Special Education Teacher

Description JOB TITLE: Special Education Teacher DIVISION: Academy REPORTS TO: Director of Education SUPERVISES: Paraprofessionals Indirectly (5-15) EXEMPTION STATUS: Exempt POSITION SUMMARY: At BHA Academy, Certified Special Education Teachers are essential leaders in advancing our mission: empowering individuals with developmental disabilities and behavioral needs to achieve academic, social, and emotional success. Grounded in our Core Values—Compassion with Purpose, Structure Builds Safety, Professionalism in Every Moment, Positivity Drives Progress, Education is Empowerment, Consistency Creates Change, Reunification is Our Mission, and Advocacy Through Action—Special Education Teachers/Case Managers design and deliver individualized education that changes lives. Special Education Teachers collaborate within interdisciplinary teams to ensure that instruction, accommodations, and behavioral supports align with each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), functional needs, and long-term goals. They lead by example—coaching paraprofessionals, partnering with families and districts, and ensuring fidelity of implementation across all environments. This is a safety-sensitive position. Employees must be able to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, including maintaining continuous alertness, providing direct supervision, driving individuals served as required, and administering medications as trained QUALIFICATIONS: Education & Experience: • Bachelor’s degree in Special Education or related field (Master’s degree preferred). • Current Missouri licensure or certification as a Special Education Teacher; endorsement in autism or behavioral disabilities preferred. • Minimum 2 years of experience working with children with autism, developmental delays, and maladaptive behaviors preferred (school experience strongly preferred). • Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary team Skills & Competencies • Strong time management and organizational skills; ability to prioritize and manage a caseload of approximately 15 students. • Strong interpersonal and communication skills. • Organizational and time management proficiency. • Emotional resilience and professionalism in high-pressure situations. • Strong knowledge of IDEA, IEP processes, FBA/BIP development, and data-based decision-making. • Proficiency in Microsoft Office and data collection systems. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. • Demonstrated leadership, collaboration, and ethical professionalism. • Commitment to ethical standards, professional integrity, and fiscal responsibility. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Compassion with Purpose • Approach each student with a trauma-informed mindset, recognizing that behind every behavior is a story, and respond with empathy, high expectations, and skill. • Build strong, trusting relationships with students and families by maintaining open, respectful, and strengths-based communication about progress, challenges, and successes. • Provide individualized supports and accommodations that preserve student dignity while promoting independence in academics, behavior, and self-care. Structure Builds Safety • Create and maintain a predictable, structured classroom environment with clear expectations, routines, visual schedules, and supports that promote safety and learning. • Implement and monitor classroom management systems that align with behavior intervention plans (BIPs), IEPs, and Academy procedures, including reinforcement systems and visual behavior supports. • Collaborate with behavior analysts and clinical staff (e.g., BCBAs, Behavior Specialists) to implement proactive, positive behavior strategies and participate in Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and BIP development as needed. Professionalism in Every Moment • Maintain confidentiality, professionalism, and ethical standards in all interactions with students, families, colleagues, and external partners. • Complete all required documentation, including IEPs, progress monitoring, grade reporting, data collection, and communication logs, accurately and within required timelines. • Participate actively in IEP meetings, parent-teacher conferences, staff meetings, and multidisciplinary collaboration as a prepared, solution-focused team member. • Provide consistent coaching, direction, and feedback to paraprofessionals to ensure they understand and implement instructional and behavioral supports with fidelity Positivity Drives Progress • Foster a classroom culture of optimism, resilience, and growth by celebrating small wins, effort, and progress toward IEP goals. • Maintain a solution-focused mindset when addressing challenging behaviors, academic gaps, or crises—modeling calm, regulated responses for students and staff. • Encourage and reinforce positive peer interactions, social skills, and self-advocacy, emphasizing what students can do and are learning to do. Education is Empowerment • Develop and implement IEPs tailored to each student’s unique needs, including measurable goals, accommodations, services, and progress monitoring plans. • Plan and deliver differentiated instruction aligned with state standards and IEP goals, using evidence-based strategies and specialized techniques to support sensory, communication, cognitive, motor, and academic development. • Utilize instructional technology, visual supports, and assistive tools appropriate for students with autism and other disabilities to maximize engagement and accessibility. • Regularly analyze academic and behavioral data to adjust instruction, update goals, and refine interventions to support meaningful progress. Consistency Creates Change • Implement classroom routines, reinforcement systems, instructional strategies, and BIPs consistently, ensuring predictability and follow-through for students and staff. • Maintain consistent data collection on IEP goals and behavior targets, ensuring that paraprofessionals are trained and supported to collect accurate data. • Follow all BHA Academy protocols, behavior support plans, safety procedures, and mandated reporting requirements, ensuring alignment and reliability across the team. Reunification is Our Mission • Design instruction and supports that promote student skills necessary for successful participation in less restrictive environments, including public school settings when appropriate. • Collaborate with sending school districts, families, and external partners to support transition planning, reintegration, and long-term success. • Provide timely, clear, and data-based progress reports to school districts and families, highlighting growth and next steps toward reunification or the least restrictive environment. Advocacy Through Action • Advocate for student needs, rights, and access to appropriate services and supports in IEP meetings, school-based teams, and cross-agency collaborations. • Partner with families by providing resources, strategies, and education that help extend learning and behavior supports into the home environment. • Identify and help remove barriers to student learning, participation, and inclusion—using data and professional judgment to recommend changes in programming, supports, or services. Other Duties • Perform other duties and special projects to support Academy and organizational initiatives as assigned. • Conduct staff training, supervision, and performance evaluations as assigned. • Participate in on-call rotations for behavioral crisis response. • Complete all documentation, billing, and reporting requirements in accordance with BHA and regulatory guidelines. • Uphold BHA’s mission and values in all work performed. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Requirements Full-Time Benefits Medical, Dental & Vision through BCBS (6 plan options) 401(k) with company match HSA & Flexible Spending Account options Short- & Long-Term Disability PTO & Sick Time accrue starting Day 1 $100 monthly wellness spending account after 90 days OnDemand Pay (access pay when needed) Bonus Opportunities $2,500 Sign-On Bonus Up to $5,000 Relocation Assistance We’ll pay up to $2,000 in contract severance fees Participation in our 2P Plan – growth-based bonus program with bonus payouts twice per year! Starting Salary: Our compensation is competitive within the market. The starting rate for this position begins at $62.099.11 annually, with your final offer based on a combination of your education, relevant experience, and overall qualifications.