Job Description • Teacher - North Shore Academy
Reports to: Instructional Coordinator and Principal
Employment Group: Faculty TRS
FLSA Status: Exempt
Work Year: 10 Months
Position Summary
The North Shore Academy (NSA) Teacher supports the TrueNorth mission and is committed to the possibilities in every learner, every day. This educator provides instructional, therapeutic, and community-based learning experiences for students with moderate-to-severe emotional and behavioral challenges. The NSA Teacher delivers individualized academic instruction, implements evidence-based behavioral and social-emotional interventions, and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to promote student growth, resilience, and successful transitions.
The NSA Teacher works closely with students, families, classroom teams, related service providers, and administrators to create a safe, supportive, and trauma-informed learning environment. This educator understands that traditional disciplinary approaches are often ineffective for this population and instead utilizes collaborative problem-solving, coping skills instruction, and strength-based practices to support student development.
Qualifications
- Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with LBS I endorsement
- Experience working with students with significant emotional, behavioral, and learning needs
- Knowledge of therapeutic, trauma-informed, and evidence-based practices for students with emotional and behavioral disorders
- Strong organizational skills and effective written and verbal communication
- Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and support students in crisis
- Experience supervising and supporting paraprofessionals (preferred)
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge
- Knowledge of emotional and behavioral disorders and their impact on learning and development
- Knowledge of trauma-informed practices, collaborative problem-solving, and therapeutic classroom models
- Knowledge of academic curriculum across grade levels and content areas
- Knowledge of functional, community-based instruction and transition-focused programming
- Knowledge of legal and ethical requirements governing special education services
Skills
- Skill in designing and delivering specially designed academic and behavioral instruction aligned to IEP goals
- Skill in conducting informal and formal assessments of academic and behavioral progress
- Skill in implementing evidence-based interventions to address lagging skills and support regulation
- Skill in establishing a therapeutic classroom climate consistent with the Circle of Courage values
- Skill in supervising, coaching, and supporting teaching assistants
- Skill in maintaining accurate documentation, service notes, and IEP-related reports
- Skill in using technology to collect and analyze student data and support instruction
Abilities
- Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with students, families, and staff
- Ability to engage in effective problem-solving with students in crisis
- Ability to model resilience, flexibility, and constructive conflict resolution
- Ability to maintain student safety and provide appropriate supervision
- Ability to prioritize tasks, manage timelines, and adapt to changing student needs
- Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and model ethical practice
The following statements describe the general nature and level of work assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. Additional duties may be assigned that are reasonably related to the position.
- Develop and implement curriculum aligned to IEP goals and state standards
- Provide academic instruction appropriate to assigned grade level (elementary, middle, or high school)
- Integrate functional, community-based learning experiences into instruction
- Conduct informal and formal assessments to monitor academic and behavioral progress
- Prepare for and participate in IEP meetings and multidisciplinary team conferences
Therapeutic & Behavioral Support
- Participate as a member of the therapeutic behavior program team to develop and implement treatment plans
- Utilize collaborative problem-solving, coping skills instruction, and evidence-based interventions
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of emotional and behavioral disorders and therapeutic needs
- Establish a classroom culture consistent with a strengths-based model for positive school and classroom culture
- Engage in effective problem-solving with students experiencing crisis
- Formulate intervention strategies to address lagging skills and support regulation
- Maintain open communication with students, families, home schools, and team members
- Collaborate with related service providers, general and special educators, and administrators
- Encourage and coordinate student involvement in strength-based and community-based activities
- Discuss concerns openly and directly with colleagues to support team cohesion
- Communicate effectively in writing, including IEP reports and home/school correspondence
Supervision & Professional Responsibilities
- Supervise and evaluate teaching assistants, providing direction, coaching, and professional guidance
- Ensure the safety and supervision of all students in the classroom and during school activities
- Maintain accurate documentation, records, and communication logs
- Participate in professional development to remain current with research, trends, and evidence based practices
- Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills, including conflict resolution, active listening, and respectful communication
- Utilize classroom technology and data systems to support instruction and progress monitoring
Physical Demands
- Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, and engage in physical activity with students
- Must be willing and able to complete Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training and employ these skills as necessary
- May experience high levels of student aggression and must support students within the school setting
- Occasionally required to lift, carry, pull, or push materials or equipment up to 50 pounds as needed to support student programming
- Occasional stooping, bending, and reaching
- Requires sufficient vision, hearing, and communication abilities to perform essential job functions
- Work is performed in classrooms, hallways, outdoor spaces, and community environments
- May involve exposure to students with diverse behavioral, medical, and physical needs
- Requires flexibility in adapting to varied instructional environments and schedules
- Noise levels vary and may be moderate to high depending on student activity and environment
- Must work indoors and outdoors year-round
