Special Education-Olathe Middle School

Montrose County School District RE1-J

Teaching - Middle School/Special Education

Date Posted:

2/12/2024

Location:

Olathe Middle/High School

Date Available:

08/08/2024

Closing Date:

03/08/2024

Position Title: Special Education Teacher - Mild to Moderate (MM) Grades 6th - 8th

Exempt

Site: Olathe Middle/High School

Direct Supervisor: Building Principal

Contracted Length Term: 178 Days

Salary Schedule: Teacher (Range $43,000- $68,243 based on 23/24 salary schedule, education and experience)

Start Date: August 8, 2024

School Summary:

Olathe Middle/High School is an AVID rural school located within the Montrose County School District. We house grades 6-12 and educate approximately 525 students. We take pride in being able to establish relationships with our students to foster a welcoming learning environment for all students.

We strive to provide our students with the tools and education necessary to be successful in their post-secondary pursuits, whether it is college, trade school, vocational school, the military, the workforce or other ventures. Our expectation is that every student will graduate from high school with the skills necessary to be successful.

Our teachers have extraordinary support through the school administration, our Building Resource Teacher, a strong collegial atmosphere, and an extremely supportive community. We are looking for teachers who care about students, want to be part of an exciting/supportive community, and are relationship oriented with not only students, but all stakeholders as a whole. Olathe is an awesome place to be, and we are positive you will enjoy being here and part of our family.

Please visit our website at: https://www.mcsd.org/olathemiddlehighschool_home.aspx

District Summary:

Nestled within Colorado’s gorgeous Western Slope, the towns of Montrose and Olathe are surrounded by an endless variety of prospects for exploration and adventure (Black Canyon National Park, Telluride and the San Juan Mountains to the South, along with rivers, lakes and streams). MCSD is one of the largest rural school districts in Colorado, which means we are small enough to be neighborly, but still big enough to continue growing (with short commutes to school and work).

Come join the largest employer in Montrose County and work in an area where you can enjoy scenic drives, wilderness treks, a round of golf, and visits to our many local restaurants or brewpubs. Montrose and Olathe offer a little something for everyone – shopping, fishing, biking, photography, camping, snowshoeing, Telluride skiing, swimming, motor-sports – you name it! We hope you can join us at MCSD.

Benefits

At MCSD, we care about our employees and their loved ones. Our benefits package consist of the following items: a variety of health insurance plans with employer contribution, including dental and vision insurance, Telehealth, a $50,000 life insurance policy with optional additional coverage, PERA retirement contribution, supplemental insurance options, no match tax shelter account options including 401K, 457(b), 403 (b) and Roth, before tax deductions and flexible spending options, paid leave options and holidays based upon the position, Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Added perks: Great people to work with, professional development and advancement opportunities, and multiple wellness programs and incentives.

Summary of Position:

Under direction, to teach and instruct special needs pupils in multiple grade levels in academic, social, behavioral, and other educational skill areas; to plan, develop, organize, and conduct a comprehensive educational and remedial program for special needs pupils; to assist pupils in making an appropriate adjustment to a mainstreamed educational process, requiring an increased level of independence; and to do other related functions as required.

Mild/Moderate

If a student can be part of the general education classroom, their disability can range from mild to moderate. Students with more mild or moderate disabilities range from specific learning disabilities, like struggling in reading or math, to speech impairment where the student needs speech therapy for pronunciation issues. These students can normally function within a general classroom setting with accommodations or an inclusion teacher. Even a physical disability, such as a hearing impairment or health impairment, can be mild. A student with a hearing impairment might just need a hearing device to hear in the classroom but may not need any other accommodations to succeed. Typically, a general education teacher will have students who fall in the mild/moderate special education disability category. Specific Learning Disability means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken, or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. Specific learning disability does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of: visual, hearing, or motor disabilities; intellectual disability; serious emotional disability; cultural factors; environmental or economic disadvantage; or limited English proficiency.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Teach and instruct special needs pupils in subject matter areas such as reading, language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, health, art, physical education and music.

Adapt an adopted course of study, program instruction guidelines, and instructional materials in meeting the educational needs of special needs pupils.

Utilize a variety of methodology in teaching and instructing pupils, including remedial instruction, demonstration, and activity participation.

Instruct students in citizenship and in the development of social skills.

Prepare, develop, and utilize a variety of instructional materials and aids appropriate to the instructional level of pupils with a wide range of mental, physical, and emotional maturity.

Review, analyze, and evaluate the history, background, and assessment of pupils in designing an educational program to meet individual educational needs.

Individualize instructional processes and adapts program activities to enhance pupil educational opportunities.

Provide individual and group instruction in order to properly motivate pupils, and to effectively utilize the time available for instruction.

Establish and maintain standards of student behavior utilizing behavior management strategies and techniques, including behavior modification, reinforcement, and other positive behavior shaping processes.

Review, analyze, and evaluate pupil academic and social growth.

Record and report appropriate analyses and perceptions of pupil progress.

Administer, score, and record the results of criterion referenced, group standardized and specialized tests in evaluating pupil growth and progress.

Counsel, confer, and communicate with parents, school and District personnel regarding pupil progress, and in the interpretation of the educational program.

Work cooperatively with the IEP Team in assessing pupil needs and learning deficiencies and develop alternative solutions to remediate pupil learning problems.

Plan, create, and maintain an effective learning environment through the utilization of functional and aesthetically conceived displays, exhibits, bulletin boards, interest, learning and activity centers.

Select and requisition appropriate educational supplies, materials, books, equipment, and learning aids.

Establish and maintain a suitable room environment through the proper control of heating, lighting, and ventilation.

Perform a variety of non-instructional duties, including curriculum and instructional development activities, student supervision, and advisory and consultation activities.

Education/Certification:

Education:

Possession of an earned Baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited college or university with emphasis in special education, instructional technology, a subject matter field commonly taught in the elementary grades, or closely related field.

Certification Requirement:

Possession of a licensure from the Colorado Department of Education authorizing service as a teacher of special needs pupils.

Experience:

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and skill is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and skill would be:

Experience: Successful completion of student teaching at a recognized college or university or two years of full-time classroom teaching experience with the special needs child.

Knowledge of and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

Principles, theories, methods, techniques, and strategies pertaining to teaching and instruction of special needs pupils.

Child growth and development and behavior characteristics of children experiencing educational and social dysfunctions.

Educational curriculum and instructional goals and objectives, and the educational trends and research findings pertaining to the special needs child.

Behavior management and behavior shaping strategies, techniques and methods, and conflict resolution procedures.

Socio-economic and cultural background differences of the school population.

Ability to:

Plan, organize, develop, and conduct a comprehensive teaching and instruction program for special needs pupils.

Provide effective learning experiences for pupils from a wide range of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds and with varying mental, social and emotional levels.

Effectively assist in the assessment of the educational needs of educational special needs pupils, and the design, development, and implementation of individualized educational plans.

Provide an attractive, inviting, and stimulating learning environment.

Perform research and development activities pertaining to curriculum and instruction programs, pilot projects, and innovative programs designed to enhance pupil educational opportunities and experiences for special needs pupils.

Physical Requirements:

The physical requirements indicated below are examples of the physical aspects that this position classification must perform in carrying out essential job functions.

Persons performing service in this position classification will exert 5 to 50 pounds of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.

This type of work involves sitting, walking, and/or standing.

Exposure to hot, cold, wet, humid, or windy conditions caused by weather may occasionally be experienced.

Perceiving the nature of sound, near and far vision, depth perception, providing oral information, the manual dexterity to operate business related equipment, and handle and work with various materials and objects are important aspects of this job.

CBI/FBI background clearance and a clean driving record.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a person with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. He or she will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by his or her supervisor.