Self Contained – Special Education Teacher

K–2nd Grade Self-Contained Special Education Teacher
Bridges Program | Near Mundelein, IL
Pay Rate: $55–$60/hour
 

Spotter is seeking a K–2nd Grade Self-Contained Special Education Teacher (LBS1) to join its Bridges Program for the upcoming school year. This is a self-contained classroom serving students with autism and students with independent living skills (ILS) needs, ability-grouped within a K–2 range. The district currently has 5 Bridges classrooms spanning kindergarten through 5th grade.

• Manage a self-contained K–2 classroom of approximately 8–10 students with autism/ILS needs, supported by 2 paraprofessionals .
• Deliver individualized instruction and behavior support aligned to student IEPs, using a structured, routine-driven classroom framework.
• Collaborate closely with paraprofessionals, related service providers, and program leadership to implement consistent systems and structure across the school day.
• Participate in team meetings, including a biweekly Friday check-in with the Special Services Coordinator and weekly team meetings.
• Apply CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) training to de-escalate and support students during dysregulated moments.

This role comes with strong built-in continuity and support:

• 2 paraprofessionals returning from last year — already familiar with the program and students.
• Speech-language and social work support continuing from last year (not new to the program).
• A school psychologist with 25 years in district now supporting this program.
• Direct coaching and training from the Special Services Coordinator (see below), who can help train and develop teachers who don't yet have autism-program experience but are eager to learn.

Hours:  8:20 AM – 3:50 PM (35 Hours paid per standard week)
Breaks:  50-minute duty-free lunch, plus a 25-minute break and a 20-minute break (~45 minutes of additional break time daily).
Pre-service training:  A full training week is scheduled before the school year begins (week of approx. August 11) to ensure teachers are fully prepared and supported before students arrive.

• Valid Illinois LBS1 (Learning Behavior Specialist) endorsement — required.
• Experience in autism programs strongly preferred, but not required — the program leadership actively trains and develops teachers who are willing to learn and receptive to feedback.
• CPI training provided/required (crisis prevention and de-escalation).

Program leadership is upfront and transparent about what this classroom involves:

• K–2 behaviors tend to be milder than in upper grades, but as with any autism program, students can have unpredictable days even after long stretches of stability — this can include crying, floor behaviors, or occasional physical behaviors (e.g., an object being thrown, an accidental bump).
• A strong, structured, routine-based classroom framework is the district's primary strategy for getting ahead of behaviors, and it works well most days.
• Staff are CPI-trained and fully backed by program leadership and support staff — teachers are never expected to manage behaviors alone.

You'll report to and be directly supported by the district's Special Services Coordinator, who oversees the Bridges Program. She brings deep, hands-on expertise to the role:

• 24+ years with the district (entering her 25th year) and a district alum herself.
• Holds an LBS1 endorsement, Type 75 administrative certification, and a Director of Special Education endorsement.
• Background includes self-contained REI teaching, work as a behavioral specialist, 504 coordination, outplacement management, and 5 years directly overseeing the Bridges programs.
• Meets with teachers biweekly on Fridays, plus weekly team meetings, and is hands-on in training and coaching teachers new to the autism program setting.

This position is offered on a contract-to-hire basis through Spotter Staffing, a staffing partner specializing exclusively in special education teachers, OTs, speech pathologists, and social workers for K-12 schools. There are no non-competes and no buyout clauses — if it's a strong mutual fit, you can convert to a direct district employee at the end of the school year.