Middle School Special Education Teacher

Job Description

Certificates and Licenses: Appropriate current Oklahoma special education teaching license OR proof of application.

Residency Requirement:

• Oklahoma residents required.

The Middle School special education teacher is a highly qualified, state certified educator responsible for delivering specific course content in an online environment. Middle School Special education teachers provide instruction, support, and guidance, manage the learning process, and focus on students’ individual needs. Special education teachers monitor student progress through K12’s learning management system. They actively work closely with students and parents/Learning Coaches to advance each student’s learning toward established goals. Special education teachers typically work from home but must travel occasionally throughout the year to various school functions, such as state testing or as otherwise required by the school.

K12, a Stride Company, believes in Education for ANY ONE. We provide families an online option for a high-quality, personalized education experience. Students can thrive, find their passion, and learn in an environment that encourages discovery at their own pace.

Passionate Educators are needed at the Stride K12 partner school, Oklahoma Virtual Academy (OVCA). We want you to be a part of our talented team!

The mission of Oklahoma Virtual Academy (OVCA) is to provide an exemplary individualized and engaging educational experience for students by incorporating school and community/family partnerships coupled with a rigorous curriculum along with a data-driven and student-centered instructional model. Student success will be measured by valid and reliable assessment data, parent and student satisfaction, and continued institutional growth within the academic community. Join us!

This is a full-time remote position. Ability to work independently, typically 40+ hours per week is required. Ability to maintain a professional home office without distraction during workday, typically 9-5 (or 8-4) or as defined by the school.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Instructional

• Takes ownership for students’ academic progress and attendance, communicating high expectations and showing active interest in students’ achievement;
• Prepares students for high stakes standardized tests;
• Conducts live synchronous teaching – minimum of 15 hours per week;
• Asynchronously supports objectives, including composing/sending emails, planning course objectives, preparing learning plans, and using data to determine student needs;
• Collaborates with local/regional/national teams and teacher trainers regarding instruction, resources, interventions and data-driven decision making;
• Makes self open and available to be coached on a regular basis with administrators and teacher trainers;
• Under guidance from principal and coach, augments course content according to prescribed policies and procedures using appropriate asynchronous and synchronous tools;
• Submits grades and required student work ensuring student academic honesty and integrity; Maintains grade book; makes placement and promotion decisions by generating formal and informal reports regarding student progress, alerts administrators to concerns about student performance and progress.
• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time for face-to-face professional development, student testing, and/or as required by the school.

Relationship Building

• Establishes and maintains positive rapport with families and regularly communicates with students and learning coaches/parents;
• Elementary and Middle School Teachers support learning coaches/parents with student curricular and instructional issues in a virtual classroom environment that is in line with academy policies and procedures;
• Supports students and learning coaches with the set-up and maintenance of their learning environment including basic computer troubleshooting;
• Understands how both diverse and unique characteristics of students and their families impact required support;
• Works collaboratively with other teachers to ensure that all students are successfully progressing through the program, that parents have a central point of contact, and that tasks are distributed among the stakeholders;
• Responds to students, parents, and colleagues in timely manner.

Other Essential Functions

• Organizes social and educational activities for students and families, including sponsorship of virtual clubs, outings, marketing events or other extracurricular activities as required;
• Ability to travel 20% to testing sites to proctor state exams and participate in professional development.

OTHER REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to work collaboratively with other teachers to interpret and produce numeric, tabular, and graphic representations of student data, and use it to drive instructional decisions.
• Receptive to receiving coaching on a regular basis with administrators.
• Ability to embrace change and adapt to ensure excellent student outcomes.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Outlook, Word; PowerPoint.
• Ability to rapidly learn and adapt to new technologies and teaching platforms.
• Strong written/verbal communication skills.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Pedagogical knowledge of content being taught and ability to apply critical thinking
• Knowledge of state content standards and ability to align those with the K12 curriculum
• Ability to embrace change and adapt to ensure excellent student outcomes
• Ability to problem solve independently and have a high level of organization
• Understanding of interdependency of deadlines on multiple projects and able to act to preserve integrity on other people's deadlines
• Ability to work independently, typically 40+ hours per week
• Ability to maintain a professional home office without distraction during workday, from 8-5
• Ability to travel as required (on average once per month and/or approximately 10% of the time) for face to face professional development, student testing, and as required by school
• Access to reliable high-speed internet
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Outlook, Word; PowerPoint;
• Ability to rapidly learn and adapt to new technologies and teaching platforms
• Ability to maintain teacher certification/professional development hours and fluency in K12 systems, programs and curriculum
• Ability to clear required background check
• Experience working with proposed age group
• Experience supporting adults and children in the use of technology
• Experience working in a virtual environment
• Experience teaching in an online (virtual) and/or in a brick and mortar environment
• Experience with Blackboard Collaborative, Newrow, or other online platforms

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position is virtual.

Job Type

The above job is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor. All employment is “at-will” as governed by the law of the state where the employee works.  It is further understood that the “at-will” nature of employment is one aspect of employment that cannot be changed except in writing and signed by an authorized officer.

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you can request the appropriate accommodation by contacting stridecareers@k12.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

Stride, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants receive consideration for employment based on merit without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. Stride, Inc. complies with all legally required affirmative action obligations. Applicants will not be discriminated against because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.