Job Description

Mission Statement

Through the use of social and restorative justice principles, Five Keys provides traditionally underserved communities the opportunity to improve their lives through a focus on the Five Keys: EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, RECOVERY, FAMILY, COMMUNITY.

Five Keys Overview

Five Keys was founded in 2003 by the San Francisco Sheriffs Department as the first accredited charter high school in the nation to provide diploma programs for adults in county jails. Today we are a much different social justice non-profit agency that has expanded its charter schools into 9 counties, in 24 jail locations and over 80 community learning centers. In addition to our schools, now we also run multiple homeless shelters, employment programs, programs for the unsheltered, reentry programs and housing for women suffering from immense injustice.

Our Core Competencies

A well qualified candidate has the capacity to communicate effectively , collaborate with others while building positive relationships , demonstrates strong problem solving skills , has a dynamic learning mindset , and remains committed to a high level of cultural and social awareness. A successful candidate will work well under pressure, observe appropriate boundaries and operate with a high degree of emotional intelligence .

What its really like to join our agency

At Five Keys, culture matters. Culture is at the very core of everything we do and impact on a daily basis. We've made a commitment to building an inclusive culture that seeks collaboration over hierarchy to create empowered work teams.


We serve vulnerable populations daily and we strive to approach everyone with compassion, patience and a trauma informed approach. We choose to push past discomfort to have difficult conversations to impact the greater good. This allows us the opportunity to collaboratively create an inclusive culture and transform the world around us.

BENEFITS

We offer very low monthly costs for medical, dental, and vision insurance, along with generous time off! Various pre-tax flexible spending accounts and retirement account 403(b) are available. We provide annual reimbursements up to $100 towards gym membership, smoking cessation, and weight loss programs. Annual athletic event participation and annual massages are reimbursed up to $50. Other Company-paid benefits, including free wellness-related apps, an Employee Assistance Program, and a comprehensive mental health care platform, are available to you and your dependents.

JOB SUMMARY

The Educational Specialist position reports to the SPED Program Manager and will be working with transitional aged students both in and out of jail. Students range from 15 - 22 years of age, with older adults possibly being served through 504 plans in the future. Collaborative team teaching, push in and pull out services are offered for incarcerated students enrolled in Five Keys Charter School and for non-incarcerated students at the schools’ community sites. This position may support sites throughout multiple counties in the region.


We are looking for someone who insists on maintaining a positive attitude and enjoys supporting a diverse group of people. If this job is for you, you are flexible in a dynamic teaching environment while maintaining best practice standards to meet the needs of students of all abilities.



This position supports the Five Keys San Francisco Academic Program throughout multiple sites and counties, in-custody and community, in the Northern California region. The scheduled hours vary between 7:00 am - 8:00 pm; the current schedule is 8:30 am - 4:00 pm. Temporarily for the 2025-2026 school year, this position will work 7 hours per day, 35 hours per week, with 195 working days annually. Based on the organization's needs, the schedule may change to the original: 6.5 hours per day, 32.5 hours per week, with 210 working days annually.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Differentiate academic curriculum to meet the needs of student population
• Create and build upon current curriculum to meet the needs of students based on their strengths
• Develop interpersonal professional relationships with students, teachers, staff and deputized staff
• Work both one on one and in an “push in” service model of special education service delivery
• Maintain accurate records of student’s progress and work in accordance to SELPA, state and federal law
• Collaborate and support general education teachers and other staff in implementation of all parts of a student’s IEP
• Case manage student records including maintaining up to date IEP files, inputting IEP information and maintain record of services received
• Stay informed of Special Education Law especially transition services
• Lead IEP meetings and help collaborate with the IEP team on a student’s goals and objectives in accordance to the student’s strengths and needs
• Administer academic diagnostic tests
• Coordinate with IEP team members in information gathering including diagnostic tests
• Maintain a safe environment for students, teachers, staff and self
• Other duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Computer literacy of excel, maintaining online IEP records (example SEIS) and email
• Knowledge and understanding of California and Common Core Teaching Standards
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office, Gmail, and Google Drives/Docs and professional communication, including spelling and grammar
• Maintain strict confidentiality when handling sensitive information

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

• Must have a valid Mild/Moderate Special Education Credential OR
• Mild/Moderate Special Education Intern Credential
• Bachelor’s Degree in related field required
• Minimum 3 years’ experience with secondary special education youth and/or young adults required

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must wear provided PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and adhere to all safety guidelines and requirements, when needed
• Valid CA driver’s license and reliable transportation
• Travel required to Five Keys sites, communities, in-custody, and home or hospital locations
• Long periods of moving throughout the site and remaining stationary at a desk and/or computer station
• Moving equipment weighing up to 50 pounds; reaching, bending, carrying and stooping within the daily routine of tasks and activities

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

This position is contingent upon:

• Satisfactory results of a Live Scan (criminal background investigation)
• Successfully obtaining jail clearance for positions working in county jails or probation locations
• Submitting proof of clear TB results. Results dated within 60 days prior to hire date are acceptable

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Moderate to high noise level
• Must be willing and able to work in a correctional facility and travel throughout the area to community sites
• Work environment varies from site to site
• Some personal safety risk working in underserved communities

GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

At Five Keys, we understand that when our employees grow, the agency has a greater capacity to thrive and accomplish its mission. It is for this reason that we remain committed to providing ongoing professional development opportunities for all of our employees. These include but are not limited to: conferences, staff development training, and coaching plans that allow incumbents to grow into new positions within and across programs within the agency (i.e., programs, schools, housing).

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