Middle School Special Education Teacher - SY 2024-25

The Special Educator Role

This position teaches 6th - 8th grades both inside and outside the general education setting. We value the unique insights and expertise of experienced results-oriented special educators and will leverage their capacity to support a variety of learners across our school model. We aspire to connect the children of Washington, D.C. with the high-demand, high-growth careers of the future by providing a personalized learning environment paired with high expectations for student learning. You will be part of a collaborative and structured team to create a new kind of learning environment with students.

As an EL Education school, our Special Educators will engage students in meaningful, authentic, and productive work that allows them to demonstrate mastery of rigorous learning targets. Teachers will have the following primary responsibilities:

Instruction & Assessment:

• Co-teach and co-plan with other teachers to design and model excellent and inclusive instruction that improves access to grade-level content, and implements principles and components of EL Education
• Deliver direct and indirect specialized instruction services to students with disabilities in multiple settings - within both general and special education classrooms
• Work within an interdisciplinary team to plan expeditions
• Conduct ongoing assessment of student work using multiple tools including informal and formal educational assessments, anecdotal records, performance assessments with rubrics, exams, etc.
• Use student data to drive instructional decision-making and to collaborate with students to regularly communicate student growth, needs, and performance
• Use blended learning tools and a personalized learning platform to differentiate instruction in the classroom
• Differentiate instruction and provide accommodations and other supports as needed

Special Education Case Management:

• Use student data to drive instructional decision-making and to collaborate with the student to regularly communicate student growth, needs, and performance
• Review, plan, update and develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for each student on your caseload
• Proactively and consistently communicate with individual parents/guardians and the rest of the IEP team via meeting, phone, or email
• Implement IEPs and track student progress towards goals
• Manage and monitor implementation of 504 plans if applicable 
• Supervise and mentor teacher assistants and/or dedicated aides who may work with students with disabilities
• Prepare and help students transition from grade to grade and to college and/or career after secondary graduation

Culture:

• Model and teach Habits of Character that guide students to become effective learners and ethical people
• Use classroom management techniques that make use of restorative and clinical practices, promote equity, and create a respectful, collaborative, and growth-minded culture
• Collaborate with the school counselor to address student needs in a supportive role
• Lead a “Crew” of 10-12 students, incorporating community-building activities and mentoring; communicate regularly with students in their Crew and their parents
• Identify and regularly participate in Adult "Crew" and professional development opportunities that promote self-efficacy, self-care, and anti-oppression instructional and leadership capacity growth. 

Abilities, Knowledge, and Mindset You Bring to Capital Village:

• Bachelor's degree REQUIRED
• Explicit coursework in Special Education highly preferred
• Demonstration of deep expertise in inclusion, differentiated instruction, and best practices in field, IDEA, DC regulations, and ADA
• Valid Certification in Special Education (DC preferred) or eligible within one year
• At least 3 years of full-time teaching experience as special education teacher and/or special education case manager (middle school in an urban setting preferred)
• Experience with EL Education and/or a personalized learning platform (highly preferred)
• Demonstration of successful impact on student learning growth; ability to provide clear and specific feedback to students/families; and skills to differentiate instruction for every child
• Evidence of ability to accept and incorporate feedback from leaders and peers
• Experience in and desire for building learning environments and implementing discipline policies grounded in restorative justice, social-emotional learning, and anti-oppression teaching/management practices preferred
• Strong attention to detail, with significant organizational skills
• Ability to work collaboratively and flexibly with a diverse team of teachers
• Entrepreneurial mindset, with the drive, passion to innovate, and tolerance of ambiguity needed for a startup environment
• Bonus: Multilingual or certified/trained to support English Language Learners

The Tangible Good

We offer competitive compensation and a benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, life insurance, retirement matching, paid parental leave, and more. We also offer a generous paid time off policy and a robust and personalized professional development program.

Physical Requirements

Must be able to use a variety of equipment and classroom tools such as computers, copiers, and equipment for children, etc. Must be able to exert a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Due to the amount of time spent standing and/or walking, physical requirements are consistent with those for Light Work.

Capital Village is excited to build a diverse founding team, and we encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy/parenthood, veteran status, or disability. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodations, please let us know.