EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTER-BASED/ITINERANT TEACHER
Reports to: Director of Early Childhood Education or designee
Employment Status: as assigned on board-approved contract
FLSA Status: Exempt
QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Bachelor's Degree
2. Valid Ohio Early Intervention Specialist License
3. Valid Ohio special education teacher or pre-kindergarten teacher license with validation in early education of handicapped children. Teachers holding a valid teaching license in any one of the following areas may be employed providing that they have early childhood education of the handicapped (EEH) validation or are/will be enrolled in an approved training program leading to EEH validation.
a) Special education license/SE-(any handicapping area; if exclusively a class for hearing impaired or visually impaired, then teacher must have applicable validation area on license)
b) Education of the handicapped/EH-(any handicapping area; if exclusively a class for hearing impaired or visually impaired, then teacher must have applicable validation area on license)
c) Pre-kindergarten license
d) Elementary K-3 or K-8 or 1-8 (validation areas pre-kindergarten and EEH)
e) High school license (validation areas Home Economics and EEH)
f) Vocational education license (validation areas Home Economics and EEH)
4. Valid Ohio Driver's License
5. Strong knowledge of community resources
6. Skilled in interpersonal relationship development with persons of diverse culture and social/economic levels
7. Successful completion of BCI/FBI background checks and medical examination requirement upon employment
POSITION DESCRIPTION: Under general supervision, constructs and implements individual education plans for students with disabilities, conducts evaluations required to document student progress toward goals and objectives; participates in parent conferences to share information pertaining to student progress; and provides support to the general education staff
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:(The below list is not ranked in order of importance.)
1. Ensures safety of students, taking all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials and facilities
2. Experience with interagency collaboration
3. Skilled in interpersonal relationship development with persons of diverse culture and social/economic levels
4. Flexibility, willingness and commitment to attend professional meetings and training
5. Flexibility in meeting job responsibilities
6. Ability to function with various community agencies, programs and professionals
7. Ability to communicate with children, parents, staff and community members and remain courteous and professional with children, parents, and staff
8. A sincere commitment to the philosophy of the Early Childhood Department and to the objectives of an early childhood intervention program
9. Responsible for meeting and maintaining all requirements for (1) Ohio Department of Education licensing as center administrator and (2) the Early Childhood Guidelines
10. Encourages, stimulates and develops parent involvement in the centers through parent center committees, Program Coordinator and special meetings and activities as deemed appropriate for the endeavor
11. Provides developmentally appropriate, play-based instruction to students with disabilities demonstrating knowledge of behavior management and motivational skills
12. Assists in the evaluation process of students with disabilities and/or in the reevaluation of assigned students
13. Prepares and implements individual educational plans containing current levels of performance, annual goals including short term objectives, a statement of the specific educational service, the projected date of initiation and anticipated duration of such services, and the appropriate objective criteria and evaluation procedures
14. The content of the annual goals and short term objectives will be reflected in the daily lesson plans and encompass developmentally appropriate and age appropriate skills leading to independence as an adult
15. Establishes and maintains a daily system of documentation/information collection to verify implementation of individual student progress toward goals and objectives relating to developmentally appropriate academic and behavior goals
16. Responsible for the development and implementation of weekly lesson plans based on individual student needs and appropriate curriculum analysis
17. Assists other school staff in implementing developmentally appropriate and age appropriate behavioral strategies
18. Meets with parents to develop and impart information pertaining to IEP content, training and student progress
19. Completes written reports as assigned by the administration in an accurate and timely manner
20. Communicates with various agencies involved with students with disabilities
21. Coordinates transition activities for preschool children with disabilities
22. Demonstrates skill in prevention, redirection and crisis management
23. Delegates work to and supervises the teacher’s aide assigned to the unit
24. Communicates and cooperates with the instructional and administrative staff on an ongoing basis
25. Demonstrates regular and predictable attendance
26. Maintains required license(s)
27. Travels to early childhood program sites and/or to homes of early childhood children to provide instruction and itinerant assessment activities
28. Directly supervise the following center personnel: early childhood paraprofessionals, assuring that conferences, evaluations and duties are performed as required by the personnel policies and procedures, job descriptions and other relevant material
29. Adheres to dress code plan of the MVESC, elementary building
30. The employee shall remain free of any alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substance abuse in the workplace throughout his/her employment at the Center.
31. Serves as a role model for students in how to conduct themselves as citizens and as responsible, intelligent human beings
32. Helps instill in students the belief in and practice of ethical principles and democratic values
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- 10 hours of in-service training is annually in the one or more of the following areas, such as child development/early childhood education, child abuse recognition and prevention, first-aid and communicable diseases.
- completes 6 hours of training in First Aid, Communicable Disease, and Prevention of Child Abuse and assumes responsibility for periodic updates
- in early childhood departmental meetings and in-service training as deemed appropriate.
- all other duties as required or requested by the Superintendent
ADDITIONAL WORKING CONDITIONS:
Center-Based: Typical center-based school and classroom setting with students who may have severe and/or multiple impairments
Itinerant: Typical school and classroom setting and some home-based setting with students who may have severe and/or multiple impairments; the loading and unloading of supplies, materials, and equipment for off-site projects is required
KNOWLEDGE OF: Basic knowledge of board policies and procedures; thorough knowledge of developmentally appropriate practice, individual educational plans, play-based teaching techniques and strategies, lesson planning, local state and federal laws, rules and regulations regarding special education, the concept of least restrictive environment, and developmentally appropriate courses of study
SKILLS IN: Written composition and technical writing, record keeping, planning and organization, student performance evaluation, diagnostic/prescriptive teaching, classroom management, and public speaking
ABILITY TO: Ability to develop individual educational plans; teach, including the organization of the learning environment; demonstrates ability in constructing options and planning environments; analyze curriculum; mobilize resources and use a variety of educational techniques; develop lesson plans; have a working knowledge of special education laws, rules and regulations; develop rapport with students, parents, primary care givers and coworkers; prepare reports; maintain records; and communicate effectively. Ability to design a sequential program leading to independence as an adult with objectives that encompass one or more occupational skills. Have the ability to maintain good physical and mental health and practice positive stress management techniques
EQUIPMENT OPERATED: Typical school technology as well as assistive technology (e.g., communication devices, etc.)
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Dates of the work period will be stated in the employment contract
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: The Early Childhood Special Education Center-Based/Itinerant Teacher will be evaluated by the Early Childhood Director/Coordinator or his or her designee in accordance with the procedures identified by law and including the standards established by the organization. The employee will be given a copy of the evaluation instrument and standards in advance and he or she will be expected to conduct a self-evaluation and establish a minimum of one goal annually to advance knowledge, skill and/or ability in a job-related area.
The Muskingum Valley ESC Governing Board is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, or disability. This job description identifies general responsibilities and is not intended to be a complete list of all duties performed. The incumbent will be required to follow the instructions and perform the duties required by the Service Center. This document is subject to change in response to student demographics, staffing factors, funding variables, modified operating procedures, program/curriculum changes, and unforeseen events.