Special Education Teacher - Elementary

About the Employer

Job Summary

As a teacher in the Worcester Public Schools, you will be expected to provide rigorous instruction to the diverse population of students in your classroom. You will be expected to align your teaching to the district and state curriculum; to regularly assess students for learning comprehension and to modify your teaching to ensure that students are learning; to provide a classroom that is conducive to the learning needs of all students, especially students who are learning English and students with disabilities.

Responsibilities

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• Provide services to students who have been identified with a disability through the Team Evaluation Process.
• Teach compensatory strategies using multi-sensory techniques to enable students to reach their potential and build self-esteem.
• As a member of the Special Education Team, you will be responsible for:
• Serving as a member of the special education team in writing educational plans and progress reports on Sage-IEP, and completing assessments within the required timelines.
• Following the student IEP and ensuring compliance with state and federal SPED regulations, including the delivery of high-quality services, the provision of accommodations/modifications for instruction and assessment.
• Remaining up to date with curriculum content and modifying the curriculum and instruction for students with learning disabilities as identified on their IEPs.
• Providing multi-sensory language curricula on a daily basis and supporting student development of phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, word recognition, and comprehension skills in reading acquisition.
• Implementing high-quality teaching and learning in inclusion and/or LD classes using appropriate differentiated instructional techniques.
• Communicating and collaborating with regular education teachers and other personnel in the educational programming for students with learning disabilities.
• Understanding the state-required guidelines around standardized testing and providing appropriate accommodations as identified on student IEPs during the administration of these tests.
• Assessing student knowledge and academic progress using formal and informal means to develop measurable IEP goals and to support student learning.
• Creating and coordinating a schedule of services for students to ensure all IEP requirements are met.
• Providing individual, small group, and inclusion instruction aligned with the IEP.
• Guiding and supervising paraprofessionals in the instruction/support of students.
• Implementing appropriate assistive technologies to support and enhance the students' communication and learning.
• Promoting equity and appreciation of diversity to ensure equitable opportunities for student learning in the least restrictive environment.
• Attending monthly department meetings and building-based meetings/two per month.
• Assuring equal educational opportunity to all individuals regardless of race, color, gender, age, marital status, religion, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, homelessness, or disability.

Requirements

• Massachusetts DESE License in Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8).
• SEI Endorsement.
• BA Degree.
• A minimum of three years' successful teaching experience in special education.
• Evidence of mastery of a wide variety of teacher competencies, curricula, and the understanding of a wide variety of effective instructional models, including multi-sensory, structured language techniques.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Reporting Structure

You will report to the Building Principal.

Accountability Objective

The teaching position is accountable for providing services to students who have been identified with a disability through the Team Evaluation Process.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience supporting students with severe special needs.
• Ability to speak Albanian, Arabic, Nepali, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, or an African language.
• Experience teaching students who are English language learners.
• Demonstrated experience with second language acquisition.

To Apply

Any person interested in this position must submit a resume, cover letter, licensure, and answer all questions online at https://worcesterschools.org/about/employment-opportunities.

Deadline

This deadline does not preclude further advertisement or recruitment.