Head Teacher (Special Education) - Early Childhood (Full-Time)
What makes a great teacher? Providing a nurturing and supportive environment where children feel accepted and where learning is fun! The Gillen Brewer School is a private, special education school on the Upper East Side dedicated to the education of children with challenging, and often multiple disabilities, including language-based and nonverbal learning disabilities. Classroom sizes are small -- 10:1:2 or 6:1:2 -- so the integrated teaching/therapy team can provide developmentally appropriate educational opportunities and challenges for our students. We are currently interviewing for a full-time, 12-month Special Education Head Teacher for the 2024-2025 school year. All applicants will be required to submit a resume, cover letter, and two reference letters.
Gillen Brewer offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience and a comprehensive professional development program.
Job Title: Special Education Head Teacher
Program: Early Childhood (Pre-K / Kindergarten) / Childhood
Hours: Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Calendar to Follow: 12-month Academic
FLSA Status: Exempt
Compensation: $82,000 - $90,000
Starting: August/September 2024
Summary
The Head Teacher is a critical part of a child’s learning experience at Gillen Brewer. The Head Teacher reports to the Program Director. The primary responsibility of the Head Teacher is to cultivate and lead a learning environment in which students feel safe and confident as they express themselves in the classroom. The Head Teacher understands, plans, and executes key elements of innovative pedagogy that engender a deep love of learning in students. The Head Teacher will work as part of an integrated team with Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, and Speech-Language Pathologists in a therapeutic school setting. Gillen Brewer expects Head Teachers to conduct themselves in a professional manner with regard to attire, attitude, participation, communication, and interactions with staff, children, and parents. Head Teachers are expected to understand the school’s policies, procedures, and guidelines as set in the staff handbook, located on the school’s shared Google Drive. As part of the school community, Head Teachers are encouraged to participate in school community events, join committees, and create a positive working environment for children, families, and colleagues. The Head Teacher will also support and promote the school’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) practices within the program and throughout the community. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Instruction and Assessment
- Follow and implement a curriculum based on the Common Core Learning Standards and New York State Core Curriculum and for New York State Prekindergarten Learning Standards
- Individually address the students’ physical, emotional, sensory, academic, and language needs
- Create, follow, and implement educational goals and track progress on an ongoing basis and when required
- Create well-thought-out and outcome-based lesson plans using assigned curriculum and student goals
- Collaborate with team members
- Prepare lesson plans with the Associate Teachers
- Provide lesson plans to the Program Director on a daily basis
- Implement programs and strategies recommended by therapists
- Collaborate with school psychologists to create Behavioral Intervention Plans (BIP)
- Supervise and train Associate Teachers: determine each Associate’s role in the classroom, report goals and progress to Program Director, and use the evaluation forms twice a year as a guide
- Create and maintain the classroom website on a bi-weekly basis
- Maintain parent communication
- Actively seek to include parents in the classroom activities
- Train and supervise volunteers and student teachers when needed
- Manage purchasing and maintenance of required program resources and materials
Required Skills/Abilities
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
- Thorough understanding of classroom procedures and management
- Ability to develop trusting and supportive relationships with students
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to collaborate with the therapeutic team members
- Team-oriented approach with a positive work attitude
Planning and Recordkeeping
- Take daily anecdotal notes in regard to each student’s progress and/or behavioral data as needed
- Informal/Formal assessment of children: collect evidence of outcome-based curriculum assessment at least four times per year (October, January, June, and August) in all content areas and keep in a systematic way
- Write Mid-Year and End-of-Year Integrative Reports collaboratively with team and advise and edit when writing is done by an Associate Teacher
Professional Requirements
- Master’s degree in Childhood Special Education or Early Childhood Special Education (required)
- Two years + of experience teaching students with disabilities (required)
- New York State Teaching Certification
- Knowledge of the cognitive, linguistic, and developmental needs of students with special needs
- Team player who thrives in an integrated and collaborative environment
- Strong classroom management, communication, and organizational skills (required)
- Knowledge of structured teaching and/or TEACCH preferred
- Experience integrating technology and AAC into the classroom
- Ability to foster the love of learning through inquiry-based experiences that promote independence and problem solving
- Experience using an emergent curriculum that incorporates active learning and engagement
Physical Requirements
Employees must have the physical capacity to navigate the classroom and school environments in order to effectively meet the needs of our students. Such physical requirements include but are not limited to: walking, standing, sitting, climbing up and down stairs, kneeling, stooping, crawling, bending, pushing, pulling, and lifting. Employees must be able to sit at a desk and work on a computer for long periods of time to complete necessary paperwork. Vision, with or without lenses, must be sufficient to read in both paper and digital formats. Employees must have the ability to hear, read, write, and speak in English.
Professional Development
The school is a community of learners. In addition to staff development and training at Gillen Brewer, employees are encouraged to pursue educational goals through conferences and various workshops. Teachers are required to attend all staff development workshops as well as staff, team, and supervision meetings. Staff is also encouraged to attend all school functions listed on the school calendar.
Supervision & Support
The Program Director will oversee and analyze all aspects of the program through the use of observation cycles, in-office sessions, team meetings, conversations with support staff, lesson planning, curriculum development, student progress, and report writing. Staff development and support through modeling and coaching will be provided which will include in-house and outside professional opportunities. Frequency of observations and feedback sessions will be determined by the Program Director, Assistant Head of School, and Head of School. The Program Director will conduct two formal evaluations a year using this job description and the Teacher Evaluation checklist as a guide. Evidence of effectiveness will be collected through observations, discussions, and products.
Other Requirements
- You must be authorized to work in the United States and be willing to undergo a number of clearances including NYC DOE fingerprinting, a medical health form, and other background checks.
- Our staff is 100% COVID-19 vaccinated. New staff are required to be vaccinated as well. Students & Staff practice safe & healthy hygiene guidelines including frequent handwashing.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $82,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Monday to Friday
Education:
Experience:
- Teaching Special Education Students: 2 years (Required)
License/Certification:
- NYSED Special Education Teaching Certification (Required)
- Students With Disabilities (Birth - Grade 2) Certification (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- New York, NY 10128 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- New York, NY 10128: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person