FT Special Educator - The Prosper Valley School

The Prosper Valley School is seeking a full time elementary Special Educator to join our dynamic and multidisciplinary team who work with 5th and 6th graders . Our programs, in partnership with families and the community, provide high quality opportunities and environments that support each student’s academic, social and emotional well-being. We strive to foster learning, growth, and development in a mutually respectful manner within an inclusive environment. Our philosophy is:

• We see, celebrate, and nurture each student’s strengths and uniqueness.
• We constantly differentiate instruction, considering students’ academic strengths and weaknesses, their interests, and what motivates each student to succeed.
• We actively support the whole person, teaching students to recognize, value, and tend to their social, emotional, mental, and physical well-being.

WE ARE ETHICAL LEADERS

We are a warm and welcoming community. We give students the experience of living in a kind, just, and inclusive world at TPVS. We emphasize the values of moral courage and integrity. We speak and stand up when something isn’t fair or kind, especially when this isn’t the easiest or most popular thing to do. TPVS students learn to think beyond themselves with care, compassion, and responsibility toward each other, the environment, and others in our world. We prize student leadership. Our students’ voices are heard and know that their actions matter.

THE WORLD IS OUR CLASSROOM

We value place-based learning on our school’s magnificent 38-acre property, including a sugar house, greenhouse, gardens, observatory, ice skating rink, and trail system. We afford students enduring experiences—out in the world and built into units of study in school—that lend depth and breadth to learning.

About the role:

• Serve as case manager to special education students mostly with mild to moderate SLD’s and provide direct services as needed.
• Integrate current best practices, research, and special education laws into the education of students with disabilities, to assure compliance with state and federal laws, and to provide the most effective educational program for assigned students.
• Prepare and maintain accurate, complete, timely, effective and confidential student records and reports as required by law, district policy, and administrative regulations.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of assigned students including: intellectual, social, and emotional characteristics of age group; students' varied approaches to learning; student skills and knowledge; student interests and cultural heritage; economic and cultural influences; student's family, school and community context.
• Work cooperatively with classroom teachers to help them design/modify classroom instruction (including activities, instructional groupings, lesson plans, materials, assessments, teaching strategies, etc).
• Model a variety of instructional methods (such as differentiated instruction) and provide materials that are most appropriate for meeting stated objectives in the IEP, including behavioral and motivational techniques.
• Administer and/or coordinate thorough assessments which may include language, behavior, visual motor, gross and fine motor, and cognitive skills using a variety of techniques including standardized tests, rubrics, checklists, curriculum based measures, developmental scales, observations, behavior objectives, etc. Interprets findings to accurately determine program eligibility and to assess student progress.
• Research, coordinate and effectively utilize available school and community resources and outside agencies to ensure proper delivery of students' IEP.
• Provide a safe learning environment for all students. Create and maintain an environment of respect and rapport.
• Coordinate productive, effective, and efficient use of assigned paraprofessionals.
• Develop, implement, and monitor behavior management plans and crisis prevention/intervention plans for assigned students as necessary.
• Effectively provide academic instruction, social skills training and other direct services to assigned students individually, and in small/large groups.
• Communicate/collaborate effectively with parents to keep them informed and effectively engage them to help meet the educational needs of the student.
• Work effectively, cooperatively and respectfully with supervisors, and colleagues.
• Demonstrate professionalism and advocate for students.
• Assist the school principals and/or Director of Student Support Services in planning and evaluating program effectiveness and identifying program needs.
• Actively participate in school events, workshops, in-service meetings, building level staff meetings, district meetings, and other school and district committees/projects.
• Other appropriate duties as assigned.

What We’re Looking For

We seek an innovative and flexible educator who is committed to developing and growing a program that maximizes student potential. The ideal candidate will:

• Hold or be eligible to hold a Vermont Educator License with an appropriate Special Education endorsement.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in education.
• Possess excellent interpersonal, communication, time management and collaboration skills.
• Create a safe, respectful, and engaging learning environment tailored to students' individual learning styles.
• Utilize data-driven decision-making to inform instruction and program development.
• Have expertise in integrating technology to support differentiated instruction.
• Understand the diverse needs of students and the impact of demographic factors on achievement.
• Be committed to continuous professional growth and innovative educational practices.

Why Join Us?

In the Mountain Views Supervisory Union, we are committed to our vision: Locally Inspired, Globally Prepared and dedicated to fostering an inclusive and culturally diverse learning environment. Please visit our website https://mtnviews.org, if you have not already, to see and read about the work we are doing.

Candidates with international experience, multilingual abilities, or backgrounds that contribute to diverse perspectives are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome applications from out-of-state candidates who are eligible for Vermont licensure.

Our employees are offered a robust benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, a 403b retirement account with district contributions, embedded PD and PLC’s as well as tuition reimbursement for up to 6 credits at the UVM rate.

If you are a passionate educator eager to lead, innovate, and expand a program that empowers students to achieve independence and career success, we invite you to apply.