Job Summary

The senior special education teacher provides support, strategies, and appropriate intervention and supervision for the preschool staff, programs, children and their families in the context of a preschool setting.   The senior special education teacher achieves and maintains an elevated level of clinical competence, proficiency, autonomy and/or expertise in their practice and whose skills, talent, and leadership exemplify the mission, vision and core values of the organization.

Responsibilities

PERFORMS DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

• • Independently performs services in clinical areas  (i.e. Screening, Preschool). 
  • Consistently selects, utilizes, and accurately interprets appropriate, testing materials and or instrumentation based on presenting needs. Actively participates in research on potential updates, modifications and/or improvements to clinical departmental protocol/instrumentation/ testing /teaching methods.

PROVISION OF SERVICE

• • Formulates child specific long- and short-term goals consistent with Individualized Education Program (IEP) format within a transdisciplinary context.
  • Implements child specific long- and short-term goals consistent with IEP format within transdisciplinary context.
  • Provides support for program staff to formulate and implement child specific long- and short-term goals consistent with IEP format within a transdisciplinary context.
  • Demonstrates the ability to use IEP Direct and all other IEP programs and goals.
  • Utilizes strategies effectively based on IEP goals. Modification of methods and interventions including but not limited to physical environment and  daily routine, adult-child and child-child interactions. Selection and use of appropriate therapy materials. Demonstrates proficiency with use of strategies across multiple models (i.e. center based, autism spectrum classrooms, related service, etc.)

COMMUNICATION

• • Demonstrates the ability to use a variety of strategies to communicate appropriate clinical information regarding caseload or other clinical assignment: (Presentations/Demonstrations, Meetings, Handouts).
  • Attends, schedules and conducts weekly classroom or treatment team meeting times with staff as assigned.
  • Schedules regular meeting times with families at least twice a year according to school program protocol.
  • Actively and consistently uses cooperative planning as a strategy for staff to staff communication including but not limited to participation on: (Classroom team, Site team, Core team, Best Practice team, Diagnostic team).
  • Consistently exchanges information with parents including observations, scheduled conferences etc. and encourages parents to actively participate.
  • Clearly communicates information at interagency and intra-agency meetings including to other staff, departments, and internal and external customers according to program protocol as directed.
  • Demonstrates knowledge of chain of command in a  crisis and follows appropriate clinical and program  response according to preschool protocols.

Documentation - Clinical Documentation:

• • Completes documentation within established time frames including but not limited to diagnostic reports, progress notes, lesson plans, attendance and annual reports according to program requirements and mandates.

Completes Special Assignments

• • Completes two special assignments examples include: Manages safety, Manages infection control, Manages staff conflict resolution, Manages audits.

Leadership

• • Serves as a leader and expert in their field mentoring preschool staff members, providers, outside agencies to elevate the preschool program
  • Serves as the lead for one team, project or committee.
  • Assists in performance appraisal process for mentored and or/supervised staff. 
  • Participates assistance in data gathering/analysis of the preschool program
  • Provides clinical mentorship to staff members both formally and informally
  • Demonstrates an additional administrative role, responsibility within the department
  • Participates in and owns performance improvement/quality projects and initiatives
  • Maintains and updates staff on best practice measures and/or improvements to clinical/department protocols/techniques. Independently identifies issues, development areas or project needing improvement. Initiates and implements solutions and measures effectiveness.  
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements

EXPERIENCE

Minimum of 3 years experience in education.

EDUCATION

• • Masters Degree in Special Education; or
  • Bachelors degree for designated specialty areas including but not limited to Behavior and Family Therapies or a program determined by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) to be substantially equivalent in accordance with the Regulations of the Commissioner.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

Meets NYSED Department requirements as described by position and as required for program.

OTHER

• • Strong knowledge of modern theories, techniques, and practices in early education, including the effective use of relevant techniques, modalities and tools.
  • Ability to motivate students to reach their highest level of educational functioning and instruct them in therapeutic activities.
  • Skilled in planning, implementing, and evaluating activities aimed at maximizing outcomes.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with others.
  • Strong leadership and problem-solving abilities.
  • Competency in using computer applications.
  • Strong judgment, resourcefulness, creativity, emotional stability, maturity, and initiative.