Job Title:                  Special Education Teacher, Project SEARCH

Reports to:               Coordinator of Special Services

Dept/Campus:          Special Services

Pay Grade:                Teacher Pay Scale

Wage Status:             Exempt

Days:                         187

Primary Purpose:

Under the supervision of the Transition Coordinator and Secondary Special Education Coordinator, the Project Search Teacher will: Identify student’s strengths, interests, and abilities related to skill acquisition, job development and placement.  2) Assist in finding an appropriate community job site consistent with the students interests and skills.  3) Determine and refer to appropriate community support services for training and successful employment. 4) Work with local businesses and industries to meet their employment needs

Education/Certification:

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited university
• Valid Texas teaching certificate with required special education endorsements

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Experience working with high school aged students with special needs
• Knowledge of Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee process and Individual Education Plan (IEP) goal setting process and implementation
• Knowledge of best practices in transition and employment planning
• Knowledge of and/or experience working with Texas Workforce and other community agencies

Experience:

Completed student teaching or approved internship

A minimum of three years’ experience working with students with disabilities preferred

Essential Job Functions: 

• Recruit appropriate students with disabilities for Project SEARCH program (ages 18-22, last year of high school)
• Attend IEP meetings for possible student recruits
• Connect through referral and eligibility processes students to appropriate community services, especially the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) and the local MHMR Authority of the Brazos Valley.
• Identify internship sites within the host business so that students can participate in a variety of work experiences in order to build marketable, competitive skills leading to employment.
• Develop sites that will increase job specific skills, work quality and productivity
• Plan with students, families, and agency personnel to determine career interests, specific job    preferences (hours, location, etc.), skills and abilities to develop an individualized approach to placement.
• Identify and create solutions for behavioral concerns that interfere with gaining and maintaining employment 
• Instruct students to learn employability skills such as communication, problem solving, and teamwork, grooming, budgeting and self-advocacy.
• Provide universal design in the accommodations and adaptations needed at work sites.
• Monitor and record daily attendance at work sites; teach students to independently inform departments of absences/tardiness
• Give appropriate grades based on participation, skill development, attitude, etc. 
• Assess students’ skill development and report on IEP progress.
• Coordinate travel training (when appropriate) through public transportation or teach students to be able to access private transportation independently
• Develop work portfolios for each student to include credentialing of skills attained, letter of recommendations from internship sites, etc.
• Collect data on student outcomes including jobs gained, wages, hours worked per week, benefits taken, etc. 
• Coordinate Advisory Committee meetings with all partners represented including parents. 
• Perform specific job analysis, task analysis, and job matching activities.
• Develop linkages among other agencies to assure effective transition from school to work or from current placement to successful community employment.
• Coordinate internal job placement opportunities within the host business and resulting accommodations, and necessary job supports for students.
• Develop job development training plan with consumers and appropriate support personnel.
• Coordinate job trainer/coach activities.
• Refer students to appropriate agencies for support and services related to successful employment.
• Assist in developing Summary of Performance Plans with each exiting student.
• Attend appropriate Project SEARCH team meetings
• Plan and implement monthly staffings for each student participant with appropriate parties including the VR Counselor and parent.  
• Communicate internship placements with other Project SEARCH team members. 
• Schedule, plan and implement monthly written communication with parents and other parties.
• Schedule, plan and implement Open Houses to publicize the program and recruit potential students.
• Coordinate job coaches for student internship sites and competitive placements
• Communicate regularly with business liaison, job coaches for student progress and issues.
• Communicate regularly with Secondary Sped Coordinator and Transition Coordinator.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Equipment used:

Personal or laptop computer, printer, copier, fax machine, shredder, calculator, telephone, electronic mobile devices, projector, video display monitor

Working Conditions:

Physical Demands /Mental Demands/ Environmental Factors:

The working conditions described 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 and expectations.

Regularly sit, talk or hear; frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; frequent repetitive hand motions; prolonged use of computer; occasionally lift and/or move up to 10-50 pounds; may be required to lift and position students with physical disabilities; control behavior through physical restraint; and assist ambulatory students; move small stacks of textbooks, media equipment, desks, and other classroom or adaptive equipment ; frequent, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing, and pulling. occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms; vision abilities include close vision; and color vision, regularly work with frequent interruptions, maintain emotional control under stress; the noise level is usually moderate. The employee may spend long hours in intense concentration which requires attention to detail. There are a number of deadlines associated with this position, which may cause significant stress.  The employee must also deal with a wide variety of people on various issues.