Lead Instructor - Project SEARCH SD

The Lead Instructor Project SEARCH develops and coordinates the Project SEARCH program teaches the employability skills curriculum and works with each enrolled students internship team to reach the individuals goal of competitive employment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Recruitment and Student Engagement:

• Recruit appropriate students with disabilities for the Project SEARCH program.

• Attend Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings for potential student recruits.

• Connect students to community services such as State Rehabilitation Services or local

  Developmental Disabilities agencies through referral and eligibility processes.

2. Internship Coordination:

• Identify internship sites within the host business to build marketable skills leading to competitive integrated employment.

• Ensure internships include measurable skills gain assessed by productivity quality and safety benchmarks.

3. Employment Planning and Support:

• Facilitate regular Employment Planning Meetings with interns families and agency personnel to determine career interests and job preferences.

• Identify and solve challenges that interfere with completing Project SEARCH and gaining/maintaining employment.

• Use universal design concepts to design and implement necessary accommodations and adaptations at internship sites.

4. Assessment and Progress Monitoring:

• Use VocFit and other assessment tools to evaluate intern progress communicate with the team and identify additional skill/task development.

• Frequently assess intern progress communicate it to the interns team and adjust instruction and training accordingly.

• Develop resumes/portfolios for each intern documenting measurable skills gain internship experiences certifications and recommendations.

5. Instruction and Curriculum Delivery:

• Provide Project SEARCH employability skills curriculum in the classroom and reinforce it during internships.

• Utilizes a variety of effective instructional and management techniques keeping class discussions on topic and engaged

• Continuously update the Member Portal to maintain records of staff changes internship experiences and employment outcomes.

• Integrate available technology/instructional media to enhance the students learning experiences.

• Enter and track participant data as it relates to their goals and objectives recording development

  progress and attainment.

• Maintain office program and workspaces keeping them neat and organized.

6. Collaboration and Coordination:

• Actively participate in Project SEARCH Steering Committee and onsite team meetings.

• Coordinate and schedule onsite skills trainers to meet the support needs of interns.

• Work with the business liaison onsite team and external job developer to secure competitive

  integrated employment at the host business or in the community.

• Coordinate travel training (when appropriate) through public transportation or other transit methods.

• Lead other instructors and support staff in project search and instruction process ensuring projects

  are completed in a timely manner.

Additional duties as assigned.

REQUIRED POSITION RELATED COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrated ability to employ various instructional strategies connecting the curriculum to the learner.

• Knowledgeable of current best practices in the field of transition and supported employment.

• Effective interpersonal communication skills promoting relationshipbuilding with interns families host

  business staff Project SEARCH team members and other community agencies.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• High school diploma or equivalent.

• Bachelors degree (preferred)

• Courses/degree in the subject matter(s) being taught (preferred)

Experience:

• A minimum of two years of successful recent and relevant experience as a classroom instructor for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the secondary level.

• Experience in differentiating lessons and settings to meet the needs of interns and their varied learning styles.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Must have and maintain valid drivers license acceptable driving record and ability to travel within and throughout region where services are provided.

• Must complete and pass background check.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This position requires the employee to regularly stand walk sit talk and hear. They must be capable of writing using a computer keyboard telephone and related office equipment. Ability to lift 25 lbs. and transfer 75 lbs.

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee will be working in community environments employment sites and office environments. The employee will experience normal office conditions with a welllighted work area and minor noise from standard office equipment.