Instructor, Project SEARCH

General Summary of Position:

Under the direction of the administrator and in accordance with established policies and procedures the Project SEARCH Instructor will help develop and coordinate the Project SEARCH program and provide instruction for students enrolled. The Project SEARCH instructor delivers the employability skills curriculum and works with each interns team to reach the goal of competitive employment.

Essential Duties:

1. Support the recruitment of appropriate students with disabilities for the Project SEARCH program.

2. Attend IEP meetings for possible student recruits and existing interns.

3. Connect students to appropriate community services such as State Rehabilitation Services or local Developmental Disabilities agencies through referral and eligibility processes.

4. Identify internship sites within the host business to build a repertoire of marketable skills that lead to competitive integrated employment.

5. Develop and ensure that internships include measurable skills gain that is assessed according to productivity quality and safety benchmarks. With that skills lead to successful postsecondary transition goals.

6. Facilitate regular Employment Planning Meetings with interns families and agency personnel to determine career interests specific job preferences skills and abilities to design an individualized approach to job development.

7. Identify and problem-solve solutions for challenges that interfere with the completion of Project SEARCH and gaining and maintaining employment.

8. Use universal design concepts to design and implement accommodations and adaptations needed at the internship sites.

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

10. Assess intern progress frequently communicate that progress regularly to the interns team and make instructional and training adjustments and provide interventions for interns who are not making progress.

11. Develop resumes/portfolios for each intern that document measurable skills gained internship experiences any certifications gained recommendations etc.

12. Provide Project SEARCH employability skills curriculum in the classroom and reinforce in the internships to develop skills knowledge and work habits leading to successful employment.

13. Continuously update the Member Portal to maintain records of staff changes interns internship experiences and employment outcomes including jobs gained wages hours worked per week benefits taken etc.

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

15. Coordinate and schedule onsite skills trainers to meet the support needs of the interns at the end of every day.

16. Work with the business liaison mentors onsite team and job developer (external) to secure competitive integrated employment at the host business or in the community.

17. Offer training to business liaisons mentors and onsite team to effectively work with interns based on individual needs.

18. Coordinate and assist in travel training (when appropriate) through public transportation or other available transit methods for parents students and internal stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge Skills and/or Abilities Required)

Must possess a Bachelors degree and a valid Virginia Department of Education teaching license with special education endorsement. ACRE Basic Employment Certificate is preferred. A minimum of three years of successful recent and relevant experience as a classroom instructor for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the secondary level. Demonstrated ability to employ a variety of instructional strategies that connect the curriculum to the learner. Knowledgeable of current best practices in the field of transition and supported employment. Experienced in differentiating lessons and settings to meet the needs of interns and their varied learning styles. Effective interpersonal communication skills that promote relationship-building with interns families host business staff Project SEARCH team members and other community agencies. Organizational ability self-directedness and initiative when given a variety of responsibilities and assigned tasks. Ability to make decisions and problem-solve within a team of service providers.