Founding 9th Grade Special Education Teacher (SY 22-23)

Company: Veritas Prep Charter School
Location: Springfield
Posted on: May 12, 2022

Job Description:

About Veritas Prep

Veritas Prep Charter School was founded as a middle school in 2012 with a mission of preparing students to compete, achieve, and succeed in high school, college, and beyond. As Veritas grew, so did the number of family members, students, and parents asking one question: When are you going to start a high school?

With our community calling on us for support at the high school level, we knew we had to act, and VPCS was approved for expansion to high school in the fall of 2022! In 20-21, we gathered a diverse high school design team, bringing together Springfield community members, current and former Veritas students and families, and Veritas teachers, leaders, and staff. With the right voices at the table we have been able to reimagine what high school can look like and create a compelling career-focused Early College model aligned to our vision of a Veritas Prep High School Graduate, captured in the portrait below. We are excited to launch an innovative high school where we can continue to support our students to compete, achieve, and succeed!

Portrait of a VPHS Graduate

The Role: What You'll Do

As the Founding 9th grade Special Education Teacher at Veritas Prep High School you'll provide instructions, services, support, and accommodations to students with special education needs, collaborating with teachers, counselors, related service providers, and staff to ensure students with disabilities can access grade-level curriculum. You'll work with a team to create a community where students of all identities feel safe, seen, and included, centering students in the classroom and school community and fostering student-led discourse, critical thinking, and leadership skills. You'll also collaborate with content and grade level colleagues and our higher education partners for coherence and alignment in our work and efficiency in preparing students with special education needs for the next level.

You'll also:

• Develop and track student progress toward IEP goals with fidelity
• Serve as liaison for caseload of students
• Lead and support Teaching Assistants to implement student supports
• Study and internalize subject area content and curriculum and prepare for daily instruction by completing daily lesson preparation, including appropriate accommodations, for students on your caseload
• Develop modified curriculum that is aligned to grade-level standards
• Deliver rigorous, standards-based lessons and assessments to small groups using key instructional strategies
• Integrate social emotional program and skills into both formal and informal teaching moments with students
• Plan and lead data-driven small group and individual tutoring sessions daily with students
• Participate actively in weekly student support meetings and content level planning meetings
• Participate in weekly or bi-weekly coaching meetings, incorporating feedback into daily teaching and planning practices
• Build positive, meaningful relationships with colleagues, students, parents, and families
• Engage in learning about racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion in education and be a champion for anti-racist education
• Learn, contribute to and use school-wide routines and systems that help our school run smoothly and keep the focus on teaching and learning
• Use data to make decisions and to support the growth of our students in the classroom
• Support the development of valuable college and career readiness skills and embed this skill-building into your lessons and daily interactions
• Build deep relationships and actively partner and communicate with parents, families, and community partners
• Engage in learning about and supporting anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion in education
• Support a school-wide student-centered culture, providing opportunities for student feedback and leadership
• Collaborate with the founding 9th grade academic, leadership, and operations team to ensure a smooth and successful launch
  
  Requirements
  
  What You'll Need
  
  • An unwavering belief that all students can achieve amazing things
  • Relentless pursuit of a classroom that centers students and continuously improves learning outcomes
  • A passion for continuous growth as an educator
  • Exceptional communication and collaboration skills
  • A dedication to fighting racism in our educational institutions and in daily life and knowledge of the history of race and racism, as well as the systems of oppression our students face
  • A commitment to creating engaging learning experiences that are relevant to our students' lives and prepare them for success in an early college setting
  • One to two years of teaching experience (preferably at the secondary level)
  • Deep knowledge of best practices, supports, and interventions for students with disabilities
  • Deep knowledge of special education regulations
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Have or be eligible for a MA teaching license in Moderate Disabilities
  • SEI endorsement within one year of employment
  • Current authorization to work in the United States - a candidate must have such authorization by his or her first day of employment
    
    Wondering if you should apply? Are you passionate about giving every child access to an education that will prepare them for wherever life takes them? Have you been thinking about a career change? Do you have experience working with children? Are you a life-long learner who thrives on feedback? If you answered yes, you should apply!
    
    Think you don't quite meet all the qualifications listed above? Apply anyway! We are looking for a truly diverse team of educators, and research shows that historically marginalized groups are less likely to apply if they do not meet every requirement. We are working to become an anti-racist organization and want to recruit and support a diverse staff, to understand the history of inequity in education, and to ensure students see teachers, staff, and leaders who look like them working in their schools.
    
    Still not sure? Set up a call with a recruiter by emailing recruitment@vpcs.org.
    
    Veritas Prep is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employees or qualified job applicants on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran or military status, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, or any other status or condition protected by applicable law. This policy extends to, but is not limited to, recruitment, selection, compensation, benefits, promotion, training, and termination.
    
    Benefits
    
    About Veritas Prep
    
    Veritas Prep Charter School (VPCS) was founded in Springfield in 2012 with the mission to prepare students in grades 5-8 to compete, achieve, and succeed in high school, college, and beyond. VPCS now serves more than 370 Springfield students and is one of Massachusetts' top-performing middle schools. We are excited to develop a high school for our Springfield scholars that will launch in the fall of 2022 with 100 students in Grade 9, and will ultimately serve roughly 350 students in grades 9-12.
    
    Veritas Prep schools provide a college prep curriculum in a safe, positive, and rigorous learning environment that allows students to thrive both academically and socially. Our educators believe in expecting the best from every student and in the power of building strong relationships with students and families, creating a community that supports the achievement of all. To learn more about Veritas Prep and the close-knit academic community of teachers and scholars in Springfield, check out this video and visit veritasprepma.org.

Keywords: Veritas Prep Charter School, Springfield , Founding 9th Grade Special Education Teacher (SY 22-23), Education / Teaching , Springfield, Massachusetts