Academic Specialist – SPED

About Spring Lake Park Schools

Welcome to Spring Lake Park Schools! We are a vibrant school community serving about 6,200 students from the suburbs of Blaine, Fridley and Spring Lake Park, in the northern Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Our district purpose — “High expectations, high achievement for all. No excuses” – provides our focus to meet the unique and varied needs of each student.

Spring Lake Park Schools is recognized for our commitment to personalized learning, creating a culture of innovation and creativity through human-centered design thinking. We are working to create a system – a culture with a methodology and set of processes – where teachers and staff have the freedom, flexibility and invitation to design new ways of learning centered around deepening student engagement to continuously improve student success.

Position Overview:

1.0 FTE Special Education teaching position to work with students with disabilities at Park Terrace Elementary, grades K-4.
The successful candidate will be an individual who …

… firmly believes:
all students can and will learn, and that their learning can be directly influenced by focusing on factors over which we have control;
in the need to work interdependently with teachers, school, and district leaders throughout the system, aligning the work of adults around improving student learning by meeting the needs, interests, and aspirations of students;
in the need to work in partnership with staff to continuously improve practices to enhance student and family engagement, creating the conditions for equity, excellence and student success; and
in personalizing learning for students, meeting academic, social, and emotional needs and aspirations so that each student feels valued and has a sense of belonging, leading to academic success.

Primary Responsibilities:

Duties of this job include, but are not limited to…creating and delivering ability and age appropriate lessons in a setting 2/3 classroom;

• collaborating with another teacher and paraprofessionals in order to meet students’ needs;
• communicating with parents to provide regular updates on student successes and challenges;
• collaborating with principals, special education coordinator and staff, and professional learning communities,
• to ensure student needs are being met;
• maintaining student records of services provided, following Due Process best practices and compliance;
• participate in IEP and evaluation summary meetings; and
• perform other related duties, as assigned

Experience:

Desired previous experience/knowledge includes…successfully working with students with Emotional Behavior Disorders (EBD), Autism Spectrum Disorders, or Other Health Disabilities, and a strong desire to do so;

• writing solid Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs);
• applying current trends in the field of behavior interventions and support;
• utilizing standardized assessment tools;
• effectively collaborating with a team; and
• constructively communicating with parent/guardian and team members.

Qualifications:

• A current Minnesota Special Education Teaching License in ABS, EBD, or ASD.
• The ability to lift up to 50 pounds (and/or up to adult-size body weight with two-to-three-person lift).

Salary:
Highly competitive salary and benefit package for the region.

How to Apply:

Applications will be reviewed as received and qualified candidates will be interviewed until the position is filled.  Individuals who wish to be considered for this position must apply online at https://www.applitrack.com/district16/onlineapp/default.aspx.  Only qualified and appropriately licensed individuals will be considered for an interview.

With inquiries, please don’t hesitate to contact Cyndi Steinke, Management Assistant – Student Support Services, at [email protected] or 763.600.5081 or Mona Perkins, principal at Park Terrace Elementary, at [email protected] or 763-600-5601.

Equity is one of Spring Lake Park Schools’ core values and is essential to our goal of putting children first to ensure college and career readiness. A diverse workforce fuels innovation and allows us to better understand, communicate with, and educate our students.  Spring Lake Park Schools will not deny anyone the opportunity for training or employment because of sex, race, religion, color, creed, national origin, marital status, age, sexual preference, disability, or status with regard to public assistance.