Special Education Liasion

Summary

This position will provide college awareness and preparation services for middle and high school students in the Norristown Area School District (NASD) and Pottstown School District in order to meet the requirements of the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) program. The GEAR UP program is funded by a U.S. Department of Education grant and provides services and resources to a cohort of students with the goal of increasing high school graduation and college awareness, acceptance, and readiness.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Work with students in grades 7-12 who have a wide variety of socioemotional and mental health needs and/or learning disabilities
• Assess students' skills to determine their needs and to develop teaching plans
• Plan, organize, and assign activities that are specific to each student's abilities
• Teach and mentor students as a class, in small groups, and one-on-one
• Assess student progress and determine the need for additional reinforcement or adjustments to instructional techniques
• Establish and maintain student control and discipline in the classroom, school premises or during school activities
• Employ and implement a classroom structure to encourage student responsibility, cooperation and mutual respect consistent with school policies and procedures
• Provide consultation to classroom teachers regarding classroom adaptations, instructional modifications, adaptive equipment, behavior modification plans and other similar instructional interventions to meet the needs of students
• Develop and implement Individualized Educational Program (IEP) plans for students to include: present levels of educational performance, special education needs, instructional goals and objectives, and the special education and related services required to meet those goals
• Implement IEPs, assess students' performance, and track their progress
• Update IEPs throughout the school year to reflect students' progress and goals
• Discuss student's progress with parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators
• Employ various teaching techniques, methods and principles of learning to enable students to meet their IEP goals
• Provide research-based specialized instruction to address the instructional goals and objectives contained within each student's IEP
• Coordinate the delivery of special education services in each student's IEP
• Supervise and mentor other teachers who work with special education students
• Collaborate with teachers, counselors, and social workers to accommodate students' needs
• Meet with parents, school administrators, and counselors to discuss updates and changes to the IEPs
• Schedule team meetings and work cooperatively with child study team members and others to develop instructional goals and strategies
• Collaborate and consult with educational professionals and community service providers (i.e., social services, public health, medical providers etc.) regarding the needs of students
• Complete all district and state reporting requirements
• Perform other comparable duties of a like or similar nature apparent or as assigned

Skills

• Excellent communication and relationship building skills
• Ability to work effectively on a multi-treatment team
• Knowledge and experience with IEP software
• Strong substance abuse intervention skills
• Knowledge of and ability to access community resources
• Proficient in numerous clinical interventions

Education and Experience

Bachelor's Degree and Pennsylvania Special Education Certification (7-12 or N-12).

Hours of Work

This is a full-time, 40 hours per week, 10-month position for duration of grant period.

Work Environment

Office and school settings.

Travel

Travel to various school sites in Norristown Area School District and Pottstown School District.