Special Education Teacher - Substitute Pool 2026-2027

Organizational Overview

Grow Public Schools’ (GPS) mission is to be a network of high-performing schools in Kern County, dedicated to academic excellence that empowers all students to thrive through a foundation of health and wellness, college and career readiness, and lifelong success. We believe education and wellness are fundamental pillars for success, and their harmonious integration paves the way for brilliant and vibrant futures.

Founded in August of 2011 by the Grimm Family Education Foundation,  GPS is committed to serving the Kern County community through high-quality public education. GPS currently operates two TK-8 schools, Grow Academy Arvin and Grow Academy Shafter, serving more than 1,600 students. With continued growth in mind, GPS plans to open two additional schools, expanding its reach to a total of 3,200 students.

Job Summary:  Grow Public School teachers develop empowering classroom environments that establish high expectations for student growth and achievement and attend to the health and wellness needs for each individual student. This includes planning, organizing, and implementing standards-aligned lessons, activities, and assessments. Teachers collaborate across grade levels and departments to provide a rigorous academic program. In addition, teachers will work collaboratively with coaches, instructional support staff, the Edible Schoolyard team, and learning lab staff to ensure that school-wide goals are met. 

Teacher Responsibilities will include: 

Intellectual Prep and Delivery of Instruction

• Implement and execute the adopted Grow Public Schools Units of Study and high-quality instructional materials 
• Prepare and implement integrated lessons that reflect a student’s IEP and lead to deep student understanding based on state standards and accommodations
• Participate fully in weekly instructional coaching activities (including analysis of student learning, intellectual prep, observation debrief, etc.) and execute on next steps
• Provide experiential learning opportunities including integration with the Edible Schoolyard (ESY) curriculum and project based learning framework

Assessment & Compliance

• Write and conduct IEPs and facilitate IEP meetings
• Proctor assessments, update service logs and files
• Communicate with partnering agencies

Organizational Culture

• Develop a classroom learning environment that reflects the school’s core values and school wide expectations in order to emphasize a college-going culture

Co-Planning & Co-Teaching

• Collaborate with the learning lab staff and Small Group Instructors (SGIs) to implement students’ Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs), integrating online learning platforms based on student need

Academic Record Keeping

• Assess student progress and maintain accurate standards-based grading records, utilizing various student information management systems and technology platforms
• Maintain frequent communication with scholars, scholars’ families, colleagues, and school leaders (both in-person and virtually)
• Provide frequent and timely feedback on student learning
• Encourage and monitor the progress of individual students and use information to adjust teaching strategies

 PBIS System Implementation

• Implement the GPS school-wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Support framework with fidelity and provide weekly communication to families on students’ academics and behavior, as needed

Record Keeping

• Update and maintain all necessary records accurately and completely as required by laws, district policies and school regulations  
• Prepare required reports on students and activities 

Delivery of SEL Curriculum

• Deliver grade-level specific SEL curriculum to foster the health and wellness of all students

Other functions of the job include but are not limited to the following:

• Demonstrate preparation, skill, and a growth mindset for working with students from diverse cultural, economic and ability backgrounds  
• Encourage parent and community involvement, obtain information for parents when requested; promptly return phone calls and answer emails 
• Active participation in relevant professional learning opportunities provided on site, through the GPS CMO, or an outside provider
• Mentor peers to help them develop the skills needed to progress as teachers, as applicable
• Contribute to campus culture through extracurricular activities such as celebrations, sporting activities, clubs and student organizations
• An enthusiasm for ESY education and experiential problem based approach to learning
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

• A Bachelor’s degree
• A CA state Education Specialist teaching credential or intern credential, with an English Learner Authorization as required by the state of California
• Familiarity with and/or the ability to learn SIRUS, IEP writing and Special Ed Reporting Software
• Familiarity with and/or the ability to learn a variety of service models including: co-teaching strategies, push-in supports, pull-out supports, and small group teaching
• Proficiency with various technologies and teaching tools
• Bilingual ability preferred but not required