Primary Function of the Position
The Special Education Teacher is responsible for designing, planning, and providing appropriate, high-quality learning experiences for scholars with disabilities across grades K–8. This role is central to creating an inclusive learning environment that supports high academic achievement and reflects NMA’s mission, Culture of Learning, and core principles.
The Special Education Teacher provides specially designed instruction, serves as a case manager for assigned scholars, ensures compliance with applicable special education requirements, and collaborates closely with general education teachers, Educational Assistants, related service providers, Academic Coaches, school leaders, and families.
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong instructional practice, collaboration, organization, cultural responsiveness, and a commitment to using data to improve scholar outcomes.
Position Responsibilities
Instruction, Planning, and Scholar Achievement
- Develop and implement specially designed instruction based on scholars’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and identified learning needs.
- Use a variety of instructional methods, accommodations, modifications, and supports to promote scholar growth.
- Partner with general education teachers to develop and implement effective co-teaching and instructional strategies.
- Collaborate with Academic Coaches to develop classroom and schoolwide strategies that address learning barriers and promote inclusion.
- Plan and facilitate engaging lessons that support scholar participation, achievement, and independence.
- Support scholars in accessing and participating in the general education curriculum to the greatest extent appropriate.
- Maintain high academic expectations and reinforce NMA’s core principles, including Aiming for High Academic Achievement and Having High Expectations.
Case Management, Compliance, and Data
- Serve as the primary case manager for assigned scholars.
- Develop, implement, monitor, and maintain legally compliant IEPs.
- Conduct comprehensive scholar evaluations and re-evaluations and prepare required Evaluation Reports.
- Facilitate and lead IEP team meetings, ensuring families and staff are meaningfully engaged throughout the process.
- Maintain accurate and organized special education records, including IEP documentation, progress-monitoring data, evaluation records, and communication logs.
- Monitor scholar progress toward IEP goals and use data to guide instructional decisions and interventions.
- Ensure local, state, and federal special education requirements and timelines are met.
- Use scholar-performance data to identify needs, adjust instruction, and support program improvement.
Scholar Support and Learning Environment
- Create and maintain a safe, inclusive, structured, and socially-emotionally supportive learning environment.
- Build positive and professional relationships with scholars.
- Support the implementation of individualized behavioral, academic, and social-emotional supports.
- Model the RHINO Way and reinforce schoolwide behavioral expectations.
- Promote scholar confidence, independence, self-advocacy, and engagement in learning.
- Maintain high expectations while responding appropriately to scholars’ individual academic, behavioral, developmental, and disability-related needs.
Culture, Family, and Collaboration
- Collaborate effectively with general education teachers, Educational Assistants, related service providers, Academic Coaches, administrators, and other staff.
- Provide direction and guidance to Educational Assistants supporting scholars on the teacher’s caseload.
- Proactively engage families as partners in scholar learning, IEP development, and academic progress.
- Demonstrate cultural responsiveness and sensitivity to the strengths and needs of NMA’s immigrant, refugee, and multilingual community.
- Participate in required staff meetings, special education meetings, professional development, coaching, and other school activities.
- Maintain confidentiality and professionalism when handling scholar and family information.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Special Education or a related field required.
- Valid Minnesota special education teaching license or ability to obtain appropriate Minnesota licensure required.
- Knowledge of Minnesota academic standards and best practices in special education.
- Knowledge of IEP development, special education evaluations, progress monitoring, and compliance requirements.
- Strong instructional, classroom management, organization, and data-analysis skills.
- Ability to prioritize competing responsibilities and manage complex scholar case files.
- Strong collaboration and facilitation skills, including the ability to lead IEP and team meetings.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate professionally with diverse stakeholders.
- Experience working in a classroom as a teacher, substitute teacher, paraprofessional, or student teacher preferred.
- Demonstrated cultural responsiveness and commitment to NMA’s diverse community.
- Hmong language proficiency preferred.
Employment Eligibility
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. New Millennium Academy does not provide employment-based visa sponsorship. Candidates participating in an eligible J-1 program through an approved third-party sponsor may be considered based on program eligibility and position requirements.
