Reading Specialist/Teacher - Rockford

The primary responsibility of the teacher is to ensure the health, safety and well-being of each student.  The teacher is accountable for the development, implementation and monitoring of all aspects of classroom programming.

Basic Responsibilities:

• Adhere to all mandated reporter and OIG guidelines at all times.
• Develop weekly lesson plans in alignment with student IEP goals.
• Perform and submit formal assessments at least 10 days prior to each student’s annual review, but not earlier than 30-days prior.
• Develop, in collaboration with team members, appropriate IEP goals based on assessment results 10 days prior to annual review.
• Update and provide data-based quarterly progress reports and IEP benchmarks.
• Note in lesson plans, references of informal assessment of specific students that triggered plan.
• Arrange for and perform activities, materials, and prompting hierarchies that relate to the IEP goals.
• Mentor and train classroom and 1:1 assistants to anticipate those activities that they can perform, which support the lesson plan.
• Provide monthly suggestions to the School Administrator/Program Coordinator on areas of training that would enhance the skills of teachers and aides.
• Conduct weekly meetings with paraprofessional staff members and submit documentation to administration.
• Interact with the School Administrator/Program Coordinator and clinical staff regarding clinical recommendations.
• Observe performance of classroom staff sufficient to perform an evaluation and assist administration with annual performance evaluation.
• Notify School Administrator/Program Coordinator of the onset of unacceptable performance of classroom staff.
• Communicate daily to parents via notebook or phone regarding the on-going performance of students.
• Maintain and update all required components to student main files.
• Participate in at least 2 outside trainings per school year directly related to serving students with special needs, particularly those diagnosed with autism.
• Participate in all scheduled in-house trainings throughout the school year.
• Participate in student IEP/MDC meetings throughout the school year.
• Participate in medical case review meetings for students throughout the school year.
• Conduct at least 2 observations in other classrooms and provide administration with documentation of each observation throughout the school year.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and Illinois State Type 10 teaching certificate or LBS1 (limited or unlimited) or;  
• Bachelor’s Degree and an Illinois State teaching certificate in an area of regular education, and a Special Education endorsement, letter of approval or a short term emergency letter of approval.
• Reading Specialist Endorsement.

 Experience Required:

• Completion of required clinical hours for teaching degree/certificate.
• Experience working with special needs population necessary.

 Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to perform all functions necessary to obtain certification in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) and CPR
• Ability to multi-task in a high stress environment
• Ability to interact with diverse personalities
• Above average endurance.

    ADA: Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to possess the ability to perform the physical tasks necessary to treat clients, i.e., bending, floor-sitting, etc., as well as to have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.