Teacher- Special Education - Washington Connections Academy

School Summary:

Washington Connections Academy (WACA) is a tuition-free, virtual public school serving students in grades K-12 statewide. WACA has two schools under its umbrella of the shared-services model.  It operates in partnerships with the Mary M. Knight School District and Goldendale School District and is under contract with Connections Academy to provide its educational program and other services. Both Washington Connections Academy schools are accredited by Cognia and were recognized as Cognia Schools of Distinction in 2022. 

Position Summary:

This position is a remote, full-time position with regular hours between 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Applicants may live in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho. Certified Special Education Teacher will manage instructional special education programs. Through the use of the telephone, Internet, and various curriculum tools they will consult regularly with caretakers, Learning Coaches, and students to ensure that each student successfully completes their instructional program.

The Special Education Teacher works closely with the Special Education Director team. The Special Education Teacher will be responsible for the successful completion of the following tasks:

• Case Manager Roles
  • Manage and provide instructional guidance, virtual teaching and general strategies for a caseload of students
  • Develop, write, and help implement IEPs and 504 plans
  • Evaluate tests, assessments, or records reviews
  • Consult with teachers and coordinate the implementation of specially designed instruction as defined in the IEP regarding students with specific needs and potential learning issues
  • Schedule, organize and conduct IEP-related meetings in a virtual environment, as needed
  • Monitor the general education progress of students on an ongoing basis and work additionally with students who are struggling
  • Create lesson plans and provide direct services to students in weekly small group LiveLessons, co-planning or individually as needed
  • Assist with the organization and proper implementation of all paperwork, documentation and procedures for the IEP process Assist with administering state testing and coordinate the special adaptations that are required based on the IEP
  • Assist with locating service providers for students needing related services as mandated by their IEPs
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date data in the school’s Learning Management System and special education software; 
• Contact Roles
  • Communicate regularly with parents/learning coaches of students with special needs to ensure that their IEP goals are being met, and that their needs are addressed in a timely and appropriate fashion
  • Collaborate with teachers and learning coaches to ensure, develop and implement program modifications and strategies for all student
• Community Roles
  • Work with school staff to coordinate and attend social activities and relevant field trips for students and families, as required within school policy. When possible, integrate field trips and social activities into the curriculum
  • Devise and implement virtual methods of creating and maintaining a “school community”
  • Participate in the administration of the state testing, including in-person proctoring of WIDA and/or SBAC/WCAS testing at various locations around the state of Washington
  • Participate in student recruiting sessions and other marketing efforts that require staff representation
• Behind-The-Scenes Roles:
  • Be a collaborative member of IEP and 504 teams, as assigned, sharing course progress insights about students and providing feedback on goals and accommodations;
  • Work collaboratively and often within a professional learning community of grade- or content-level instructional staff to review student progress data related to a team-determined SMART goal, with the goal of the data driving instruction and support, and improving teaching practices
  • Work with Advisory Teachers and School Counselors to ensure students and families are receiving appropriate communications, students are making adequate progress, and established goals are being met within WSLP and/or graduation frameworks;
  • Attend and participate in in-person training sessions and team-building activities scheduled throughout the school year and throughout the state of Washington;
  • Report and refer critical incidents that jeopardize student well-being as obligated by law, administrative regulations, or ethical standards.  Stay abreast of all state regulations relating to incident reporting and documentation;
  • Take part in all assigned professional development and training, synchronous and asynchronous, including state-required training in SEL and DEI, and actively seek additional opportunities to grow and learn in the role;
  • Complete the duties of an assigned or volunteered-for representative or Career Ladder position that has a school-wide focus (examples include, and are not exclusive to, Attendance Rep, Communication Rep, or Elective Rep);
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

• Must have Washington teacher certification in Special Education
• Residence in Washington preferred
• Team player track record, highly flexible, and with a demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated strong technology skills (especially Microsoft Office and Google Suite products, synchronous classroom programs such as Zoom, third-party educational software such as Nearpod, and data collection and examination tools, including spreadsheets and databases)
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to communicate (listen and speak) effectively and appropriately with staff, students, and families from a wide range of cultural, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds.
• Excellent attention to detail, with proven time management and organizational skills, especially when working independently
• Demonstrated ability to work with colleagues to foster and encourage an inclusive work and school environment that is supportive of different groups of individuals, including people of different races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, genders, and sexual orientations.
• Student- and family-focused approach, with demonstrated ability to create an inclusive and culturally responsive classroom environment that supports and recognizes students of diverse backgrounds and identities. 
• Ability to travel for one, possibly two, weeks at a time for key school events, including overnight travel (including, but not limited to: back-to-school training, state testing, graduation ceremony, marketing events, and field trips)
• Must be able to use a personal electronic device and an email address for two-step authentication

Based on Experience and Education, the salary ranges from $40,000-55,000 

Washington Connections Academy strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. 

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet every one of our qualifications listed. If you are unsure whether you meet the qualifications of this position, please feel free to contact us to discuss your application.

Washington Connections Academy acknowledges that its school operations span the state of Washington and that we have families and staff who live and work on the traditional homelands of Washington's Indigenous Peoples who have lived on these lands since time immemorial. We wish to express deep respect and gratitude for the land itself and to the people whose history and lives are here.