula, and outdoor education.

In 2017, BCPS received an historic investment from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and we are continuing our transformation plan, advancing bold, top-to-bottom changes to provide a world-class career, college, and community-ready education for every student, in every grade, at every school. In May of 2023, we were thrilled to announce an average teacher pay increase of more than $10,000, positioning us as one of the best paying districts for teachers in Southwest Michigan.

We offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits (including up to $20k in home purchase assistance), and opportunities for professional development. Apply now and join the Bearcat family

Position Summary:

Responsible to provide supportive and/or direct services to students with IEPs, general education teachers, administrators and parents/guardians on behalf of students who qualify or may qualify for special education services.

Position Responsibilities:

• Provide general educators with a list of the special education students in the general educator's class(s) and documentation with regular check in.
• Provide general educators with a copy of the special education students' needs, students' goals & objectives, and strategies to work with the students.
• Establish regular "checkpoints" to monitor student progress on caseload.
• Chair and facilitate Child-Study meetings and Response to Intervention activities in the building, attend weekly services meeting.
• Provides suggested accommodations and/or modification to class assignments/assessments.
• Provides direction and placement for teacher assistant(s) related to their daily job responsibilities and student assignments.
• Oversee the job performance of teacher assistant(s) as directed.
• Conduct and/or participate in IEPT, MET, etc. meetings as appropriate.
• Establishes and maintains appropriate caseload, reports, and records related to students on caseload.
• Work in collaboration with CISD Supervisor on Continuous Improvement Monitoring System in district.
• Special education representative on various district and county committees.
• Assists buildings in class scheduling for special education students.
• Work collaboratively with CISD and LEA data entry staff to verify and correct data submitted to the MDE for MSDS count date.
• Work with counseling staff on personal curriculums, EDPs, and weekly services meetings to increase graduation rates for SWD.
• Facilitate and maintain IEP calendar with CISD special education office.
• Develop and maintain process to exit students with IDPS.
• Work with district staff to increase connection and collaboration between the middle school and high school.
• Provide training and support to teachers as needed for special education support and compliance.
• Reviews files for transfer-in students who qualify for special education services.
• Conduct and maintain Work Based Learning paperwork, compliance and standards.
• Assist general education teachers with appropriate instructional techniques, strategies, and supports that can be used successfully in the classroom to help support students with IEP's.
• Assist in making recommendations to teachers/administration on meeting student's needs in their least restrictive environments.
• Work collaboratively with district staff on appropriate scheduling for students with IEP's.
• Assist with gathering and analyzing data relative to students with IEP's.
• Will work collaboratively with district staff to support the Tiered Intervention/Instruction process as appropriate.
• Assist general education teachers on differentiated instruction, ensuring all students have access to the general education curriculum.
• Assist the district in the coordination of special education and general education services as appropriate.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications:

• Masters Degree in Education or a field of study related to special education.
• Valid Michigan certificate with any Special Education endorsement
• A minimum of three years of successful special education teaching experience, not less than 2 years of which shall be in teaching students with a disability in a special education classroom.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of the general education curriculum
• Successful experience working with a diverse population in an urban setting
• Experience working with children who have disabilities
• Experience in handling students with challenging behaviors, and teaching social skills
• Experience in developing academic and behavioral interventions
• Knowledge of special education law
• Ability to clearly express ideas and concepts verbally and in writing
• Background in learning and behavior management
• Ability to develop and maintain acceptable relationships with school staff

Salary: $50,000 -$82,010 (based on the BCEA Teacher Salary Schedule)

Incentives:

• Up to $5,000 additional signing bonus for newly hired Special Education teachers
• Up to $1,500 Special Education stipend per semester

Eligibility and proration depend on start date; full details provided in offer.

Contract: 188 Day Calendar

School Safety Clearance: The successful candidate will be subject to a fingerprint and background check as a condition of employment. All fees require for this check (estimated $73) are the responsibility of the successful applicant.

The Battle Creek Public School District is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate on the basis of race,color, handicap, sex, age, religion, national origin, weight, height or marital status in its employment practices.