Buchanan Community Schools:
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher

Buchanan Community Schools is welcoming applicants for an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher at Ottawa Elementary.

Essential qualifications, duties, and responsibilities:

Coordinate, conduct, and actively participate in REED and IEP team meetings
Provide oral reports at IEP Team meetings, parent/teacher conferences, and other school functions
Develop, implement, and monitor individualized educational programs students on their caseload
Collect, analyze and utilize data from RESA evaluations to inform academic planning, instruction, and assessment of students as well as their IEP goals and objectives.
Develop positive relationships with administration, colleagues, parents, and students.
Communicate regularly and effectively with parents, staff and students
Conduct ongoing, formative and summative evaluations of each student's progress and make recommendations concerning curriculum areas to be emphasized and needed accommodations
Develop and maintain appropriate academic and behavior recordkeeping to inform parents and administration
Participate in school committees events and programs designed to improve/enhance the overall school/district program and the educational experience of all children
Consult and coordinate instruction, interventions, and other services with personnel who serve the child (i.e. support staff, preschool, daycare, etc.)
Maintain a professional relationship with all school personnel who are involved in the educational process of students with disabilities
Involve the parent in the on-going educational process that has been planned for their student
Provide training for parents and other staff as appropriate
Maintain a physical classroom environment that is conducive to the learning process
Promptly complete and forward all records requested by administration
Provide appropriate supervision, direction and assistance to assigned program and health care aides, volunteers, and student teachers
Plan and direct learning activities for identified children 3 - 5 years of age
Maintain an organized classroom program that is structured to best meet the needs of the students, inclusive of:

a. Lesson plans prepared in advance

b. Written schedules and operation format that correlates with IEP’s of students

c. Consistency in program content and expectations of students and other classroom staff

d. Keep appropriate student and classroom records

Maintain current assessments on student performance in accordance with IEP reports and directives of the immediate supervisor
Make effective use of instruction materials and demonstrate effective methods of instruction to ensure that the individual student performance levels, needs, and abilities are addressed
Demonstrate competency in behavioral management of students assigned to their care
Participate and occasionally assist in the organization of meetings, committees, and special functions
Work cooperatively with support staff to provide recommended follow-through for students
Assist with and/or provide supervision to students at breakfast
Conduct oneself in a professional manner during the workday and at all work-related activities
Provide as needed, dressing, feeding, toileting, lifting, and individualized care of children
Abide by all district policies and procedures and demonstrate competencies specified in the Michigan Special Education Rules and Regulations
Regular, reliable and punctual attendance
Other duties as assigned
Demonstrates knowledge of the necessary principles and application of theory into practice for effective instruction and positive behavioral supports that are beneficial for implementation with all students with disabilities
Demonstrates knowledge of curriculum and instructional techniques; human behavior, development, and skill performance
Demonstrates knowledge of individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation
Demonstrates knowledge of the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders and effective instructional practices
Ability to provide positive behavioral support to students in a group and individual setting
Demonstrates understanding of the federal, state, and local mandates governing the determination and delivery of special education services

Preferred:

Experience with a wide variety of language and behavior teaching strategies and techniques
Demonstrated competency with Illuminate (online special education monitoring system)
Demonstrated competency with PowerSchool (data warehouse)
Successful experience in supervision and/or direction of non-certified personnel (aides)
Demonstrated successful teaching students in an ECSE classroom
Successful experience teaching students with a variety of disabilities; Al, El, MiCi, SLD

Supervisory Responsibilities: supervises students in the classroom, paraprofessional, parent volunteers, and student volunteers. Organize and plan strategies for paraprofessional aides to use and will have input into the paraprofessionals performance evaluation.

Qualification Requirements: to perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience
- Bachelor or Masters degree
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
- Possess a valid teaching certificate and meet requirements of R340.1795 in Michigan’s Rules for Special Education in any of the following ways:
- - an endorsement in at least one area of special education and a major or minor in early childhood education or child growth and development
  - an employer can request approval for an Early Childhood Special Education teacher if the candidate has a major or minor in early childhood education or child growth and development and has an endorsement in an area of special education. (Candidates who have a ZA or ZS endorsement with a special education endorsement do not need this approval.)
Language Skills
- Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or government regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of students, parents, peers, administrators, the general public, and the Board of Education.
Mathematical Skills
- Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plan and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Skilled in utilizing and delivering the manipulative math model.
Reasoning Ability
- Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Other Skills and Abilities
- Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program; ability to plan and implement lessons based on divisions and school objectives and the needs and abilities of students to whom assigned; ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with students, peers, and parents; skill in oral and written communication; ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies; ability to use and integrate technology such as computers, e-mail, Internet, etc. to support student learning and facilitate program management.
- Technologically literate using Chromebook computers and Google applications
- Knowledge and prior use of State of Michigan Curriculum benchmarks and grade level content expectations. Use of MDE curriculum in guiding planning, teaching and learning activities and strategies for all subject areas as well as formative and summative assessments.
- Preferred knowledge with Illuminate and PowerSchool

Physical Demands: the physical demands described here 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and talk or hear and sometimes walk and sit. The employee may occasionally push or lift up to 50 lbs such as boxes of books. The employee is directly responsible for safety, well-being, or the work output of other people. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, and the ability to adjust focus. The position requires the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and interact with the public and other staff.

Work Environment: the work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud. Duties are performed indoors and occasionally outdoors.

Position Details:

Title: Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
Reports to: Ottawa Elementary Principal, Mrs. Stacey Denison
Calendar: 2025-26 School Year, up to 186 teacher days
Compensation: According to union contract, full benefit package offered
Posting Date: March 21, 2025
Application deadline: Until filled

Application and supporting materials should be submitted using
Buchanan Community Schools’ online employment link:
http://www.buchananschools.com/employment/

Questions about the position or the district can be sent to Mrs. Denison at: sdenison@buchananschools.com

BUCHANAN BOARD OF EDUCATION
STATEMENT OF ASSURANCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW

Buchanan Community Schools complies with all federal laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination and with all requirements and regulations of the U.S. Department of Education. It is the policy of the Board of Education that no person on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, gender/sex, height, weight, marital status, or disability shall be subjected to discrimination in any program, service, or activity for which it is responsible or for which it receives financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education. Compliance Officers for Affirmative Action and review of Federal requirements are as follows: Section 504 and ADA; Karin Falkenstein (Special Education Supervisor, 695-8442), Title IX and Title VI; Brian Pruett (Buchanan High School Principal, 695-8404) and Shelby Beasley (Buchanan Middle School Principal, 695-8406).

Early Childhood Special Education Teacher 2025-26