Middle School Special Education Teacher - Great River Connections Academy

School Summary

Great River Connections Academy (GRCA) is a tuition-free public online eSchool serving students in grades K-12 throughout Ohio beginning of the school year. GRCA is authorized by the Ohio Council of Community Schools and governed by an independent Board of Directors. The school is operated through a contract with Connections Academy of Ohio, LLC, to provide its educational program and other services. Connections Academy, a division of Connections Education, is accredited by AdvancED.

Position Summary and Responsibilities

Great River Connection Academy School seeks a Middle School Special Education Teacher to deliver specially designed instruction. Applicants must have an Ohio Certification to be considered. Also, Applicant must reside within 30 miles from an Ohio border. Working from your home office in Ohio, the Middle School Special Education Teacher will “virtually” manage instructional programs for students with special needs. The Middle School Special Education Teacher will participate in all steps of the IEP process. They will work closely with other teachers and special education professionals to ensure that the school’s special education program is successful and operating in compliance with federal and state regulations. The Middle School Special Education Teacher will utilize technology to deliver virtual instruction.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and provide instructional guidance, virtual teaching and general strategies for a caseload of students requiring direct and/or indirect services;
• Develop, write, implement, and monitor IEPs and 504 plans;
• Monitor student progress, complete report cards and conduct parent conferences;
• Communicate regularly with student’s IEP team, including; parents/learning coaches, related service providers, and other school staff to ensure their IEP goals are being met, and that their needs are addressed in a timely and appropriate fashion;
• Provide direct services to students, including services delivered through web-conferencing software, as needed;
• Schedule, organize and conduct IEP related meetings in a virtual environment, as needed;
• Participate in the school’s Student Support Team; help teachers and learning coaches develop and implement program modifications and strategies for all students;
• Assist, as needed, with the organization and proper implementation of all paperwork, documentation and procedures for the IEP process;
• Assist with the coordination of related service providers as mandated by their IEPs;
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date data in the school’s Learning Management System and special education software;
• Assist with administering state testing and coordinate the special adaptations that are required based on the IEP;
• Other duties as assigned.

Capabilities

• Customer Centric – Acts with a strong customer mindset (both internal and external) and is a visible advocate for the customer. Builds strong relationships with school staff, students and families and uses those to improve their experience and outcomes.
• Communications - A great communicator who engages teams and stakeholders with thoughtful delivery and messages that resonate. Confident Public Speaker. Produces high-quality written communications.
• Works well in a matrix - Models collaboration, solves problems efficiently and constructively with peers, builds trust and support. Agile and flexible in day-to-day operations and duties. Demonstrated ability to work well in fast-paced environment
• Takes personal responsibility – Can be relied on to complete tasks timely and well, demonstrates “ownership” regardless of the outcome, proactive in exploring and exploiting new opportunities. Shows a commitment to goal-directed management and accountability

Requirements

• Must have a valid Ohio Special Education Certificate
• Degree in Special Education or related Education Field
• Successful background checks or clearances, including the Child Abuse History Clearance
• Experience in policy (IDEA) and/or administration with Special Education
• Strong technology skills (especially with Microsoft Office products and Google Suite)
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Highly organized and punctual
• Customer-centric
• High degree of flexibility and agility
• Demonstrated ability to work well in fast paced environment
• Team player track record
• Willingness to travel for marketing, state testing and other school events (may require occasional overnight travel)
• Ability to effectively work remotely
• Must be able to use a personal electronic device and an email address for two-step authentication

Great River Connections Academy is accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC), and the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), which are accrediting divisions of Cognia.