About Us:
St. Catherine’s Center for Children is a non-profit organization located in the Greater Capital Region of New York. We offer a wide array of human services designed to meet the needs of vulnerable children, families and adults, including residential and therapeutic foster care programs for children and youth, Kinship support, homeless and community-based services for adults and families, a special education elementary school for ages 5-13, and so much more.
St. Catherine’s is committed to cultivating a culture where all employees feel safe to bring their authentic and best selves to the workplace. We are invested in fostering an equitable, inclusive and diversified workplace; collaboratively embracing mindfulness, relevance, respect and solidarity.
Our Mission:
St. Catherine's Center for Children provides a comprehensive range of human services designed to offer hope, foster growth, and improve the lives of the children, families and adults we serve.
Our Vision:
St. Catherine’s willingness to embrace change and develop new services is, and will remain, our guiding philosophy as we support the human service needs of children, families, and adults throughout the region.
Position Overview:
The Special Education Master Teacher supervises the classroom team and is responsible for planning and implementing the educational program for each student assigned to the classroom. The Master Teacher leads and coordinates the work of all classroom staff on a daily basis.
Duties & Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Planning and Coordination:
- Responsible for implementing the IEP and Treatment Plan for each student in the classroom.
- Constructs daily and weekly lesson plans utilizing the goals and objectives from the IEP and Treatment Plan.
- Consults with special service teachers in coordinating the planning and implementation of the IEP and Treatment Plans.
- Responsible for mapping the curriculum using the Rubicon Atlas Curriculum Mapping website.
Management:
- Supervises the Teacher Assistant and other classroom staff as assigned.
- Maintains a mediational and therapeutic classroom environment in order to promote appropriate social interaction among the adults and children.
- Responsible for maintaining an orderly and aesthetically pleasing classroom environment.
- Assists students in developing emotional, coping, social, problem solving, and “getting along” skills.
- Responsible for the informal and/or formal evaluations of the Teacher Assistant assigned to their classroom team.
- Is responsible for monitoring the timely completion of the staff’s annual physical re-examination and other required updated agency documentation for supervisees.
- Responsible for enforcing the St. Catherine’s Center for Children agency and R&E May School policies and procedures.
- Is responsible for the initial level of progressive discipline.
- Participates in the team process of interviews.
- Additional position-related duties as assigned by the Director of Day Treatment.
Instruction:
Provides individualized, whole class, and small group instruction to the students daily in accordance with the IEP and Treatment Plans.
Assumes responsibility for the supplementing and supplanting of instruction conducted by the Teacher Assistant.
May co-teach in the classroom with the Teacher Assistant or special service teachers when appropriate for the students.
Record Keeping:
The Master Teacher is responsible for the following written work:
- Daily and weekly lesson plans.
- Weekly team notes.
- Treatment Plan review reports for regularly scheduled meetings.
- Collaborative weekly progress notes.
- Documentation on Report Cards.
- Performance evaluations for supervised staff.
- Administrative documentation.
- Reviewing the time sheets of supervisees for accuracy.
- Recording all first-level progressive disciplinary actions for assigned staff assigned.
- Additional position-related documentation as assigned.
Professional Development:
- The Master Teacher is responsible for participating in required trainings, planned in-service and case discussions within the agency. It is also required that the Master Teachers engage in seminars or lectures in the community which would lead to professional growth. At times, the Master Teacher may be called upon to present in-service seminars within the agency.
Team Membership:
- As a member of the Day Treatment-Residence Treatment Planning Team, the Master Teacher helps to plan treatment modalities for the student/family and shares information with other team members regarding the child’s functioning in the classroom. This is accomplished through informal communication and attendance at Care Plan Team at combined initial and quarterly Treatment Planning meetings.
Organizational Relationships:
- The Master Teacher is responsible to and supervised by the Director of Day Treatment.
- Supervises the Teacher Assistant assigned to their classroom.
Essential Attributes:
- Ability to relate to and communicate with a wide range of people. This includes but is not limited to a broad range of people who are culturally and socio-economically diverse, as well as people with various developmental and functional levels.
- Ability to understand, communicate with, represent and carry out the mission, values, philosophy and policies of St. Catherine’s Center for Children.
- Work effectively in a shared decision-making model as a team member; listen attentively to others’ opinions and perspectives; and resolve disagreements respectfully.
- This position will have full and complete access to client Protected Health Information (PHI) in order to carry out the duties and responsibilities for this position.
- Must be able to interact with students in a mediational, therapeutic manner and create an interactive, motivating classroom climate.
- Must demonstrate effective student de-escalation skills.
- Must be able to effectively communicate with adults and students, in English, in oral and written form.
- Must be able to plan and deliver an integrated instructional program in both affective and academic domains which produce successful student outcomes.
- Ability to co-teach with classroom and related services colleagues as needed.
- Must be able to conduct, interpret and use educational assessment.
- Must be able to provide close, effective supervision of students, including a running or fleeing child, and respond to students needs on routine or emergency situations.
- Must be able to manage own emotional reactivity in order to make appropriate professional judgments under stressful circumstances.
- Must be able to conduct physical intervention procedures according to the guidelines of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Training (TCI).
- Must demonstrate the willingness/ability to collaborate with fellow faculty/ Care Plan Team members, sharing information/feedback with colleagues.
- Must demonstrate the ability to direct and coach the Teacher Assistant and Substitute Teachers.
- Capable of demonstrating strong administrative, organizational and classroom management skills.
- Ability to relate to and communicate with a broad range of people who are culturally and socio- economically diverse, as well as people with various developmental and functional levels.
- Ability to understand, communicate, represent and carry out the mission, values, philosophy and policies of St. Catherine’s Center for Children, while conducting him/herself in a manner that is becoming of a St. Catherine’s Center for Children employee.
- Ability to carry out written documentation as required by St. Catherine’s policies and procedures and as required by regulating agencies.
- Ability to organize and effectively manage (in a timely manner) the varied tasks of the position.
- Ability to work collaboratively with other personnel/ service providers or professionals.
- Work effectively in a shared decision-making model as a team member; listen attentively to others’ opinions and perspectives; and resolve disagreements respectfully.
- Value a nurturing family as the ideal environment for a person; have confidence in the principle that people have the capacity to grow and change at their own pace and motivation.
- The ability to establish a respectful relationship with persons served, helping them gain the necessary skills, and empowering them to find the confidence to solve their own problems.
- The capacity to maintain a helping role and to intervene appropriately to meet service goals.
Position Specifications & Requirements:
- Master of Science degree in Special Education, preferred. Master of Science degree in related educational area of study will be considered.
Requires a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education or related area of study, and the ability to work with students who demonstrate serious emotional and behavioral challenges, ages 6-13. Bachelor’s degree may be considered if the applicant is currently enrolled in a program that leads to a Master’s degree in Special Education or related educational area of study.
- NYS Certification in Special Education, Literacy or Students with Disabilities, or enrollment in a program that leads to NYS Special Education Teacher Certification within one year of hire.
- Prior Supervisory experience, highly preferred.
- At least one year of relevant experience preferred, with a professional record of integrity and strong work ethic.
- Previous experience working in a human services agency is a plus!
- Ability to work flexible hours, outside of scheduled work hours, as necessary.
- Experience in the use of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), with the ability to respond effectively and therapeutically in crisis situations.
- Proficiency in various computer applications such as Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel), Google Business Suite; and use secure Internet practices.
- Experience with AWARDS/ NYS Connections is a plus!
- Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times, stressful environment.
- Ability to work with students who demonstrate serious emotional and behavioral challenges, ages 5-13.
- Ability to handle sensitive data with strict confidentiality.
- Self-motivated and engaged, with a strong attention to detail; Excellent writing aptitude.
- Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills; and exhibit empathy for those in need.
- Demonstrated placidity and patience; flexibility and adaptability.
- Must be willing and able to work in close proximity with the clients we serve.
- Ability to complete pre-employment background check, including OMH fingerprinting.
Certified Teacher Rate - $62,352.20 - $74,500.00 annually
EOE Statement: St. Catherine’s Center for Children is committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, reproductive health and pregnancy, family history and genetics, disability, age, military status, veteran status, politics, or other beliefs, and any other characteristics protected by law.
Background Check: We are required to run a thorough and complete background check on All Candidates being considered for any position within our agency. Whether you are going to be a Permanent Employee, work with us through a staffing agency as a Temp, completing an Internship or perhaps you will be Volunteering with us. The background check includes Criminal Background Check (CBC) fingerprinting for the NYS Justice Center (NYS-JC) under the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Some positions require additional fingerprinting under the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and/or the Department of Health (DOH). All candidates must successfully clear the background check process, following NYS-DOJ requirements. We pay for all our background checks!
