Special Education Teacher- Excel Center Lafayette

Are you looking for a more flexible teaching career than the traditional school setting? Do you enjoy being part of a supportive and mission-based community focused on enhancing generational impact? At the Lafayette Goodwill Excel Center, school days are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Mondays through Thursdays are instructional and Fridays are flexible/preparatory days each week.

This is for the 2024-25 school year and the general salary range for this position is $48-$64K.

Under the direction of the school director, the Special Education (SPED) Instructor plans and provides for appropriate learning experiences for students with disabilities in accordance with a student's Individual Education Program (IEP). The Instructor creates a flexible program and learning environment that provides specialized instruction for students with disabilities, such that the students benefit from the general education curriculum to the greatest extent possible when assisted with supplemental aids, accommodations, and other needed supports.

Example Duties and Activities

• Designs and implements curricula and assessments that meet academic standards and measure progress towards student mastery of the Indiana Academic Standards, Common Core State Standards, and 21st Century Skills.

• Holds case conference committee meetings to assist in developing measurable goals and benchmarks to meet students' needs.

• Maintains accurate and compliant student records (IEPs and 504s) and prepares documentation as required by law.

• Regularly monitors the implementation of the student's IEP and provides progress reports to the staff, student, and/or family.

• Develops compliant and comprehensive transition plans.

• Maintains visibility in school building through classroom push-ins and communicates relevant information and data to staff.

• Identifies and tracks relevant student/school data/staff performance to set improvement and/or achievement goals and to drive future evaluation and feedback.

• Develops personal professional/performance goals and action plans to reach goals. Reflects on prior goals and makes adjustments to professional practice and goals.

• Works directly with the school director to develop and implement school-wide goals around graduation outcomes, enrollment needs, student achievement, retention, etc.

• Assists staff with professional development, training, and goal setting.

• Sets and maintains a high-performance culture for staff and students.

• Participates in student recruitment, enrollment, and outreach efforts.

• Supports the school community by attending events, outreach opportunities, etc.

• Perform other duties as needed that are assigned by school leadership.

Required Competencies

• Degree and Credential Requirements - Bachelor's degree in Special Education and a current Indiana Teaching Certification in Special Education-Mild and/or Intense Intervention.

• Industry Standards - Displays a working knowledge of the Indiana Academic Standards, Common Core State Standards, and 21st Century Skills and knowledge of disciplinary literacy.

• Federal, State, and Local Compliance - Demonstrates comprehension of federal, state, and local mandates governing the determination and delivery of special education services.

• Observations and Information Monitoring/Reporting - Is adept at performing student observations. Creates, collects, reviews, and maintains information to manage or improve the achievement of learning behaviors and goals.

• Organizational Aptitude - Plans and attends to details and pursues quality in accomplishing multiple tasks in an organized and timely fashion. Exhibits careful attention to detail and follow-through.

• Informed Decision-Making - Identifies and comprehends issues, problems, and opportunities; compares data from different sources to draw conclusions; uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; takes action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences.

• Communication Skills - Articulates thoughts and expresses ideas effectively using oral, written, visual and non-verbal communication skills, as well as listening skills to comprehend others' needs. Delivers information in person, in writing, and in a digital world.

• Coaching - Provides timely guidance and effective feedback to empower others to strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas needed to improve instruction.

• Teamwork - Works well with others and makes valued contributions in a team setting in order to achieve the required goals and outcomes. Contributes to creating a positive learning environment that promotes productivity, mentoring, teamwork, and partnership.

• Adaptability - Maintains effectiveness when experiencing shifts in priorities; adjusts effectively while maintaining a positive learning environment.

Preferred Requirements

• Technical Knowledge - Has working knowledge of G Suite and MS Office, as well as student information systems and Indiana's online IEP system.

Other Requirements

• Background Screening - All candidates must pass a pre-employment background check.

Benefits: Full-time employees may participate in a comprehensive benefits program that includes:

• Continuing education and leadership development as well as tuition reimbursement

• Comprehensive health plan

• Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays

• Life, dental and vision insurance

• Short- and long-term disability plans

• Parental and sabbatical leaves

• Nationally recognized preventive health and wellness program

• Section 125 pretax health spending account, dependent care spending account, and premiums

• Retirement plan with generous match or contribution into Teachers' Retirement Fund for eligible employees

• Eligible for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

Goodwill Education Initiatives

Goodwill strongly believes it is essential to raise education attainment levels in Indiana. Not only are the lifetime earnings of high school graduates significantly higher than those of dropouts, children of high school graduates are 50% less likely to drop out of high school than the children of dropouts are. Goodwill provides opportunities for adults (The Excel Center) and youth (Indianapolis Metropolitan High School).

The Excel Center Model

The Excel Center is operated by Goodwill Education Initiatives, Inc., a not-for-profit organization formed by Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana.

Recognizing that nearly a half million working-age Hoosiers lack a high school diploma, Goodwill opened The Excel Center for adults in 2010. The Excel Center is a tuition-free public high school for adults offering an Indiana Core 40 high school diploma.

Mission and Values: click here