This is a 1.0 FTE, 9 months.

Grass Lake Elementary School is located in a natural setting in the southeast corner of the Kent School district. Grass Lake serves a number of housing divisions and has an enrollment of approximately 410 students. The regular teaching staff is supported by music and physical education specialists, a full-time librarian/technology specialist, dean of students, and an intervention/ELL teacher. Special student needs are met through accommodations in the general ed classrooms, the resource room program, the school adjustment program, and the Odyssey Self-Contained Highly Capable program. Grass Lake is a school that believes in teamwork, dedication, innovation, effective teaching practices, staff involvement in the decision-making process, and doing whatever it takes to help all students learn. Active parent involvement is sought and appreciated. Grass Lake has an active and supportive PTA.

ASSIGNMENT: The School Adjustment Programs are for students in elementary through senior high school who demonstrate serious emotional-behavioral difficulties and have average cognitive functioning. This teacher will plan, coordinate and provide services for students, parents and staff to assess and improve the effectiveness of education within the Kent School District; work with staff, families and/or agencies to develop needed service options; cooperate with the special education director, principals, staff members and community in implementation of a comprehensive instructional program for special needs students.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This position is part of the KEA bargaining unit.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Appropriate Washington State teaching certification with appropriate endorsements required (must include Special Education) and must be on file prior to beginning work.
2. Ability and willingness to provide medical or health services such as catheterization, diapering, toileting, feeding, tube feeding and assisting students with other activities involving self-care, which may be required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Bachelor's or master's degree with major/minor in special education
2. ELL endorsement
3. Experience with seriously behaviorally disabled students.
4. Must have specific knowledge of social skills development.
5. Ability to work with teachers, support staff, mental health professionals and families.
6. Thorough knowledge of special education laws and the ability to plan, implement and evaluate individualized programs for students.
7. Background/experience in team teaching (in-class and pull-out models) and be willing to work with high needs students.
8. Ability to establish rapport with staff, students, community, and create strong interagency linkages.
9. Possess strong management skills and the ability to develop and implement programs based on individual student needs (physical, personal hygiene, feeding, communications, transition, etc.), establish goals, and plan in-service and activities to meet those stated goals.
10. Knowledge of differing student learning styles.
11. Comfortable with team teaching, integration with regular classroom, inclusion, and some small groups.
12. Demonstrated strength in a variety of behavior management approaches.
13. Ability to exhibit multicultural and ethnic understanding and sensitivity with the ability to communicate effectively with all cultural groups in the school community.
14. Experience working with a diverse student population and the specific school demographics
15. Desired teacher characteristics are: flexibility; ability to organize ideas, time and materials to accomplish goals; enthusiasm; ability to express ideas clearly and understand concepts being discussed; ability to learn new ideas and skills; ability and willingness to develop favorable relationships with students; knowledge of current approaches to teaching; and willingness to model behavior deemed appropriate by the school district and the community.