Position: SPECIAL NEEDS TEACHER

Location: WestCOP Therapeutic, Granite Springs, NY
Full Time; Salary: $50,000-$55,000; Benefits
To Apply: Email resume and cover letter to Natalie Lattarulo (nlattarulo@westcop.org)
Minimum Requirements: Master’s Degree in Special Education, NYS Certification in Special Education

Job Description:

To be responsible for the creation and provision of the appropriate environment and experience to foster the physical, social , emotional, and intellectual growth of preschool children with special needs.

Responsibilities:

  • Ensure compliance with OCFS/NYS Standards for Children with Disabilities.
  • Display knowledge about the nature of development during the first six years of life.
  • Demonstrate the ability to plan and implement developmentally appropriate activities for preschool children with disabilities.
  • Be able to observe and evaluate preschool children with disabilities.
  • Coordinate a team effort that encourages initiative, promotes cooperative planning, motivates leadership abilities and provides concrete suggestions for improvement.
  • Demonstrate interpersonal skills for working with professionals from other disciplines, with families and with agencies.
  • Knowledge of early childhood curriculum, NYS learning standards and early literacy competencies.
  • Develop a curriculum that follows regular developmental sequence, with adaptation to accommodate varied ability and functioning levels.
  • Coordinate instructional support staff.
  • Provide methods of behavior support and management that are individualized to meet the functional behavioral needs of each child.
  • Provide a variety of opportunities for preschool children with disabilities to interact with typically developing peers.
  • Monitor program activities and services frequently and make changes in programming as needed in accordance with children’s IEPs.
  • Work with related service staff to provide the appropriate service model to meet each child’s IEP goals and objectives.
  • Consider each child’s cultural background, preferred language, interests, current level of performance and IEP goals and objectives when implementing services.
  • Prepare progress reports for parent conferences and annual reviews.
  • Provide opportunities to maximize communication between teacher and child, teacher and parent, and child and peers.
  • Arrange periodic conferences and visit with parents for the purpose of sharing information and reporting on a child’s growth.
  • Attend staff meetings, committee meetings, training sessions, and parent meetings when applicable.
  • Attend job-related outside courses, workshops, lectures, and conferences for professional development.
  • Maintain confidentiality of students, parents, program, and all materials handled in the performance of duties and responsibilities.