*Special Education Teacher / Education Specialist (Mod/Severe) (27-28)

Job Description

Job DescriptionAbout KIPP Northern California

We are a thriving nonprofit network of free, public charter schools open to all students. At KIPP, we believe all children should grow up free to create the future they want for themselves and that schools can and should be a critical factor in making that vision a reality. Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

Our 7,000+ elementary, middle, and high school students across East Palo Alto, Oakland, San Francisco, San Lorenzo, San José, Redwood City, and Stockton represent the rich diversity of our region. We strive to build a team of educators whose backgrounds and experiences reflect those of our students and families.

Role Overview

At KIPP Northern California, Education Specialists provide specialized academic instruction and individualized support that enable students with disabilities to access rigorous learning opportunities, make meaningful academic progress, and thrive in inclusive school communities.

Education Specialists design and deliver differentiated instruction, manage Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), monitor student progress, and collaborate with general education teachers, families, and service providers to ensure students receive the services and supports they need.

As part of a collaborative school team, Education Specialists receive instructional coaching, participate in professional learning, and contribute to a joyful, culturally responsive, and anti-racist learning environment where every student is valued and supported.

Core Responsibilities

Specialized Instruction & Student Learning

• Plan and deliver rigorous, differentiated instruction aligned with grade-level standards, students' IEP goals, and individual learning needs.

• Provide specialized academic instruction through service delivery models identified in students' IEPs, including co-teaching, push-in, pull-out, small-group, and individualized instruction, as applicable.

• Use student assessment results, progress data, and individual strengths to develop instructional plans, adjust teaching strategies, and improve learning outcomes.

• Collaborate with general education teachers to implement accommodations, modifications, accessible instructional materials, and appropriate assistive technology that promote meaningful participation and academic progress.

IEP Development, Case Management & Compliance

• Serve as case manager for assigned students, coordinating the development, implementation, review, and monitoring of IEPs in accordance with applicable legal requirements and KIPP procedures.

• Develop measurable IEP goals informed by student strengths, present levels of performance, assessment results, and identified educational needs.

• Coordinate and facilitate IEP meetings in partnership with families, students as appropriate, general education teachers, related service providers, and school leaders.

• Conduct educational assessments within the scope of assigned responsibilities and credential authorization, contribute to multidisciplinary evaluations, and use findings to inform instructional planning and student services.

• Monitor and document student progress toward IEP goals, communicate progress to families and IEP teams, and adjust instructional supports based on student needs.

• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential IEP documentation, assessment records, service records, and progress reports while coordinating transition planning and implementation of student supports as applicable.

Inclusive Learning Environments & Student Support

• Establish a joyful, safe, inclusive, and academically rigorous learning environment that affirms students' identities, strengths, and individual learning needs.

• Integrate culturally responsive teaching, social-emotional learning, and restorative practices into instruction and classroom routines to strengthen student belonging and engagement.

• Collaborate with student support teams to implement positive behavior supports and Behavior Intervention Plans, monitor effectiveness, and adjust approaches based on student progress.

• Promote student independence, self-advocacy, and meaningful participation in classroom and school activities.

Family Partnership & Team Collaboration

• Build trusting, respectful relationships with students and families through proactive, culturally responsive communication about student strengths, progress, and support needs.

• Partner with general education teachers, related service providers, and school leaders to coordinate instruction, services, and accommodations across learning environments.

• Provide instructional guidance, modeling, and feedback to assigned paraeducators to promote consistent implementation of student accommodations, IEP goals, and support strategies.

• Collaborate with colleagues to strengthen understanding and implementation of individualized instructional strategies and student support plans.

Professional Learning, Equity & School Community

• Participate in instructional coaching, collaborative planning, professional development, staff meetings, and Communities of Practice to strengthen teaching effectiveness.

• Apply feedback, research-informed instructional practices, and student performance data to improve instruction and student outcomes.

• Reflect on identity, bias, and systemic barriers to identify opportunities to strengthen equitable access, inclusion, and student achievement.

• Contribute to a collaborative, anti-racist school culture grounded in shared responsibility for the success and well-being of students with disabilities.

Additional Responsibilities: Perform other related duties as assigned, consistent with the essential functions of the position.

Knowledge & Skills

Required Qualifications

Education & Credentialing

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.

• Valid California Education Specialist credential authorizing service for the assigned student population, or eligibility for an appropriate alternative authorization, subject to verification and approval by KIPP Northern California.

• Eligible authorization pathways may include an Education Specialist intern credential, Special Education Limited Assignment Teaching Permit (SELAP), Provisional Internship Permit (PIP), Short-Term Staff Permit (STSP), or another applicable authorization, depending on the assignment and candidate eligibility.

• Candidates hired through a PIP or STSP must hold CPR certification meeting American Heart Association or American Red Cross standards before employment begins.

Knowledge/skills

• Deep commitment to KIPP’s mission, vision, and values, including educational equity, inclusion, and anti-racist practices.

• Belief in the ability of students with disabilities to achieve at high levels when provided with rigorous instruction, appropriate supports, and meaningful opportunities for inclusion.

• Knowledge of differentiated instruction, specialized academic interventions, and strategies that support students' academic, behavioral, and social-emotional development.