Self Contained Special Education Teacher

Are you looking to make history, join a values-driven community, a community that invests in YOU, and a community that will provide you with what you need to do what you love? Then look no further than Sankofa Montessori, GA's only State Charter School, Commission-approved K-6 Public Montessori Charter School. We are hiring for a Self-Contained Special Education Teacher (Kindergarten - 3rd grade).  

Our vision is to design more purposeful futures. We achieve our vision by providing a culturally responsive, child- and family-centered Montessori education so we can develop in all of our students the knowledge, skill, and agency to have a life of purpose. 

At Sankofa, the self-contained special education teacher provides support to identified students with IEP’s through the implementation of specially designed instruction in the self-contained environment to ensure they are adequately equipped with the tools they need to succeed academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally. In this role, the special education teacher partners with students, parents, related service providers, and members of the school staff to provide critical support to our teachers as they work in collaboration to meet every child’s specific needs. The position reports to the Director of Student Support and Services. 

Start Date: July 8, 2024

Hours: 7:15 AM-4:15 PM

Planning and Instruction 

• Provide direct service to students in their least restrictive environment (resource and self-contained setting)
• Use best practices for mild and moderate intellectual children to plan appropriate instructional and life-skilled focus activities 
• Communicate high learning expectations for all students; assess, monitor, and encourage student progress
•  Follow professional practices consistent with school and system policies in working with students, students' records, parents, and colleagues
• Administer formal academic assessments, and write the accompanying academic reports
• Use ongoing assessments to monitor student progress; interpret and use data (including but not limited to standardized and other test results) for instructional and behavior support planning 

Classroom Culture

• Foster habits of excellence, including order and grace & courtesy, through schoolwide and classroom-level practices and rituals, such as connecting before redirecting, using a warm and firm tone, matching children with works in the environment, tending the heart of virtue through presenting beautiful literature, and sharing responsibility for all our children
• Be a model of character for students
• Supervise students within the classroom and outside of the classroom: on the playground, during bathroom breaks, at lunchtime and on field trips

Case Management 

• Serve as the case manager for identified students with IEP’s
• Be responsible for IEP development, including meeting coordination and facilitation, and maintaining all required documentation as required by federal, state, and authorizer regulations
• Develop related goals and objectives and recommend policies, planning, and implementation by working with school staff to meet the needs of students with special needs.
• Develop positive relationships with parents and families to engage them in the IEP process and keep them apprised of student progress

Requirements

For this position, we’re looking for candidates that possess a combination of the following skills:

• Bachelor's degree (required)
• Special education certification, adaptive preferred 
• Two or more years of effective teaching experience in the self-contained or resource environment
• Experience  working with children with Autism and/or Down Syndrome 
• Demonstrated impact on the growth of special education students with a wide range of disabilities 
• Willingness to learn about Montessori curriculum content and children’s developmental needs
• Willing to serve all children, regardless of background or needs, in an inclusive and supportive setting
• Skills in designing specially designed instruction, instructional practices and classroom management for student achievement
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Warm and firm demeanor
• Work collaboratively with a growth mindset. Give and receive feedback in a spirit of craftsmanship.
• Strong learning orientation and desire to work in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment
• Can complete physical demands of the role (including standing and walking for extended periods of time and lifting heavy objects up to 40 Ibs)
• Unwavering commitment to Sankofa Montessori’s mission and willingness to go above and beyond to meet the needs of Sankofa Montessori students, families, and staff
• Successful background check results required

Benefits

COMPENSATION

• Sankofa Montessori’s compensation philosophy is to pay competitively for the PK-12 charter market to ensure equity across our institution. The starting salary for this role is between $45,000-65,000 annually, based on years of experience and degree held. Sankofa Montessori is committed to internal pay equity throughout our organization. Because of this, we do not negotiate salary offers outside our salary bands.
• We offer contributions to the Teacher Retirement System of Georgia (TRS) in accordance with Georgia state law, as well as an additional, optional 403(b) retirement account.
• Sankofa Montessori also offers competitively priced health benefits.

Supports:

• A dedicated coach with a track record of success with students
• A daily planning period and weekly student early release for teacher collaboration, student work analysis, and peer professional development.
• Materials needed to be successful in your classroom, including teacher/student supplies/laptops, etc.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Sankofa Montessori provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.