Job Description

24-25 School Year Role

WHO WE ARE

At Tulsa Honor Academy (THA), we are on a mission to equip all scholars with the academic skills, content knowledge, and ethical character required for college graduation and life success.

We believe ALL scholars, regardless of race, background, income or ability, can achieve at high levels. We work relentlessly to ensure 100% of scholars are on a path to go to and graduate from a college of their choice, beginning in the fifth grade. 

Opening our doors in 2015 with 92 fifth grade scholars, THA will grow to serve over 1,200 scholars in grades 5-12 across our two campuses in the 2023-2024 academic year. 

When you join the THA Familia, you are joining a team with an unwavering commitment to ensuring scholars in our community have access to a high-quality, college preparatory education. One that is focused on developing successful college graduates who will become well-rounded, engaged individuals who will transform their communities. 

Candidates must share our unshakeable belief that all scholars can achieve when given the opportunity. Sound like you? 

WHO YOU ARE

• You are a firm believer that all scholars can go to and graduate from college
• You demonstrate determination and know that the work is hard, but worth it
• You display humility through consistent self-reflection, problem solving and implementation of feedback
• You believe in team first and know that success is not defined by individuals, but by the team itself
• You demonstrate a commitment to structure knowing that school-wide systems are critical elements of our scholars’ success
• You are a proactive communicator who does so clearly and concisely with scholars, families and staff
• You are nerdy about ensuring scholars have access to rigorous academic instruction, including deep and complex content  
• You desire to be in the trenches with us and our kids and can engage and motivate diverse stakeholders
• You are goal-oriented and set meaningful, ambitious goals and achieve success despite potential obstacles or setbacks
• You are always hungry for more and have a deep desire to be an expert in your field 
• You display grit when the work is hard and utilize ingenuity, resourcefulness and tenacity to tackle complex problems in order to achieve our mission

WHAT YOU’LL DO 

Special Educators are entrusted with advancing the mission of Tulsa Honor Academy through meeting the individualized needs of our scholars with disabilities.

Core Commitments 

-It is hard, but joyful for both kids and adults. We work hard, but love just as hard.

• Develop a palpably positive classroom and school climate with frequent and authentic instances of shared smiling, laughter and enthusiasm where joy is deeply rooted in achievement, the content, and team/individual successes
• Believe that scholar actions and mindsets stem from teacher actions and mindsets

-Back-to-basics, liberal arts school - We have a fundamental belief in teaching kids to be critical thinkers through ELA and STEM.

• Develop a strong skill foundation
• Ensure all scholars complete the cognitive work during the lesson, such as reading, writing, discussion, analysis, meaning-making, computation, and problem-solving
• Display that you value risk-taking, especially when the work is challenging. Expect all scholars to attempt all work, take academic risks, and learn from their mistakes

-Structure driven school - We sacrifice autonomy in exchange for consistency and commitment to a shared definition of excellence.

• Sweat the small stuff 
• Believe that scholars want and need to be held to a higher standard and that scholars are capable of making good choices
• Teach and enforce school-wide systems, rules and consequences, disciplinary codes, and rewards at all times
• Know that warm and strict are not opposites

-Team, team, team - We support our community, learn from one another and respect each other enough to hold high expectations for ourselves and our scholars. 

• Value parents as our partners
• Model what we expect because we know adults drive culture 
• Believe in a all hands on deck mentality

-Constant Improvement - We model what it really means to receive feedback. 

• Gain energy from the feedback cycle, not lose it 
• Use feedback to make productive changes in performance

-Diversity and Equity - We believe institutions thrive with diverse people and backgrounds.

• Ensure our community is an inclusive and safe place
• Deeply believe in and participate in our work as an anti-racist organization 

-People, paper, college - What we invest in says a lot about what we prioritize.

• Execute rigorous instructional materials 
• Support teammates, families and scholars 
• Do whatever it takes to ensure our scholars go to and graduate from college 

Core Responsibilities

• Classroom Culture: A Special Educator ensures scholars are full participants in an accommodated, structured, productive and safe learning environment. Special Educators do this through participation, internalization of class/school culture systems, consistent routines, engaging in meaningful work, celebration of character values and a belief that one can be both warm and strict. 
• Ambitious Content: A Special Educator ensures that the scholar’s work is accessible yet challenging, developing their understanding of ideas and skills in a way that enables them to participate with their peers and engage in learning.
• Ownership and Engagement: A Special Educator must ensure scholars are deeply engaged in the work, consistently completing the cognitive work, taking academic risks and providing meaningful oral or written evidence
• We have a Plan: To these ends, a Special Educator crafts Individualized Education Plans for their scholars that empower success, recognizing that compliance tasks are more than mere paperwork, but provide interventions in service of bringing opportunity to our scholars with disabilities.
• Commitment to Excellence: All staff at THA must display a commitment to their team and improving their craft. Special Educators do this through collaborative relationships, remaining engaged, demonstrating ownership for shared culture, remaining solutions-oriented and embodying THA’s commitment to continual improvement. Special Educators receive regular observations and coaching from their site leadership, as well as compliance support from the network. 

THE DETAILS

Qualifications/Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Oklahoma special education (mild/mod) certification is required OR standard certification with acquisition of mild/mod certification within one year of employment.
• Subject area certification, early childhood, or elementary education certification is preferred.

Experience

• Prior teaching experience in a school serving a similar population to THA’s is preferred.
• Charter school experience is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated track record of achievement in prior roles.

Compensation and Benefits 

• THA's certified salary schedule starts at $47,000 plus incentives for certified Special Educators. Salary is commensurate with full-time, K-12 teaching experience in accredited schools. THA’s compensation includes a comprehensive benefits package. To learn more about THA’s benefits, visit tulsahonor.org/careers. 

The Role

• Reports to and is held accountable by the school’s Principal. 
• Provides minutes of service according to scholars' IEPs and ensures scholars achieve the goals set forth in their IEPs.
• Consults with teachers and site leaders to ensure scholars receive appropriate accommodation.
• Accurately archives scholars' Special Education documentation and collects forms required for meeting.
• Crafts instructionally appropriate IEPs.
• Participates in or leads the MEEGS, REDS, and IEP meetings for their scholars.
• Completes compliance tasks as assigned by the Special Education Manager.
• Follows THA’s Academic Calendar. 
• Full-time, exempt.

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