Special Education Teacher (2025-2026)

Job Description

FTE: 1.0 FTE
Job Summary: The Special Education Teacher will provide direction and instruction in English at LILA. Work involves teaching subjects for students with educational, behavioral, hard of hearing, and/or physical impairments. The Special Education Teacher will work under the guidance of the Director of Special Education.

Essential Functions:
-Provide differentiated instruction in English for co-taught and/or pullout language arts, math and/or organization skills classes, based on the individual students’ ability levels and unique challenges.
-Develop appropriate methods for meeting and documenting educational objectives for each child.
-Complete Special Education due process paperwork as needed.
-Work with the evaluation team for re-evaluations for observations and student transition information.
-Develop curriculum materials using engaging and age-appropriate instructional strategies.
-Create a safe and welcoming classroom environment.
-Incorporate hands-on learning activities into daily instruction.
-Evaluate student performance through data collection.
-Communicate closely and encourage parental involvement regarding program goals, classroom activities, homework, school functions and student progress.
-Infuse international-mindedness into the curriculum on a continual basis.
-Participate in regular planning and staff development activities.
-Maintain knowledge of current and emerging trends, procedures and evaluation processes in special education.
-Participate in professional development for language immersion, Responsive Classroom, and the International Baccalaureate Program.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in education or special education.
Valid Minnesota teaching license.
Fluent in English.
Experience working with students.

Preferences:
International Baccalaureate experience preferred.
Special Education licensure in ABS.
Spanish and/or Mandarin Chinese language proficiency.

Physical Requirements:
This position requires vocal communication, hearing, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, reaching, standing, walking, sitting, pushing, pulling, use of hands to grasp and feel, and vision abilities including close, distance, and adjusting focus. Lifting/moving required frequently up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds or more. Work occasionally requires exposure to bloodborne pathogens and is generally in a moderately noisy location. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Institution Description

Opportunities:
Travel: Teachers are provided opportunities to participate in training provided in the Twin Cities, across the U.S., and sometimes internationally in the areas of Language Immersion, International Baccalaureate, and Responsive Classroom or Developmental Designs. Occasional travel is required.

Work in a diverse culture: Many of our teachers were born in Mandarin and Spanish speaking countries. Nearly all have traveled extensively, with the large majority having lived in a Mandarin or Spanish speaking country for at least a semester.

Social functions: We usually start the school year with an overnight staff retreat in August, and have a January staff party with guests as well. Each Friday, various staff members offer well-attended gatherings around sports or exercise, including volleyball, football (soccer), kettlebells, or Zumba. Other social activities abound.

Professional Development: Lakes International provides professional development for new staff depending on needs and interest, but always including best practices of teachers in the International Baccalaureate programs and building a safe and inviting climate for learning.
Career Track and Advancement: Many opportunities are available to Lakes International teachers, depending on their interests, efforts, and expertise.

Grants to Teachers: The LILA Foundation frequently offers “Inquiry 360” grants to teachers to pursue enriching experiences that they can bring back to share in the classroom. Teachers are encouraged to pursue these experiences abroad. Inquiry 360 grants are competitive and are awarded in April for use the following summer.

Application Instructions/Comments

For more information and to apply, please visit: https://www.applitrack.com/mylila/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Special+Education