Job Description
Job Title: Special Education Teacher
Reports to: Principal
Dept./School: Assigned Campus
Exemption Status: Exempt/Professional
Date Approved: November 7, 2022
Minimum Training and Qualifications:
Requires a Bachelor’s degree and endorsement in the grade/subject taught with a valid Tennessee
certificate.
Must be qualified per the Rules and Regulations of the Tennessee Code Annotated.
Must be physically and mentally able to perform the responsibilities and duties of the position.
Performance Responsibilities:
1. Administers and develops subject specific assessments for the purpose of assessing student competency
levels and/or developing individual learning plans.
2. Advises parents and/or legal guardians of student progress for the purposE of communicating
expectations; student’s achievements; developing methods for improvement and/or reinforcing
classroom goals in the home environment.
3. Assesses student progress towards objectives, development of instructionally appropriate IEP’s, and/or
goals for the purpose of providing feedback to students, parents and administration.
4. Willingness to provide Homebound Services if necessary.
5. Collaborates with instructional staff, other school personnel, parents and a variety of community
resources for the purpose of improving the overall quality of student outcomes, achieving established
classroom objectives in support of the school improvement plan.
6. Counsels students for the purpose of improving performance, health status, problem solving techniques
and a variety of personal issues.
7. Demonstrates and differentiates methods required to perform classroom and/or subject specific
assignments for the purpose of providing an effective program that addresses individual student
requirements.
8. Instruct students for the purpose of improving their success in academics through a defined course of
study.
9. Manages student behavior for the purpose of providing a safe and optimal learning environment.
10. Monitors students in a variety of educational environments (e.g. classroom, school grounds, hallways,
restrooms, field trips, etc.) for the purpose of providing a safe and positive learning environment.

Job Description Special Education Teacher
11. Participates in a variety of meetings and professional development activities for the purpose of
conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions.
12. Prepares a variety of written materials (e.g. grades, lesson plans following scope and sequence,
correspondence with parents and students, examinations and quizzes, attendance, anecdotal records,
etc.) for the purpose of documenting student progress and meeting mandated requirements.
13. Reports incidents (e.g. fights, suspected child abuse, suspected substance abuse, harassment, zero
tolerance offenses etc.) for purpose of maintaining personal safety of students, providing a positive
learning environment and adhering to state law and board policies.
14. Responds to emergency situations for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns and/or
directing to appropriate personnel for resolution.
15. Directs teacher assistants, student teachers, instructional assistants, volunteers and/or student workers
for the purpose of providing an effective classroom program and addressing the needs of individual
students.
16. Performs other related duties, as assigned, for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective
functioning of the work unit.
17. Supports other classroom teachers for the purpose of assisting them in the implementation of
established curriculum and/or individual student plans.
18. Serves as a Case Manager.
19. Performs other related duties as assigned or directed.
Clearances and Testing: (at expense of applicant)
Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance
Pre-employment physical exam & TB Test
The Special Education Teacher maintains a thirty-seven and a half (37.5)-hour work week and any
additional hours as required to meet the duties and responsibilities of this position. This is a ten (10) month
exempt position and wage will be determined based on qualifications and experience.
This document describes the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all
responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.
Lakeland School System offers educational and employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, creed, age, disability, national
origin, or genetic information and adheres to the provisions of the Family Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

EEO / Reference Disclaimer

Lakeland School System offers education and employment opportunities without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age or disability and adheres to the provisions of the Family Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Lakeland School System may not consider an applicant for employment prior to our having obtained feedback from all persons listed as references; therefore, it is very important to your pursuit of employment with Lakeland School System that you ensure that the reference section of your application is complete. Feedback from supervisors or administrators is preferred, and personal references are discouraged. At least one reference must be returned from a current or former supervisor or administrator to be considered for this position.

Conditions of Employment
Are you a U.S. citizen or otherwise legally authorized to work in the U.S.?
Federal immigration laws [Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA)] require employers to verify and attest to the employment eligibility of new employees to work in the United States. This requirement applies to all applicants. Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?
Are you willing to submit to a criminal background check?
Are you willing to submit to a drug test?
Do you understand that any falsified information and/or misrepresentation or omission of material facts, even if unintentional and/or inadvertent, may result in refusal of employment or, if employed, termination of employment, whenever it may be discovered?
Do you understand that the Lakeland School System has adopted a Smoke-Free Workplace Policy in accordance with state law (Public Chapter 410, Non-Smoker Protection Act) and a Drug-Free Workplace and agree to abide by applicable policies and requirements, if employed?
Do you acknowledge that, if employed, there is no specified length of employment and that this application does not constitute an agreement or contract for employment, and that the Lakeland School System or you can terminate the relationship at-will, with or without cause, at any time and for any reason or no reason, so long as there is no violation of applicable federal, state, or local law?
Do you understand that in submitting this application for employment, you are authorizing the Lakeland School System to contact, obtain, and verify the accuracy of information contained in this application from all previous employers, educational institutions, and/or references?
Do you release Lakeland School System and its representatives from liability for seeking, gathering, and using such information to make employment decisions and all other persons or organizations for providing such information?

General Questions
How would you explain your philosophy of education, including your values that relate to educating students with disabilities?
If you were in an IEP meeting that was contentious and the team seemed to be at an impasse and unable to come to an agreement, what would you do?

Additional Job Information

Minimum Training and Qualifications:
- Requires a Bachelor's degree and endorsement in the grade/subject taught with a valid Tennessee certificate.
- Must be qualified per the Rules and Regulations of the Tennessee Code Annotated.
- Must be physically and mentally able to perform the responsibilities and duties of the position.

Performance Responsibilities:
- Administers and develops subject specific assessments for the purpose of assessing student competency levels and/or developing individual learning plans.
- Advises parents and/or legal guardians of student progress for the purposE of communicating expectations; student's achievements; developing methods for improvement and/or reinforcing classroom goals in the home environment.
- Assesses student progress towards objectives, development of instructionally appropriate IEP's, and/or goals for the purpose of providing feedback to students, parents and administration.
- Willingness to provide Homebound Services if necessary.
- Collaborates with instructional staff, other school personnel, parents and a variety of community resources for the purpose of improving the overall quality of student outcomes, achieving established classroom objectives in support of the school improvement plan.
- Counsels students for the purpose of improving performance, health status, problem solving techniques and a variety of personal issues.
- Demonstrates and differentiates methods required to perform classroom and/or subject specific assignments for the purpose of providing an effective program that addresses individual student requirements.
- Instruct students for the purpose of improving their success in academics through a defined course of study.
- Manages student behavior for the purpose of providing a safe and optimal learning environment.
- Monitors students in a variety of educational environments (e.g. classroom, school grounds, hallways, restrooms, field trips, etc.) for the purpose of providing a safe and positive learning environment.
- Participates in a variety of meetings and professional development activities for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions.
- Prepares a variety of written materials (e.g. grades, lesson plans following scope and sequence, correspondence with parents and students, examinations and quizzes, attendance, anecdotal records, etc.) for the purpose of documenting student progress and meeting mandated requirements.
- Reports incidents (e.g. fights, suspected child abuse, suspected substance abuse, harassment, zero tolerance offenses etc.) for purpose of maintaining personal safety of students, providing a positive learning environment and adhering to state law and board policies.
- Responds to emergency situations for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns and/or directing to appropriate personnel for resolution.
- Directs teacher assistants, student teachers, instructional assistants, volunteers and/or student workers for the purpose of providing an effective classroom program and addressing the needs of individual students.
- Performs other related duties, as assigned, for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.
- Supports other classroom teachers for the purpose of assisting them in the implementation of established curriculum and/or individual student plans.
- Serves as a Case Manager.
- Performs other related duties as assigned or directed.

Clearances and Testing: (at expense of applicant):
- Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance
- Pre-employment physical exam & TB Test

The Special Education Teacher maintains a thirty-seven and a half (37.5)-hour work week and any additional hours as required to meet the duties and responsibilities of this position. This is a ten (10) month exempt position and wage will be determined based on qualifications and experience.

This document describes the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.
_________________________________________________
If you are unable to provide required application information, please upload a document (Word, PDF, etc) to the required field indicating why the requirement cannot be fulfilled or include the relevant information in the Comments section of your application.

Benefits
Certified 10-month employees are eligible for voluntary health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurances. Certified 10-month employees are required to participate in the State of Tennessee's Teacher Retirement plan, based on eligibility, at a minimum rate of 5% of gross pay, with a match by the district, depending on the eligible plan. Certified 10-month employees are also eligible to accrue sick and annual time. All benefits are subject to approval each year.

Attachments
Additional References
Certification/License*
Cover Letter**
Praxis Exams Taken and Passed*
Resume**
Transcript*

References
Certified Faculty Positions: 0 of 6 external references required.