Special Education/English Learner Teacher

Supervisor: Founding Special Education Coordinator

Start Date: August 2025

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through June 30, 2025. However, the position may be closed prior to that date if a qualified candidate is hired. Please note that we will begin reviewing applications starting on January 3, 2025.

The Opportunity: We are seeking a Student Support (Special Education/English Learner) Teacher with experience in early childhood education to provide specialized instruction and support for our students at Global Citizens Public Charter School (Global Citizens PCS). Global Citizens PCS is the first dual language immersion elementary school in Washington, DC, to offer language immersion in both Mandarin Chinese and Spanish pathways - exposing students to the top three languages spoken in the world. Paired with a focus on social justice and whole child wellness, Global Citizens PCS equips children to become empathetic, globally competent, and socially-minded leaders who are prepared for a future we cannot yet imagine. Global Citizens PCS opened in Ward 7 to provide children and their families living east of the Anacostia River with equitable access to dual language immersion programs. This position offers an incredible opportunity to work alongside a founding team, within an entrepreneurial and collaborative environment focused on improving educational opportunities for all students, especially those who are most marginalized and undervalued.

Mission

The mission of Global Citizens PCS is to inspire and prepare the next generation of global citizens. We will do this by supporting students, ages 3-11, to reach their full academic and leadership potential in a nurturing learning environment. We will immerse them in the Mandarin and Spanish languages, promote the value of diversity, and equip them with the knowledge, skills, and mindsets they need to contribute to a better world.

Vision

We envision academic excellence, language acquisition, and authentic inclusion of a diverse student population. We will build a strong community of learners who are confident in their ability to communicate in the Chinese, Spanish, and English languages. Our children will use language to liberate and advocate for themselves and those most marginalized. All of our children will develop a sense of self and a sense of belonging, build empathy and emotional resilience, learn to understand and appreciate diverse perspectives, and challenge themselves to take action to improve the world.

Philosophy

We believe that all cultures have richness and value, deserve respect and consideration, and do not belong to a hierarchy. At Global Citizens PCS, we will continually examine our teaching and curricula to ensure we incorporate multiple perspectives from diverse cultural backgrounds and life experiences, including the experiences of our students, families, communities, and staff. We will create an environment in which all students will yearn for intercultural connections and see their benefits.

Student Support (Special Education/English Learner) Teacher Job Description

The Student Support (Special Education/English Learner) Teacher is one of the primary instructional and people leaders that influence the lives of children at Global Citizens PCS. Special Education/English Learner Teachers will work with general education teachers to foster a student-centered learning environment that respects the culture and identity of each and every child, so they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. In early childhood, our children will learn all content areas in the partner language for approximately 90% of the school day. They will learn their early literacy and math skills in English for approximately 10% of the school day. In elementary school (Kindergarten through 5th grade), we use a 50/50 model, where our children receive standards-based instruction (aligned to the Common Core State Standards) in reading, writing, math, and science in the target language for 50% of the time and in English for 50% of the time (each day). Student Support (Special Education/English Learner) Teacher will teach all content areas in the partner language and will serve as the instructional lead and model for the partner language. Together, each teacher will work in tandem to positively impact student development by creating a warm and inviting learning environment; building relationships with students and families; creatively designing and implementing effective lessons within a free and liberating classroom environment; analyzing and interpreting data; collaborating professionally with colleagues; and, participating in the larger school-wide community. Special Education Teachers, under the direct supervision of the Special Education Coordinator, will work collaboratively with all instructional leadership team members to fully understand and respond to the needs of students and families.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

School Mission and Vision

• Implement a shared school mission and vision to promote each student's social, emotional, and academic development
• Actively participate in data-driven instruction and methods of continuous improvement to ensure we meet the needs of each student
• Reinforce the mission with students and families, inspiring them to act on the mission every single day
• Reflect on instructional practices and adjust behavior and systems accordingly: ask regularly for feedback; model humility and admit mistakes; seek out thought partners; and, engage in professional learning
• Collaborates with support teachers, lead teachers, and other staff to ensure proper and consistent implementation of our instructional program

Equitable and Inclusive School Culture

• Model ethical, equitable, and professional behavior and acts with integrity, fairness, cultural competence, and empathy with students and colleagues
• Contribute to a professional school culture focused on developing relational trust with colleagues and building each other's capacity to promote each student's social, emotional, and academic development; serves as a mentor teacher for support teachers
• Set personal and professional learning goals to promote wellness and enhance professional practice; attend summer institute and weekly professional development sessions
• Participate in professional development and coaching cycles led by Principal and other instructional leaders
• Encourages open, productive, collaborative, and trusting working relationships among administrators, teachers, and staff to promote an environment of continuous improvement
• Develop a supportive and positive learning environment focused on uplifting student voice and using student data to drive student development, growth, and achievement

Compliance

• Implement and monitor accountability measures to ensure all intensive interventions, specialized instruction services, and related services are implemented with fidelity to ensure compliance
• Attend IEP, Section 504, or other related meetings necessary for student assessment and/or compliance with federal and/or state law
• Analyze the results of the Home Language Survey in order to determine which students to assess using the WIDA assessments; provide support to and monitor the progress of English Learners throughout the school year
• Administer the beginning-of-year (BOY) and end-of-year (EOY) WIDA assessments

Case Management

• Serve as case manager for students with a 504 accommodation plan
• Update IEP, 504s and BIPs as to the achievement of goals and objectives as the end of every quarter
• Inform general education teachers of IEP, 504 and BIP goals as necessary; create IEP snapshots
• Issue quarterly progress reports on IEP, 504s, and BIPs goals for students & families
• Provide interventions and all ELL services to students on your case-load, including writing and implementing rigorous, standards-driven goals, managing legal documents and files related to ELL students, liaising with external service providers, ensuring all services are in compliance with mandates
• Monitor and support implementation of goals and objectives in content

Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

• Case manage approximately 5-10 children with disabilities, including writing IEPs, consulting with general education teachers providing inclusion services and interventions
• Design and implement engaging instruction based on IEP goals and objectives for each student
• Address IEP and ILP goals by providing in-class support, small group instruction, and/or pull-out groups
• Collaborate with general education teachers and the Special Education Coordinator to assess every student's mastery of the content and diagnose areas of student misunderstanding
• Serve as "owner" of all special education-related services, including writing and implementing rigorous, standards-driven IEPs, managing legal documents and files related to students' IEPs and 504 plans, liaising with external service providers, ensuring all services are in compliance with mandates, and coordinating annual IEP review process
• Utilize culturally sustaining and anti-bias/anti-racist practices (along with data) to inform and guide daily instruction; incorporate