Moderate Special Needs Teacher - Elementary

Qualifications:

• DESE certification in moderate/severe special needs, SEI Endorsement Required
• Two (2) years of relevant experience
• Knowledge of Special Education regulations
• Familiarity with diverse disabilities and working in a Substantially Separate Classroom setting
• Ability and experience in conducting formal evaluations, developing IEPs and transition plans
• Strong data collection skills
• Experience with supervision of staff and coordination of services
• Supervise and coordinate inclusion opportunities
• Ability to provide functional academic instruction, social skills, life skills and vocational training 
• Effective communication with students, families and colleagues
• Belief in a structured school environment that promotes a positive school culture

Responsibilities

• This list includes, but is not limited to maintaining data collection procedures, graphing, writing progress reports, creating materials and visual supports, (academic, social, daily living and behavioral), embedding social skills and/or providing supports for students
• Provide specialized academic instruction and learning for students who have an IEP; with various moderate to severe disabilities; oversee support services to students; direct the work of paraprofessionals
• Meet state regulations and manage all aspects of special education compliance for assigned student caseload
• Provide direction and oversight to classroom paraprofessionals regarding daily student schedules, behavior plan implementation, data collection, material development, and academic modifications/ individualized IEP objective ABA programming
• Regularly consult and collaborate with related service providers and attend consultation meetings as indicated in student’s IEPs
• Ensure individual programs for students including the type of instructional strategies, and frequency of services are aligned with IEP and Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks
• Track and Monitor students’ progress using academic, functional, and behavior data including data required for Massachusetts Alternative Assessment Portfolio (if needed for select students)
• Responsible for providing progress notes for students on an IEP during each marking period
• Conducts assessments and evaluations as needed and as determined by the special education coordinator
• Manage challenging students that may engage in aggressions or other forms of inappropriate or maladaptive behaviors
• Instruction and de-escalation techniques that may require physical interventions and follow through
• Maintain high level of ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about students and their records
• Perform any other related duties as assigned by the Principal, Director of Pupil Services or other appropriate administrator

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: stand, walk, use hands, talk and hear. The employee may be required to reach with hands and arms above their head or reach forward, sit, squat, stoop or kneel. The employee must be able to lift or move up to 50 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Salary in accordance with the Agreement between the Winchendon School Committee and the Winchendon Teachers’ Association