Special Education Flex TA: In House Sub (Northeast Campus)

Highline Academy

www.highlineacademy.org

Highline Academy Special Education TA: Flex Teacher

Job Description

MISSION We exist to foster a diverse community of youths and adults striving together for academic, personal, and civic excellence.

VISION Creating inclusive excellence in public education.

Assignment: The SpEd Flex TA: In House Sub for our Special Education TA team

Reporting directly to Highline’s campus principal, our teachers are the heart of our organization - the ones who make the mission come alive for our students. We expect our teachers to be caring about the whole child, great lesson planners, strong and nurturing at classroom management and excellent collaborators with teammates and families. We look for people with good communication skills, dedication to do everything it takes to make a difference for each child, and a growth mindset.

Position Schedule: Teachers are paid year round on a salary. Their student contact days (177) and their professional development days and parent conference days adds up to a 183 day work year, with an additional 5 days of training for new teachers. However, the work teachers do outside those days planning, reflecting and pursuing professional growth is also an important part of being an excellent teacher. Teachers are expected to be on campus ready for students by 7:30 am and to stay until 4:00 each day school is in session, and to 4:30 on Wednesdays when we have early release days for students followed by teacher P.D. or planning meetings. There are two weeks of professional development every summer before school begins which is part of the accounted professional development days.

REPORTS TO: Campus Principal

DEPARTMENT: Special Education

HIGHLINE OVERVIEW: Highline Academy is a community of diverse youth and adults striving together for academic, civic, and personal excellence. Founded in 2004, Highline is committed to inclusive excellence. In 2013, we launched our second school in Green Valley Ranch. Our students come from fifty countries, speak 26 different languages, represent a full range of socio-economic backgrounds, and previous educational experiences. Our diverse and integrated community has already begun to achieve excellence. Highline students have consistently out-performed district and state averages. Strong faculty and student retention rates are emblematic of the school’s positive culture and strong community.

Highline has a commitment to a liberal arts education which includes Art, Music, Spanish and P.E. instruction for our students. We have high expectations for all of our learners, with an understanding that some learners need more or different instruction. We have Performance Group teachers at each grade level which enable us to give smaller group instruction for the core content areas of math and language arts. Additionally, we have a robust intervention program with additional supports available as students show they need them. We are a fully inclusive organization for students with special needs, who are integrated into the general education classrooms.  We have a character education program designed by Highline called Reach. This teaches, practices, and celebrates the Reach values of responsibility, empowerment, aspiration, citizenship and honesty. All our students are taught to Reach Out to support and care about their classmates and community, Reach In to learn about themselves and reflect about their learning and Reach Up to their very best academic achievement. We are a students’ first, growth mindset organization and we expect all of our employees to model these values. All Highline employees are expected to read and follow all policies as written in the employee handbook and to review it annually for updates.

What The SpEd Flex TA does:

• Provides services to one or more individual students as outlined in their Individual Education Program (IEP), including supporting academic, health, daily living, and social-emotional and behavioral needs.


• Monitors classroom activities, assignments and/or materials under the direction of the classroom teacher and/or special educator for the purpose of supporting and reinforcing classroom objectives and meeting learning goals.


• Provides daily living procedures such as toileting, diapering, feeding, and personal hygiene as trained.


• Provides medically invasive (e.g., tube feeding, catheterization, suctioning) following universal precautions and as trained and directed.


• Lifts and transports students using appropriate equipment and technique according to Denver Public Schools’ training.


• Supports implementation of students’ individual behavior intervention plans, crisis/safety plans, and health care plans.


• Implements student accommodations and modifications as outlined in their IEP in both academic and non-academic settings throughout the school day.


• Under the supervision of a special education teacher and/or special service provider, collects data on students’ individual IEP goals.


• Communicates and coordinates with students and families about routine educational issues at the direction of the supervising special education teacher and/or special service provider.

The SpEd Flex TA will need the following skills and requirements to be successful in the role

Qualifications:

• High School Degree or Equivalent;


• Experience appropriate to the assignment, with experience with students with disabilities required especially supporting students mental health and regulation needs 


• Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) or experience providing Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy is not required but highly preferred


• Commitment to serving children with disabilities with patience and compassion;


• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of the Highline mission;.


• Willingness to complete adaptive services, which may include feeding, diapering, or other needs; and

• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
  

Minimum Requirements:

• Must complete Denver Public Schools’ approved written and physical exams and trainings covering de-escalation and physical restraint training, on an annual basis.


• Required training must be completed within 60 days of initial hire.


• If transporting students or using personal or a company vehicle to conduct work duties, they must have a valid Colorado driver’s license or be able to obtain a Colorado driver’s license within the state’s required time frame for new residents and meet the District’s insurability requirements.


• Lead for racial and educational excellence and work to dismantle systems of oppression and inequity in our community, along with believing in and supporting all students so they feel seen and heard with access to high quality education. 


• Live and work with a permanent home address in Colorado while working with us.  


• Have the ability with or without accommodations to meet the physical demands of the position.


• Be able to run, walk quickly, bend, kneel, crouch, sit on chairs or the floor, stand, grab or hold with one or both hands.  


• To be able to lift up to 50lbs without difficulty


• To maintain appropriate demeanor and professional classroom behavior when working with children and adults

• The ability to sit for extended periods during group training


• The ability to support children to de-escalate, including restraining using DPS approved methods (training and certification will be provided)


• Specialized training in invasive procedures, such as tube feeding and catheterization will be provided, as assignment requires.
  

Major Responsibilities: All Highline teachers must show clear competency and reliable practice of the following indicators:

• Create a Positive Classroom Culture and Climate


• Practice Effective Classroom Management


• Plan and implement Masterful Content Delivery


• Practice High-Impact Instructional Moves


• Demonstrate Essential Knowledge of Students and Use of Data


• Demonstrate Effective Collaboration and Engagement with students and colleagues


• Demonstrate thoughtful reflection, learning and development

All Highline teachers are also expected to demonstrate the Highline Internal Commitments for Professional Practice.

• We will take responsibility for student learning by valuing diversity, needs, learning styles and through shared ownership.


• We will commit to being clear and purposeful in our objectives and instruction while continuing to reflect and revise learning strategies by frequently monitoring student assessment data and ensuring that it is used as a tool for learning.


• We accept and embrace diversity within our community of faculty, students, and parent/guardians by valuing each other for who and where we all are in life as learners and as people, and we commit to providing a safe place for all to succeed.


• We will be direct, intentional, timely, and graceful in giving and receiving communication without judgment and for positive and proactive purposes.


• We will create an environment that empowers faculty, students and parent/guardians to be active participants in student success.


• We will create a focused and sustainable adult community by focusing on what is most essential to student success and staying focused on Highline’s goal.


• We will consistently model and enforce Highline’s academic and behavioral expectations.

Special Education Flex Teacher Assistant Responsibilities: The role of the SPED Flex TA is very important in reducing disruption for students during the school year. Many students with 1:1 support rely on consistent adults and routines. Our SPED Flex TA will build strong relationships with all of our students with 1:1 support and center based classrooms in order to step into these roles with little disruption. Flex TAs maybe assigned to long term substitute roles for planned leaves such as maternity, unplanned leaves, or unexpected termination of employment. The Flex TA may also be asked to sub one day at a time as needed for teachers who are out for illness or other reasons. Flex TAs may also be asked to provide additional supervision, proctor assessments, or help as needed anywhere in the school as deemed necessary by the campus principal. The Flex TAs collaborate with their grade level peers to provide a rigorous and yet supportive curriculum for every student. Flex TAs will take on all duties and roles assigned to the teacher they are covering for.

SPED Flex Ts are expected to build positive relationships with their students and also hold them to high expectations. Teachers should manage their classes with positive proactive systems and strong rituals and routines.  They are also expected to seek out more information and support from other staff members (the SIT team, admin, other grade level teachers etc.) if a student is not doing well either behaviorally or academically. At Highline we believe in a student’s first approach at all times, and our teachers are the foundation of this work.

Flex Teachers are expected to attend all professional development as assigned by their principal and participate with respect and attention.

Salary Range: $34,000-$64,000*

*Please see attached salary scale based on years of experience.

Highline Academy Charter School proudly values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.