Special Education Teacher / Location Not Determined (K-12 Multiple Openings)

It is the mission of the Marion School District to provide our students with a program of instruction so that they will acquire the academic, social, and decision-making skills needed to become productive citizens in our rapidly changing technological world. We recognize individual differences in students and believe that all children can learn.  We strive to meet their needs and interests by offering a balanced curriculum and creating an atmosphere conducive to learning.

Teacher Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for ensuring that classroom and curriculum meet Marion pedagogy and Arkansas Academic State Standards for every subject area assigned.
• Adheres to the Code of Ethics as set forth by the Arkansas Department of Education.
• Evaluates and maintains complete and accurate files regarding the students’ academic progress and physical, social and emotional growth, and communicates with parents or guardians on the individual student’s progress.
• Plans and evaluates daily lessons that are developmentally appropriate.  
• Identifies the needs of a group of students, as well as individual students, and provides for continuous assessment of their ability and differentiated instruction to meet individual needs.
• Provides instruction, organization and management in the classroom, which creates a respectful environment conducive to learning.
• Supervises students both in and out of the classroom in a respectful and positive manner.
• Responsible for appropriate use of space, equipment, and material storage.
• Responsible for creating and maintaining a healthy and safe environment within the classroom and the school.  
• Adheres to all school systems, protocols and policies that are developed.
• Maintains professional competence through participation in school provided in-service activities and/or self-selected professional growth activities related to job responsibilities.
• Initiates, plans and participates in parent/guardian conferences and other contact, as well as sending written information home about class activities, in a timely manner.
• Fulfills other assigned duties as prescribed by the Principal/Supervisor.
• Maintains a valid Arkansas teaching license registered in the manner provided by law during employment.  

School Participation and Team Work:

• Arrives at work on time, punctually attends and actively participates in all required meetings and training.
• Required to be a respectful, cooperative, and reliable team member and participant in school activities.
• Consults with Principal or designee, in a timely fashion, to address the needs of students who are struggling.
• Responsible for communicating and coordinating with subject teachers regarding lessons, child behavior, parent communication, and reports through regular meetings.
• Participates on required committees as prescribed by the Principal.
• Participates in the assessment and planning of curriculum development and other programs to meet the needs of the school.
• Attends regular supervisory meetings with the Principal.

Direct Supervisor:  

The Principal

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Ability to foster a nurturing classroom environment that respects all students and encourages them to do their best. 
• Required to respect the confidentiality of information about enrolled children and families, personnel issues, contributors, and other school operations. 
• Required to be a respectful, cooperative, and reliable team member and participant in school activities. 
• Ability to multi-task and act independently; exercise sound judgment. 
• Must be committed to building a diverse community.
• Confidentiality: Required to respect the confidentiality of information about enrolled children and families, personnel issues, contributors, and other school operations, as per FERPA regulations and policies.

Essential Functions:

Language: Must have superior expressive and receptive English language skills, to be able to communicate with and be understood by students, co-workers and parents, receive their responses and respond to them appropriately.

Sensory: Must have the ability to track and observe students in a 360-degree classroom, gym or cafeteria environment to ensure compliance and safety. Must be able to visually or otherwise access written and printed content, and respond verbally and in writing. Must have the ability to understand and respond to the verbal expressions of others, often in a noisy environment with multiple speakers and background noise, or outside.

Movement: Must have the ability to move around inside on hard surface and industrial carpeted surfaces, and to travel at a brisk, walking pace relatively long inside distances, without needing to stop or rest. (If applicable: Must be able to perform sustained CPR with the subject on the floor.)

Attendance: Must have the ability to work for the duration of the daily contracted time period, and to be physically present and at assigned work, with only infrequent unexcused absences, during the contract year.

Cognitive: Must be able to conform behavior to that which is socially accepted as being appropriate to an adult and positive role model who is working with young and impressionable children. Must have content mastery of subject area as well as employing pedagogical best practices. Must have knowledge and compliance with relevant state and federal laws governing education. Must have good executive functioning skills sufficient to ensure timely and accurate compliance with detailed federal, state and local record keeping requirements. Must be able to convert complex state and district content standards into successful and functional lessons that are differentiated and appropriate for the ages and skill levels of the assigned students. Must be able to present this material to students and determine, in the moment, based on verbal and non-verbal cues of students, whether or not the expressive language used by the teacher has been received and is being processed appropriately by students. 

Marion School District recognizes the worth of all individuals and groups. It is the policy of Marion School District that there will be no discrimination or harassment of individuals or groups on the grounds of age, color, creed, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation in any educational programs, activities or employment.