The Pinnacle School enables students with complex learning profiles and secondary co-occurring needs to thrive through small class sizes, differentiated instruction, active problem-solving and relationship building. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and is a Connecticut state-approved special education school. Our students are both privately and district placed, and come from Connecticut and New York.
Candidates will be joining a robust and collaborative team of highly trained clinicians and teachers with expertise in special education, school counseling, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and classroom and behavior management. Pinnacle faculty and staff work tirelessly to support each student to become an enthusiastic learner and an engaged member of the community. We hire accomplished, inspiring people with a combination of teaching experience, advanced degrees, contagious enthusiasm, and engaging communication skills.
The Special Education Teacher will provide high quality, data-driven instruction to students aligned with the school's mission and philosophy. The teacher will participate as a member of the Planning and Placement Team (PPT) and develop and implement an annual Individualized Education Program (IEP) through the development of the Present Levels of Performance, appropriate goals, and objectives. Teachers will differentiate curriculum to support students' learning styles and current achievement levels. The teacher will employ various teaching strategies, methods, and principles of learning to assist students in achieving their IEP goals. Teachers will cultivate open and positive lines of communication with students and parents regarding academic, social and emotional progress and development, as well as maintain collaborative relationships with colleagues.
The successful candidate will meet the following requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Special Education, Education, Literature or related field; Master's degree preferred
- Valid Connecticut state endorsement 165-Special Education: Comprehensive, grades K-12 or 034-General Science, Middle School 7-12 or eligibility for certification in the state of Connecticut
- Minimum 2 years experience teaching special education student populations with language-based learning differences
- Familiar with the IEP process and the collection of progress monitoring data
- Create and maintain an orderly and aesthetic learning environment that accounts for students social, emotional, and executive functioning need
- Commitment to helping children of all abilities reach their full potential
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and a collaborative, enthusiastic style to fit with our small-team environment
Qualities of a Successful Candidate:
- Flexible and Patient - is able to react quickly and seamlessly to changes, is able to alter plans both instructionally and clinically based on observations and data
- Creative - is creative when planning engaging lessons and thinking outside the box to create the best individualized intervention for a student.
- Quick Thinking - is able to remain calm, evaluate and make sound decisions in high pressure situations
- Collaborative - Able to collaborate with team members across a variety of disciplines
- Reflective - is able to reflect on instruction, student progress, interactions, and implementation of plans, and seek/use resources to improve
- Growth Mindset - Curious and motivated to learn, find a deeper understanding and overcome challenges
- Seeks help, guidance and support - is able to recognize when collaboration or support is needed and is motivated to improve
- Able to build and maintain positive relationships with students, colleagues, parents and districts
- Honest - is able to report on student progress in an honest and professional manner, and is able to provide feedback to leadership and team members respectfully and honestly.
- Solid organizational skills - able to succeed in a fast paced environment while consistently meeting deadlines
- Commitment to helping students of all abilities reach their full potential and an enthusiastic style to fit with our small-team environment
For more information about our school, please visit our website .
Salary and benefits are competitive and consistent with other independent schools in the Fairfield/Westchester area. Benefits include: Medical/Dental, Vision, PTO, Life Insurance, LTD, and Retirement.
Education Required
- Bachelors or better in Education
