Job Description

Special Education Teacher (K-8)

The mission of Firestone Charter Academy is to positively shape the hearts and minds of our students by providing them a core knowledge curriculum with a classical emphasis that is academically rigorous and content rich, a safe environment in which character is modeled and promoted, and a community in which to build trusting relationships with others.

Firestone Charter Academy Special Education teachers will inspire and prepare students for a future success through:

• Employing special education strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory and perceptual motor skills, language, cognition and memory.
• Teaching socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
• Modifying the general education curriculum for special-needs students based upon a variety of instructional techniques and technologies.
• Conferencing with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, and professionals to develop individual educational plans designed to promote each student's educational, physical and social development.
• Meeting with parents and/or guardians to discuss their children's progress, and to determine their priorities for their children and their resource needs.
• Supporting children's emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and a positive self-image.
• Experience administering academic achievement assessments (WIAT-III, KTEA-3, WRAT-5, etc).
• Coordinating interpretation and transcription of regular classroom materials through Braille and sign language as needed.
• Consult with other school staff as necessary to complete the functions of the position.
• Complete written reports and assigned administrative tasks related to these functions, such as student's progress in educational, physical and social development.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree
• Valid Special Education Teaching Endorsement
• Experience with Assessment (KTEA, WIATT, etc.)
• Practical experience writing formal individual education plans
• Practical and professional knowledge of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)
• Experience constructing schedules with a team
• Strong collaboration skills
• Knowledge of a variety of teaching models (coteaching, inclusion, direct instruction, etc)
• Knowledge of a variety of literacy methodologies
• Knowledge of developmental stages of mathematical thinking

Additional Preferred Qualifications:

• Education: Master's Degree in Special Education
• Experience: 3+ Years in special education instruction, including coteaching experience.
• Knowledge, Ability & Skills: Strong oral, written and interpersonal skills; ability to perform independently. Ability to remain pleasant and helpful under sometimes-stressful circumstances. Excellent organizational skills and the ability to prioritize and multitask when necessary. Knowledge of applicable federal and state regulations and statutes and theory and practice of student learning styles. Ability to communicate cooperatively and constructively with other staff, students and parents in a multi-cultural environment.

Pay Range:

FCA Special Education teachers are paid on the current SVVSD pay scale. The salary range is from $62,500-$84,400 for the 2024/25 school year.

To apply, complete the online application, and upload a letter of interest, a current resume, transcripts, licensure details, and three letters of recommendation/reference. Email the school Principal, Jessica Cervantes at Jessica.Cervantes@firestonecharteracademy.org with any questions.

Firestone Charter Academy is an award-winning PK-8 public charter school that opened in 2008 as Imagine Charter School at Firestone. In June 2020 the school became Firestone Charter Academy, retaining the mission and vision, staff, and culture of the original school. The school lies within the St. Vrain Valley School District. FCA uses a Core Knowledge curriculum with a classical approach.

As a public school of choice, Firestone Charter Academy is operated by a Governing Board made up of parents and community members. We are governed by a contract between the Governing Board and the St Vrain Valley school district.

Our Commitment:

• A professional staff and content-rich curriculum that challenges students at all levels to achieve.
• Small communities within the school that enable students to form strong relationships with their peers and adults.
• A welcoming and respectful environment for each family, and opportunities for families to be involved in many aspects of the school.
• An emphasis on each student's positive character development through role-modeling, curricular emphasis, and community service.
• Financial accountability and stewardship of resources in a way that enables our school to be sustainable.

Firestone Charter Academy prioritizes our employee's health and well-being. As part of that priority, we offer a choice of Employee Benefit plans, Employee Assistance Plans, and access to wellness programming through our benefit providers.

All positions are eligible for PERA (pension) and several Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) offered by our providers.

All Full Time (over 30 hours) positions are also eligible for Employer paid Basic Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Short & Long term Disability, Health/Dental/Vision insurance, Accident/Critical illness plans, additional voluntary Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Insurance and wellness programs/discounts from our providers.

The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts associated with wheelchairs and/or other adapted equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

MENTAL FUNCTIONS The employee will be required to be able to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to compare, analyze, communicate, instruct, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, negotiate, and prioritize. The employee is frequently required to copy, coordinate, compute, synthesize, and compile.

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