Special Education Teacher-Therapeutic School at Heartspring – Wichita, Kansas

Job Summary

We are a company driven by our values excellence, possibility, leadership, service, celebration, and integrity. A Special Education Teacher coordinates the instructional programs, services, and plans of students with developmental disabilities and severe behavior problems in the school environment, sometimes in a one-to-one capacity.

As a Special Education Teacher, you will:

· Classroom Management: Provide research-based specialized instruction and execute educational programs to include structured activities, personalized training programs, and support planning. (Excellence)

· Student Development: Assess student progress and determine the need for additional reinforcement or adjustments to instructional techniques. (Celebration)

· Communication: Engage in clear, effective, and relevant written and verbal communication, relaying critical information, updates, and concerns in an interactive and customer service minded manner. (Possibility)

· Engagement: Interact directly with students to promote independence in the areas of communication, self-help, social skills, and functional living skills. Facilitate student participation, offer positive reinforcement, provide tailored support, collaborate with others, and ensure continuity of care. (Leadership)

· Safety and Health: Ensure the environment is safe and nurturing, intervene in crises, monitor health concerns, report incidents, and act swiftly in emergencies. (Integrity)

· People Management: Guide and direct team members to achieve individual and collective goals to ensure open communication, provide constructive feedback, and foster a supportive work environment conducive to professional growth. Uphold company policies, promote teamwork, and strive to maintain high levels of morale and productivity amongst all. (Leadership)

· Professional Responsibility: Adhere to code of conduct and company policies, review published communications, escalate concerns through chain of command, and ensure confidentiality. Other duties as assigned. (Integrity)

You are a great fit for this role if you have knowledge and abilities in:

· Dependability, reliability, responsibility and are highly ethical

· Emotional control and composure that allows you to quickly assess situations and make appropriate decisions, especially in emergencies

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to demonstrate interpersonal skills and effective listening techniques

· Attention to detail and strong organizational skills that allow you to multi-task effectively while being acutely aware of surroundings

· Exceptional customer service skills

· Collaborative teamwork skills to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.

· Proficiency with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Education and Experience:

SPED Teacher I

Required:

· Bachelor’s degree in related field

· Valid teaching license and credentials from the Kansas State Department of Education

· Valid Kansas drivers’ license

Preferred:

· CPR and First Aid Certification

· Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Certification

SPED Teacher II

Special Education Teacher I requirements plus:

· Master’s degree in related field required

Preferred:

· CPR and First Aid Certification

· Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Certification

SPED Teacher III

Special Education Teacher II requirements plus:

· Minimum 15 years of professional level teaching experience

Preferred:

· CPR and First Aid Certification

· Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Certification

· Leadership Certification/ License

Physical Requirements:

• Lifting: Up to 30 lbs. frequently; 50 lbs. rarely
• Carrying: 10-15 lbs. frequently; 50 lbs. seldom
• Sitting/Standing/Walking: sit rarely; stand constantly; walk frequently
• Climbing: rarely
• Bending/Twisting/Kneeling/Reaching: frequently
• Reaching: frequently
• Pushing/Pulling: 10-15 lbs. occasionally; 50 lbs. rarely
• Dexterity: constant hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity
• Stamina/Endurance: mild exertion frequently; heavy exertion occasionally
• Vision/Hearing: constant ability to see clearly and hear instructions or warnings
• Mind-Body Connection: frequent awareness of body positioning and task execution

Work Environment:

• Environment: Indoor and outdoor work environments
• Safety Compliance & PPE Requirements: Adherence to safety protocols and protective gear use constantly. Mandatory use of Heartspring standard PPE, with additional protective gear (e.g., gloves, helmets, arm guards, leg guards) provided as needed.
• Physical Interactions & Exposure Risks: Frequent exposure to physical interactions from clients, including slapping, hitting, punching, kicking, head-butting, and biting. Potential exposure to infectious diseases, parasites, bodily fluids, and blood-borne pathogens in a school and residential care setting.