Special Education Teacher 2025-2026SY

Title: Special Education Teacher
Location: CICS Lloyd Bond 13300 S Langley Ave Chicago IL 60827
Reports To: Principal
Salary: Starting Salary $65390 commensurate with experience
Employee Type: Regular Full Time
Start Date: August 2025

The mission of Distinctive Schools an educational practice leader committed to social justice and the elevation of access and achievement in historically marginalized communities is to support each child in becoming an engaged and curious learner a confident selfadvocate and a creative problemsolver by setting high expectations and nurturing a positive culture that honors diversity collaboration and optimism.

Position Overview

Special Education Teachers are responsible for practices and behaviors which demonstrate necessary teaching competencies effective classroom management positive personal qualities and other instructional matters. The role of the Special Education Teacher is to ensure that all students have equal instructional opportunities and to create environments in which teaching and learning are challenging dynamic and comprehensive. The teaching of the essential curriculum of each teachers discipline is grounded in the understanding that the aim of education is personal growth the development of individual talents abilities and values; the acquisition of knowledge; and the pursuit of understanding.

Responsibilities

Culture

• Maintain a studentcentered perspective in decision making
• Believe that all students can learn and can achieve great things
• Contribute to the equity work of the campus and network and engage in culturally responsive decision making
• Build and foster a culture of belonging through positive and strong relationships with students families and staff
• Cultivate a strengthsbased equity focused mindset
• Foster positive climate and culture
• Serve as a positive role model

Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain a professional relationship with colleagues students families and community members
• Use effective communication skills to present information accurately and clearly
• Maintain positive relationships with students parents and colleagues
• Maintain accurate and complete records of students progress and development
• Professional Commitment: has good attendance and regularly participates in all staff department and committee meetings in addition to other school/district events
• Plan and supervise assignments for paraprofessionals volunteers and student teachers and make written evaluation as required
• Inform families regarding student progress the instructional program and other school issues
• Complete and update compliance related Special Education tasks in accordance with state and federal mandates

Classroom Management and Organization

• Work closely with team members and families to best meet the needs to students
• Support classroom procedure (classroom routines and procedures for transitions handling of supplies and performance of noninstructional duties occur smoothly)
• Support student behavior (Standards of conduct appear to be clear to students and the teacher monitors students behavior against those standards. The teachers response to student misbehavior is appropriate and respects the students dignity)

Instructional Strategies

• Serve as primary instructor for students with identified learning needs in a variety of settings
• Develop lessons that address students academic interpersonal social and emotional needs
• Provide researchbased specialized instruction to address the instructional goals and objectives contained within each students Individualized Educational Program (IEP)
• Develop and implement annual Individualized Educational Program (IEP) plans for students to include: present levels of educational performance special education needs instructional goals and objectives and the special education and related services required to meet those goals
• Make collaboration a priority with members of the IEP team
• Monitor progress to ensure all students are demonstrating high rates of growth
• Maintain accurate and complete records of students progress and development
• Demonstrate preparation and skill in working with students from diverse socialemotional cultural economic and ability backgrounds

Requirements (minimum)

Education: Bachelors Degree

Qualifications

• Valid Professional Educator License or equivalent in state of employment (IL or MI)
• Valid Special Education License in state of employment (IL or MI)

Physical demands: Occasional lifting carrying pushing and/or pulling; some stooping kneeling crouching and/or crawling; and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally the job requires 10 sitting 50 walking and 40 standing

Benefits

• 25 Paid holidays & 10 days PTO annually (in addition to summer break for educators/campus positions)
• 12 weeks family paid leave
• Comprehensive Healthcare (Medical Dental Vision)
• 403b match
  • Fully match up to 3
  • 50 match up to 5
• Professional development including tuition reimbursement
• Gym and wellness discounts
• And more

Description Disclaimer: Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job reasonably required for its performance or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholders responsibility.

EEO: Distinctive Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race color religion sex gender national origin age disability veteran status marital status sexual orientation gender identity gender expression or any other personal characteristic protected by applicable law.

Distinctive Schools is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment Distinctive Schools will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process to perform the essential functions of the position and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment please contact g or call 773.828.4191