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Job Description

Job Description

Common Ground Is Seeking a Special Education Teacher

About Common Ground High School

Common Ground High School is the nation’s longest-running environmental charter high school, founded in 1997. Our 230 students form an inclusive, powerful community of learners and leaders. These students benefit from a unique learning environment : an urban farm and 20-acre site, home to state of the art school facilities, adjacent to West Rock Ridge State Park, and located in the City of New Haven. We strive to create a learning environment grounded in foundational building blocks : rigor, responsive relationships, relevance that’s rooted in the local community and environment, and real roles & rights. Common Ground’s graduation rate consistently surpasses the state average, and between 97 and 100% of our students are accepted to college each year.

Common Ground High School is part of a community nonprofit organization that also operates an urban farm and community environmental education center. As a whole, Common Ground is a center for learning and leadership, inviting people across ages and identities to connect to their urban environment, build community, grow into their full potential, and contribute to a just and sustainable world. We work toward this mission through active, authentic learning rooted in justice and our environment : a farm, in a forest, in a city.

About the Position

We are seeking an experienced, compassionate, and well-organized educator to join our team as a Special Education Teacher for the 2025 / 2026 school yea r. This position will start in August 2025.

Candidates should possess a CT Teacher License (165).

This position is represented by our Collective Bargaining Agreement with UAW local 2110. ($52,100 - $76,875) Salary for this position is on Scale IV or V depending on qualifications. Placement on that salary scale will take prior, relevant work experience in consideration.

The Special Education Teacher will :

Collaborate with Common Ground’s talented team of Special Educators and Support Educators on the delivery of Special Education services to students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)

Support General Education Teachers in delivering instruction utilizing accommodations and modifications to meet the learning needs of students with IEPs

Participate in grade-level planning meetings that address students’ academic and social-emotional needs

Teach a guidance (advisory) group.

We are looking for candidates who demonstrate some or all of the following :

A Master’s degree with three or more years of teaching experience in Special Education

Exceptional organizational skills and demonstrated success with managing a caseload of students with IEPs : Writing IEPs, completing required reporting; managing documentation; and participating in PPTs.

A track record of supporting students with IEPs to meet and exceed ambitious academic and life goals.

Knowledge of and experience coordinating targeted interventions in all content areas, including Math and English.

Experience co-teaching and / or collaborating with general education teachers and support staff to provide students with disabilities differentiated instruction, accommodations and modifications.

Ability to lead teach in a Resource Room to provide students with academic support, interventions, and instruction on building executive functioning skills.

A commitment to involving school families deeply in the educational process.

Strong written and oral communication skills.

Knowledge of trauma-informed instruction and possesses a belief that all students can learn and be successful.

A passion for our social justice mission and commitment to equitable and sustainable change

We are also excited to consider candidates who have :

TESOL Certification or Cross-Endorsement

Values and embraces collaboration, communication, and has capacity to work effectively within a team that includes multiple teachers and community partners.

Experience working directly with racially, economically, academically diverse high school aged young people, and with low-income young people and people of color in particular. Knowledge about and passion for working for an organization that is committed to social justice, the dismantling of systems of oppression, and creating a just, equitable, and inclusive culture.

Experience working with Google applications, online course management platforms, and other online learning tools.

Please send cover letter and resume to :

Please submit your cover letter and resume through our ADP online portal or email them to applications@commongroundct.org Please specify the job you are applying for in the subject line of your email.

Nondiscrimination Policy & Notice :

Pursuant to Title IX and its regulations (“Final Rule” released on April 19, 2024), the Board of Directors has adopted and implemented a policy stating that the Common Ground District does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity it operates, including admission and employment. Common Ground High School does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, status as a veteran, status as a victim of domestic violence, marital status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, protective hairstyles, alienage, ancestry, age, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law and prohibits discrimination, including harassment, in any education program or activity it operates. The Board shall provide protections from all forms of sex-based harassment, including sexual violence and unwelcome sex-based conduct that creates a hostile environment by limiting or denying a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from a school’s education program or activity. The Common Ground District shall take prompt and effective action to end any sex discrimination in its education programs or activities to provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of sex discrimination complaints, prevent recurrence, and remedy its effects. To that end, the District shall act promptly and effectively in response to information about conduct that reasonably may constitute discrimination, including sexual violence and other forms of sex-based harassment. The district shall also ensure that all school employees are trained about their obligations to address sex discrimination and their obligations to notify or provide contact information for the Title IX Coordinator. The Common Ground Board of Directors Non-discrimination policy includes protections for students, employees, and applicants against discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, or recovery from these conditions and shall provide reasonable modifications for students based on pregnancy or related conditions, allow for lactation for employees, and access to a clean, private lactation space for students and employees. Common Ground shall not disclose personally identifiable information obtained through complying with Title IX, with limited exceptions, such as when there had been prior written consent or when the information is disclosed to the parent of a minor. Retaliation against anyone who, in good faith, makes a report of harassment or discrimination, files a complaint of harassment or discrimination, serves as a witness, or participates in an investigation or grievance process is also a violation of Common Ground District’s non-discrimination policy and is prohibited.