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OPPORTUNITY:
We are seeking a mission aligned Special Education teacher to join the growing team at Rainier Valley Leadership Academy. Our ideal candidate is hard-working, entrepreneurial, and possesses a strong desire to foster high levels of academic achievement and socioemotional well-being with middle and high school scholars. We are looking for an individual who is passionate about scholars and excited to join a community-centered school driven to dismantle systemic oppression through the unit of the school .
RVLA employees are committed to continuing their own learning and refining their practice to stay current in the field, ensuring a quality education for all. RVLA offers weekly professional development, specialized cross-network professional development days in collaboration with others in the network, regular observations, coaching and feedback, and summer training for all staff. We believe strongly in providing training and support to all staff in order to enable strong teaching and learning in every classroom. Leadership opportunities are also available at RVLA.
To learn more about what it’s like to work at RVLA, please visit: wa.greendot.org/rvla.
ABOUT RAINIER VALLEY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY:
Rainier Valley Leadership Academy is located in Seattle’s thriving Southeast Seattle neighborhood. RVLA’s mission is driven by an unwavering belief in the potential of ALL scholars, eliminating barriers to learning and continuously striving for scholar success. We believe every scholar in every community deserves to go to a great school. With this belief in mind, RVLA opened its doors to a founding class of 6th grade scholars in August, 2017. In the Fall of 2018, it launched its high school with a founding class of 9th graders. We strive to build strong partnerships with scholars, families and community partners to foster a learning environment of belonging and community-centered leadership.
RVLA was originally launched as a Green Dot Washington school. Green Dot Washington is part of the larger Green Dot Public School network (www.greendot.org) which is one of the largest charter operators in the nation, focused on creating schools that relentlessly serve all learners.
Over the 2019-20 school year, RVLA is transitioning to become a community-centered, standalone school. As such, it is looking for team members who are inspired to lead this development of a locally-centered revisioning process that prioritizes community agency and our scholars’ voices.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Direct Instruction & Direct Services
- Provide support in all academic areas and effectively instruct students in a small group setting and/or the general education classroom.
- Plan accommodations/modifications necessary to provide access to students with disabilities to the core curriculum.
- Co-teach general education classes to increase service delivery for special education students in the general education classroom.
- Provide the following consultation services (and others, as they arise):
- Utilization of evaluation data for the accommodation and modification of instruction and curriculum
- Identification and assessment of behavior patterns in students
- Application of effective classroom management technique
- Identification of resources appropriate to individuals with exceptional needs to regular staff members, parents and guardians
- Behavior management of students who have emotional behavioral disabilities.
- Data collection
- Managing crisis situations
- Provide additional instruction in transition areas to support Individual Transition Plans.
- Provide direct support to student success teams (SST) and 504 teams by developing intervention plans for at-risk students.
- Collaborate with parents, administrators, testing specialists, school psychologists, social workers and other professionals to develop individual education plans designed to promote students’ educational, physical, and social development.
- Collaborate with general education teachers to assess and monitor students’ progress on a regular basis using informal and formal assessment tools.
- Teach personal development skills such as goal setting, independence, and self-advocacy.
- Guide and counsel students with adjustment and/or academic problems.
- Special projects and duties outside of primary teaching responsibilities as assigned.
Coordination of IEPs and Services
- Maintain accurate and complete student records and prepare IEPs for students on caseload, as required by laws, RVLAt policies and administrative regulations.
- Participate as a member of the IEP Team in decisions regarding placement and in the development of an IEP for students with behavioral disabilities.
- Analyze data when revising IEPs to provide accurate present level of performance.
- Coordinate the following:
- Referrals and assessment procedures
- IEP Team meetings
- Implementation of special education services provided to students with exceptional needs
- Collection of relevant information for students referred to the IEP program team
- Organization and distribution of special education media and materials for resources in general education classrooms
Additional Duties & Responsibilities of all RVLA Teachers
- Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence. Attend staff meetings, and serve on committees as required.
- Effectively instruct students in assigned content area(s) as prescribed by RVLA’s academic content standards through lecturing, demonstrating, and using audio-visual aids and other materials to supplement presentations with the overall goal of engaging student learning.
- Work as part of interdisciplinary team and within content areas planning and aligning curricula to ensure that instruction follows curriculum guidelines or requirements of state and school.
- Set clear short-term and long-term goals to drive instruction.
- Develop and submit weekly and long range unit plans containing standards, essential questions, assessments and lesson plans; assign lessons and review homework.
- Consistently administer tests to evaluate pupil progress, record results, and issue meaningful reports to inform parents of progress.
- Maintain the school’s student management policies and procedures (i.e. attendance records, dress code, etc.) and report to the school administrators when necessary.
- Maintain effective supervision and discipline in the classroom.
- Set clear short-term and long-term goals to drive instruction.
- Develop and submit weekly and long range lesson plans containing standards, objectives, essential questions, and assessments; assign lessons and review homework.
- Consistently administer tests to evaluate pupil progress, record results, and issue meaningful reports to inform parents of progress.
- Attend faculty and professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.
- Attend staff meetings, and serve on committees as required.
- Work as part of interdisciplinary team and within content areas planning and aligning curricula to ensure that instruction follows curriculum guidelines or requirements of state and school.
- Create and implement student intervention plans when necessary for students with special education program and general education students.
- Maintain the school’s student management policies and procedures (i.e., attendance records, dress code, etc.) and report to the school administrators when necessary.
- Work with other teachers and administrators to address and resolve student issues.
- Provide necessary accommodations and modifications for growth and success of all students
- Lead and participate in student activities such as: sponsoring student activities or student organizations, coaching a sports team, working with parents and the community as part of a committee or group, provide morning or after school supervision, and chaperoning student events.
- Abide by all state and federal mandates in reporting sexual or physical abuse and neglect.
- Special projects and duties outside of primary teaching responsibility as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Valid Washington State Teaching Credential with a Special Education endorsement
- If you do not hold a valid WA teaching credential you may qualify for an Emergency Teacher Certificate. To qualify for this certificate, you must meet the following criteria:
- Bachelor’s degree and
- Substantial completion of a teacher preparation program
- Click here to learn more about become a licensed teacher in Washington State
- If you do not hold a valid WA teaching credential you may qualify for an Emergency Teacher Certificate. To qualify for this certificate, you must meet the following criteria:
- Excellent collaborative and organizational skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Growth mindset and love of learning
- A strong ethical base and self-awareness
- Relentless commitment to and high standards for high quality execution
- Passionate with a high level of personal responsibility towards ambitious goals
- Strong sense of integrity, ethics, and drive to achieve and grow
- Humility, sense of humor, and rock-solid commitment to RVLA’s mission and the communities we serve
- Commitment to building programs from beginning to end
- Ability to multi-task and function in a high-energy environment
RVLA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strives for a balanced, productive workforce, which is diverse in terms of age, gender, and cultural identity. We do not base hiring or promotional decisions on factors other than performance and professional growth potential. Please note that we are unable to sponsor H-1B Visa applicants.
COMPENSATION:
Compensation for this role is competitive and based on education and experience. In addition, we offer a comprehensive benefits plan as well as the opportunity to impact a growing, mission-driven organization that is committed to the success of scholars in Southeast Seattle.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
If interested in this position, please email your resume and cover letter to apply@myrvla.org. Only applicants chosen for an interview will be contacted, and we interview and hire on a rolling basis. The start date for this position is early August, 2020.
RVLA does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights, 504 and Title IX Coordinator: Chastity Catchings, (206) 659-0956, chastity.catchings@myrvla.org, 6020 Rainier Ave. South Seattle, WA 98118.