SPED at DPA: Lead and/or Inclusion Support Teacher

Special Education Teacher Mission

To serve as a Special Education Teacher at Digital Pioneers Academy (DPA), a 6th-12th grade college preparatory school that will consistently rank as a Tier 1 Washington, DC public charter school. Our mission is to develop the next generation of innovators. We are committed to ensuring 100% of DPA scholars graduate from college and secure a high paying, high demand job.

Position Summary

A successful Digital Pioneers Academy 6th or 7th Grade Special Education Teacher will ensure that all DPA scholars meet the highest academic and behavior standards. We are committed to creating a community where every scholar and adult feels known, loved and respected. Teachers’ investment in building culture and character will prepare scholars to lead productive lives meeting the demands of the post-secondary arena and job market.

Teachers at DPA believe that all scholars can achieve at high levels. Teachers will hold primary responsibility for implementation of Digital Pioneers Academy's curriculum, creating corresponding Special Education experiences, and ensuring the success of its scholars. Teachers will provide rigorous educational experiences to propel scholar intellectual growth and mastery of learning standards.

Through our semi-self contained structure, in which each scholar cohort has two primary teachers: a STEM teacher and a Humanities teacher, partner teachers are able to co-plan personalized, context-specific interventions and targeted, holistic supports that carry through for their scholars across all core content areas. Special Education teachers may be leveraged as either a lead teacher (for STEM or Humanities) or push-in inclusion teacher.

At DPA, we operate as a team with one mission. We attract leaders in teaching with a successful track record of developing authentic relationships with scholars, families and professional peers. With a collective mission to develop the next generation of innovators, our teachers will develop ours scholars to not only consume, but create the digital economy.

Responsibilities

• Developing strong relationships with parents and scholars, creating investment in school culture and academics

• Implementing curricula and activities to meet academic standards

• Participate in collaborative content development, coursework and activities to ensure that accommodations are met in inclusive settings

• Oversee the drafting, implementation, and maintenance of IEPs and 504 plans

• Develop intervention plans with classroom teachers to ensure that student learning goals are clear and measurable and then track student success in meeting these goals

• Differentiate methodology to accommodate learning differences

• Effectively use technology in teaching and learning

• Infuse and encourage student demonstration of creative thinking, problem solving, critical thinking, scholarly writing, constructive dialog, cultural competence, strong decision making and creative solutions

• Designing and modify assessments that measure progress towards academic standards

• Using assessment data to refine curriculum and inform instructional practices

• Driving academic outcomes by analyzing scholar work and data, and implementing high leverage instructional moves to ensure dramatic gains for all scholars

• Participating in collaborative curriculum development, grade-level activities, and schoolwide functions

• Collaborating with partner lead teacher(s) to create consistent structures and systems for your shared cohort of scholars

• Co-lead child study team meetings

• Teach basic academic and life processes skills

• Serving as an advisor to a small group of scholars

Qualifications

Our middle school teachers are results oriented and strive to improve the minds and lives of scholars in and out of the classroom:

• Proven track-record of high achievement in the classroom

• Minimum of two years teaching experience in an urban public or charter school setting

• Have experience working with students who have disabilities (cognitive, emotional or physical);

• Evidence of self-motivation, diligence and willingness to be a team player

• Strong interpersonal skills and high moral character

• Bachelor's degree with an outstanding record of academic achievement and leadership is required; Master’s degree is preferred

• Belief in and alignment with Digital Pioneers Academy’s core beliefs and educational philosophy is non-negotiable

Additional Characteristics of DPA Teachers

• Effective communication with scholars, families, and colleagues

• Cultivate a classroom environment in which scholars express a love for learning, reading, English Language Arts, and Social studies

• Motivate scholars to think critically and take ownership over their own learning

• Orchestrate innovative problem solving through multiple representations, meaningful mathematical discourse, and productive struggle

• Provide consistent rewards and/or consequences for scholar behavior

• Be accountable for scholars’ mastery of academic standards

• Collaborate with colleagues and school leaders to receive targeted, in-the-moment feedback on instruction

Compensation and Benefits

Digital Pioneers Academy offers a highly competitive salary based on experience and an excellent and comprehensive benefits package.

To Apply

Interested candidates should follow the link below to apply for this position. https://www.digitalpioneersacademy.org/careers/

Digital Pioneers Academy is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.