Special Education Teacher and Coordinator - Morgridge Academy (School) at National Jewish Health – Denver, Colorado

Position Summary
Teachers will provide an environment that nurtures the individual medical, educational, emotional, and physical needs of children diagnosed with chronic illness with rigorous, innovative, and authentic experiences. Staff and students will work together to solve meaningful problems through collaboration and innovation, create products to share with family and the community, advocate for themselves and others, and be responsible, self-directed, and curious learners.

Essential Duties

1. Instructs students in academics as needed in partnership with classroom teachers.
2. Implements the Problem-Based Learning model in conjunction with the PBL coach and other staff.
3. Plans and implements rigorous, authentic, and innovative lessons.
4. Assesses student performance and provides meaningful feedback.
5. Oversees and manages a caseload of special education students and the implementation of quality IEP/ 504 plans.
6. Plans and implements READ Plans and PLPs.
7. Ensures legal compliance of plans in coordination with the special education director.
8. Provides specialized instruction as needed based on IEPs.
9. Coordinates with personnel and district staff to ensure high-quality services aligned with IEPs and 504s.
10. Maintains student files according to CDE standards.
11. Effectively communicate to parents and guardians the special education process, including referrals, evaluations, annual IEPs/504 plans, and re-evaluations, as well as parental rights granted by IDEA.
12. Coordinates with students’ special education team to ensure all documents are completed in a timely manner (according to state, local, and school policies and procedures) before the IEP meeting.
13. Serves as point person for IEP software and train staff accordingly.

Competencies

1. Accountability: Accepts full responsibility for self and contribution as a team member; displays honesty and truthfulness; confronts problems quickly; displays a strong commitment to organizational success and inspires others to commit to goals; demonstrates a commitment to National Jewish Health.
2. Impact and Influence: Using appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas or plans; modifying one’s own behavior to accommodate tasks, situations, and individuals involved. Taking advantage of opportunities to make a difference and have an impact. When used well, the intended outcome of this competency is the creation of goodwill, trust and respect while motivating people to want to follow you even when they don’t have to.
3. Collaboration and Teamwork: Cooperates with others to accomplish common goals; works with the employees within and across his/her department to achieve shared goals; treats others with dignity and respect and maintains a friendly demeanor; values the contributions of others.
4. Creativity and Innovation: Applies creative problem-solving skills to develop solutions to problems; recognizes and demonstrates the value in taking “smart” risks and learning from mistakes; develops multiple alternatives and understands the feasibility of each; effectively shares and implements his/her ideas. Generates innovative solutions in work situations; tries different and novel ways to deal with work problems and opportunities.
5. Patient Relations: Meeting patient and patient family needs; taking responsibility for a patient’s safety, satisfaction, and clinical outcomes; using appropriate interpersonal techniques to resolve difficult patient situations and regain patient confidence.
6. Valuing and Leveraging Diversity: Fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility
None

Travel
Minimal travel (<5%)

Core Values

1. Be available to work as scheduled and report to work on time.
2. Be willing to accept supervision and work well with others.
3. Be well groomed, appropriately for your role and wear ID Badge visibly.
4. Be in compliance with all departmental and institutional policies, the Employee Handbook, Code of Conduct and completes NetLearning by due date annually.
5. Fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the institution.
6. Adheres to safe working practices and at all times follows all institutional and departmental safety policies and procedures.
7. Wears appropriate PPE as outlined by the infection control policies and procedures.
8. Demonstrates compliance with all state, federal and all other regulatory agency requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Education: Bachelor's degree required in Elementary Education, Special Education, OR Bachelors in other discipline with Teacher Certification Training in Education or Special Education. Master's degree in Elementary Education or Special Education (with a mild-moderate or affective needs endorsement), preferred.
2. Work Experience: A minimum of 3 years experience in elementary education and/or special education required. Experience with chronically ill children is preferred.
3. Special Training, Certification or Licensure: Colorado teaching certification/licensure in elementary education and/or special education K-8 or K-12 as appropriate to grade/class assignment required.

Salary Range: $60,000 - $72,000

Benefits
At National Jewish Health, we recognize that our outstanding faculty and staff are the essence of our organization. For every aspect of health care, our employees are our greatest asset.

With that in mind, we have designed a valuable, comprehensive benefits package to meet the needs of our employees and their families.

• Medical Plans, Dental Plans and Vision Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• FSA and HSA
• Short and Long Term Disability
• Life Insurance and AD&D
• Voluntary Benefits, like Accident Insurance, Critical Care and Hospital Indemnity
• Paid Time Off Accruals
• Wellness Program
• Legal Plan