Inclusion Teacher – Creative Minds International Public Charter School – Washington, DC

Creative Minds is seeking Inclusion Teachers for the 2015-2016 School Year.

About Creative Minds International PCS

Creative Minds International Public Charter School (CMIPCS) is a tuition-free school for DC public school students. The school will be located in the Petworth neighborhood of Washington D.C., at 3700 North Capital Street, NW, beginning in August 2015. The program serves students in grades pre-school through fifth grade, with the goal of expanding to include a middle school in the year 2016-17.

CMIPCS offers a highly engaging, international curriculum with project- and arts-based activities that foster creativity, self-motivation, social and emotional development, and academic excellence. Our unique program is based on an inclusive philosophy of education and a holistic pedagogical approach. To facilitate the achievement of our program goals, we have limited class size to 17 students (with 2 to 3 teachers or assistant teachers) in each classroom, and will be providing teachers opportunities for weekly planning and collaboration. The components of our education model include:

The International Primary Curriculum (thematic, interdisciplinary, arts-integrated units based on Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory)

Foreign language instruction (Spanish, Mandarin, and French)
Arts Education (Music, Visual Arts, Drama)
Dr. Stanley Greenspan’s Developmental Approach to Education
A highly diverse student and teacher population
A unique synthesis between charter and private school design elements

Responsibilities

The Inclusion Teacher collaborates with the Special Education Coordinator, related service providers, and general education staff. She or he supports classroom teachers in the delivery of specialized instruction to maximize student learning. She/he will also provide direct services to students who need additional supports inside the general education classroom, in small group instruction, or one-on-one as needed. The position includes the following responsibilities:

Provide an inviting, exciting, innovative, learning environment;
Provide direct and indirect instruction to specified students as needed;
Long and short-term planning with teachers and parents to address individual needs of students;
Support classroom teachers in the implementation of IEP goals, design instructional supports by modifying/adapting curriculum, develop and implement behavior plans and provide instruction to students;
Prepare quarterly individual student progress reports;
Communicate with families regarding service delivery and progress;
Encourage families’ involvement in students’ educational goals;
Consult with the grade-level teaching team on a weekly basis to review student progress;
Document and report student progress toward achievement of annual goals by collecting and interpreting data;
Attend and participate in parent conferences and IEP meetings;
Act as a resource to staff;
Provide supervision and training to one-on-one Dedicated Aide working with students in the classroom;
Participate in continued professional growth activities to advance knowledge of effective instructional curriculum and methodologies for students with special needs;
Attend the two-week summer institute and other required professional development sessions.

Qualifications

Masters degree in special education;
3+ years of full-time teaching experience;
Experience working with special needs students in an inclusive setting;
Commitment to the success of each and every student;
Demonstrated communication skills;
Demonstrated ability and experience to engage the interest of school‐age children;
Demonstrated ability to work with diverse children;
Teaching experience in a public or private school, preferably in an urban setting;
Demonstrated ability to work well with parents;
Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a team member;
Knowledge of state requirements for special education;
Experience in writing and monitoring IEPs and communicating with families and service providers to support students;
Commitment to professional growth.

Additional Desired Characteristics

Experience using the Special Education Data System (SEDS/EasyIEP);
Specialized and differentiated methods of instruction for a wide variety of students and their needs;
Evaluative strategies to assess the effective delivery of special education services and support.

How to apply

Please provide resume, cover letter, and two letters of reference regarding the applicant’s qualifications for this position to Amita Lathigra, at amita.lathigra@creativemindspcs.org.

Creative Minds International PCS is an Equal Opportunity employer. Personnel are chosen on the basis of ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status or sexual orientation, in accordance with federal and state law.

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