Pankalo Education Center

Pankalo Education Center serves students in grades K-8 who have emotional behavioral disorders (EBD), autism spectrum disorders (ASD), developmental cognitive disabilities (DCD), and certain low-incidence disabilities. Pankalo has an integrated arts theme; the goal is to provide a compassionate, creative, safe, and child centered learning environment, where our students grow academically, socially, and personally, while tapping into their creativity.

Position Information

This position is a 1.0 FTE position (184 days), starting salary is based on education and years of experience. This position is fully benefit eligible, please click here to review the full contract and benefits offered.

Life Skills Overview

The Life Skills Teacher is a valued member of the Pankalo Education Center team. This position provides purposeful, hands-on instruction to K–8 students receiving special education services. As part of our enrichment teaching team, this position supports students' functional independence by focusing on the real-world application of essential skills across home, school, and community settings. Life Skills classes help students develop practical abilities that support daily living, self-regulation, problem-solving, and community participation. Lessons may include topics such as personal care, organization, money handling, time management, navigating spaces safely, and using assistive tools or technology. Instruction is interactive, personalized, and aligned with each learner’s needs and strengths. This position does not typically include case management responsibilities, allowing the teacher to focus fully on delivering meaningful, student-centered instruction that promotes autonomy, confidence, and lifelong success in alignment with our school’s mission and values.

Nature of Work

Incumbents are responsible for teaching students in assigned disciplines in classrooms, small groups, or at home; adapting teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests; developing individual educational plans designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development; establishing and enforcing rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students; administering tests to help determine students’ developmental levels, needs, or potential; and conferring with parents, guardians, teachers, counselors, or administrators to resolve students' behavioral or academic problems.

Typical Class Responsibilities

Implements and delivers instructional activities to students; instructs and monitors students in the use of learning materials and resources; monitors and assesses student progress and competency mastery, which includes: identifying appropriate assessment methods; developing and administering tests; grading assigned student work; providing performance feedback; and performing other related activities.
Develops, implements, and evaluates curriculum; establishes learning objectives; prepares and evaluates lesson plans; evaluates and selects instructional resources and/or specialized resources; adapts materials and curriculum to meet the needs of students with varying backgrounds, learning styles, and special needs.
Manages student behavior, which includes: developing and implementing classroom rules and applicable disciplinary procedures; assisting in the administration of applicable behavioral policies and rules; and providing appropriate interventions and strategies to address behavior issues.
Maintains accurate and complete student records including grades, achievements, development, and attendance; ensures Due Process rights of students are maintained, as applicable; and develops and writes Individualized Educational Plans and associated reports, as applicable.
Participates in a variety of meetings, which may include: parent or guardian conferences, special education briefings, staff and/or committee meetings, staff development sessions, and/or other related meetings.
Performs related support functions, which may include: preparing correspondence and reports; responding to inquiries; and performing related duties.
Provides feedback to education and student assistants; gives direction to assistants as necessary.
Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Training and Experience Requirements

This position requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and license or able to obtain a license from the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) in Autism Spectrum Disorders (K-12) or Emotional Behavior Disorders (K-12).

Knowledge Requirements

Applicable learning theories and teaching methods;
Curriculum development;
Student assessment methods;
Proactive behavior management;
Classroom management principles and practices;
Instructional methods and practices;
Differentiated instructional methods and practices;
Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations;
Recordkeeping principles;
Computers and related software applications.

Skill Requirements

Developing, implementing, and evaluating lessons;
Assessing student achievement and learning;
Identifying and utilizing instructional resources and/or specialized resources;
Managing classroom behavior;
Developing assessment materials;
Modifying lesson plans for specialized populations;
Maintaining applicable student records;
Applying local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations;
Preparing and maintaining records and reports;
Operating a computer and applicable software applications;
Communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Physical Requirements

Positions in this class typically require: climbing, balancing, stooping, reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, and seeing.
Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

Special Education Profile

Special Education programs and services in Northeast Metro 916 are central to the Intermediate District's mission and fully integrated in its structure and decision-making processes. Programs provide special education and related service support to students from early childhood through age 21 with emotional/behavioral disorders, autism spectrum disorders, developmental and cognitive disabilities, deaf and hard of hearing disabilities, and learning disabilities.

Our highly structured, safe learning environments share these characteristics

Classrooms of 4-10 students supported by 1-4 trained education assistants.
Behavior management support, on-site mental health professionals, due process and curriculum support staff.
In-house collaborative teams include: audiologists, behavior specialists, deaf/blind specialists and interveners, autism specialists, developmental adaptive physical education teachers, education assistants, health specialists, occupational therapists and assistants, physical/other health disabilities teachers, physical therapists and assistants, school psychologists, school nurses, school social workers, speech/language pathologists, and sign language interpreters.

Commitment to Equity

At Northeast Metro 916, equity means that everyone has access to what they need in order to learn, grow and thrive.
Northeast Metro 916 will not discriminate against individuals based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, parental status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, age or sexual orientation.

Special Education Teacher, Life Skills