Middle School Special Education Teacher (Immediate) - KIPP Nashville Public Schools

Location: ALL Location Openings (North Nashville, East Nashville, Antioch)

Salary Range: BA Scale $55,000-$90,000 | MA+ Scale $60,000-$98,000

About KIPP Nashville Public Schools 

KIPP Nashville Public Schools is a network of high-performing, free, open enrollment K-12 schools that has been committed to positively affecting student outcomes in Nashville since 2005. KIPP Nashville is part of the acclaimed KIPP Network, which educates 100,000+ students nationwide and supports students from Pre-Kindergarten through college, career and beyond. Through the KIPP Forward program, our team helps students identify their career of highest aspiration and develop the skills and confidence to chase their dreams. KIPP Nashville currently operates 3 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools and we are excited to open our doors to more schools in 2024 and 2025 in response to strong community demand.

The mission of KIPP Nashville is together with families and communities we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence they need to pursue the paths they choose - college, career and beyond - so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. Our core values are: GROWTH, TEAM, and SHINE. If you share in this belief and values, if you have a proven willingness to do what it takes for students to be their best, if you thrive in an environment that is both collaborative and entrepreneurial, then you are already a KIPPster.

”Day in the life” responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

The Special Education Teacher will manage a caseload and provide direct supports for students with special needs to help them fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, physical and social growth. The Special Education Teacher will provide critical guidance to Lead Teachers to ensure that all staff are complying with Individualized Education Plans and meeting the needs of students with special needs.

Special Education Coordination

• Ensure compliance with federal, state and district Special Education and ELL regulations
• Develop processes for entering and exiting students into services
• Design and, with the support of necessary school staff, execute RTI process for behavior and academics
• Administer relevant assessments
• Oversee the development, revision and execution of student IEPs and 504 Plans
• Lead IEP and 504 Plan meetings

Special Education Leadership

• Meet with general education teachers to review IEPs, answer questions, provide strategies and supports, as needed
• Adapt and differentiate general education teachers’ weekly lesson plans, assessments and homework to meet individual student goals.
• Support teacher development in serving Special Education and Multilingual Learner students through individual coaching and group professional development

Curriculum Development and Instruction

• Plan and use appropriate instructional and learning strategies, activities, materials, and equipment that reflect understanding of the learning styles and needs of individual students
• Use progress-monitoring tools to analyze student results for the purpose of modifying and adjusting strategies, programming, and IEPs
• Use data to inform instructional decisions
• Provide students with daily feedback on mastery performance in character and academics and plan for individual learning needs
• Demonstrate strong pedagogy

Commitment to School and Classroom Culture

• Work collaboratively with your school team and those across KIPP Nashville
• Help develop school-wide culture that best fits the needs of our students, teachers and families
• Attend and participate in all staff meetings and communicate openly with staff
• Develop positive rapport with students
• Create and foster a positive and calm learning environment
• Enforce, uphold, and exhibit school’s values, student management policies and culture

Family Engagement

• Establish and maintain strong communication lines with all parents and share progress
• Be available for open houses, parent teacher conferences and other events involving parents
• Make him/herself available to students, parents and other staff members

Growth Mindset

• Pursue challenging professional goals each year
• Willing to offer support and receive constructive feedback from colleagues in order to create a professional working atmosphere that is conducive to change and improvement
• Participate in school-wide and individual professional development, including pre-service training over the summer and weekly during the academic year (held during school hours)

Required Experience

• Valid Tennessee teaching license with a K-12 Sped Endorsement OR proof of enrollment in a job-embedded Educator Preparation Program
• Conferred Bachelor’s degree 
• Pass Criminal Background Check

Desired Qualities

• Experience teaching or supporting diverse learners (highly preferred)
• Commitment to working with students from educationally under-resourced communities (highly preferred)
• Experience and demonstrated success teaching students from educationally under-resourced communities (highly preferred)
• At least two years of teaching experience (preferred)
• Passionate about data-driven instruction 
• Unwavering commitment to KIPP Nashville’s mission, core values, students, families, and community
• Firm belief in affirming the identity of students, families and staff
• Demonstrates excitement in growing students into their highest selves and believes that providing students with an excellent education is our largest lever as anti-racist educators for racial equity.
• Eagerness to collaborate and problem-solve with a variety of stakeholders
• Demonstrate commitment to continue their professional development individually
• Demonstrates excitement in growing students into their highest selves

Compensation and Benefits

• KIPP Nashville pay is highly competitive and pays 10% more than Metro Nashville Public Schools. Starting salary for first year teachers begins at $55,070 for those with a conferred advanced degree begins at $60,695. Salary is commensurate with experience. Staff members receive a 2% yearly raise. To establish equitable salary practices, the compensation package is derived from the regional KIPP Nashville Public Schools pay scale. This position is exempt and will follow a 10-month work schedule. 
• Robust benefits package including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance policy options. Application for these benefits may be made immediately upon employment. The policy is effective upon the first of the month following the first day of work.
• Certificated staff have access to the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System pension plan (TCRS). Eligible employees contribute 5% and KIPP matches up to 6%. Employees may also be eligible for 401k in which KIPP will contribute 5%.
• The vacation package for salaried employees includes 29 paid days throughout the 10 month work schedule (including holidays, fall break, thanksgiving break, winter break), as well as summer break. In addition employees in this role are allotted 6 PTO days. Employees are allotted an additional 2 days after every 2 consecutive years of employment. Eligible staff members receive payment for unused PTO days at the end of the fiscal year.
• Adoption/Parental Caregiver Leave- up to 10 weeks parental leave for the primary caregiver and 2 weeks parental leave for the secondary caregiver paid at 100%.
• Teachers are provided with laptop computers with access to the internet and or email to assist them in performing their job responsibilities.
• Certificated staff are eligible for the Master Teacher Program after two consecutive years of employment with KIPP Nashville. Master teachers receive a $5,000 stipend and $2,000 towards professional development annually.

Apply online at https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/KIPP/nashville. Please contact recruiting@kippnashville.org with any questions.

KIPP Nashville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual preference, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, pregnancy, or veteran status.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.