Early Childhood Special Education Teacher (SPED) 2025-2026

Topeka Public Schools USD 501•Topeka, KS

About The Position

The Early Childhood Special Education teacher creates and maintains a program that focuses on the physical, social, and emotional development of each child that includes developmentally appropriate student learning activities in the areas of cognition, creative expression, communication, social, physical, and emotional development and that meets the unique needs of each child with regard to his/her level of comprehension and maturation. The Early Childhood Special Education Teacher is responsible for planning and implementing the goals of the Individual Education Plan (IEP).

Requirements

Current certification as a teacher and endorsement in the area of Early Childhood Special Education or Early Childhood Unified in the State of Kansas with experience as a teacher of preschool disabled students.
Speaking, hearing visual, reading, writing, word processing, mobility, consistency of temperament, ability to work with a variety of problems at the same time, stamina for working long hours and in stress producing environments.

Nice To Haves

ESOL Endorsement preferred.

Responsibilities

Provides learning experiences in language arts, physical education, art, music, health, and other subject matter suited to the needs of pupils.
Develops and uses instructional materials suitable for verbal or visual instruction of pupils with wide ranges of mental, physical, and emotional maturities.
Develops in each pupil an awareness of personal worth and the role the pupil plays in family and community and encourages pupils to express themselves creatively in art, music, and dramatic play.
Provides individual and small-group instruction, designed to meet individual needs of pupils in the areas of communication skills, health habits, physical skills, and development of satisfactory self concepts.
Enriches educational program through study trips to community resources.
Plans and coordinates the work of aides, assistants, parents, and volunteers in the classroom and on field trips.
Develops activities for parents that promote parent participation and involvement in education activities.
Communicates regularly with parents by means of parent meetings, home visits, and individual parent conferences.
Interprets school program to parents to strengthen parental understanding of the individual pupil’s needs and the school’s role in the individual pupil’s life.
Provides appropriate climate to establish and reinforce acceptable pupil behavior, attitudes, and social skills.
Cooperates with other professional staff members in assessing and helping pupils solve health, attitude, and learning problems.
Complies with district, state, and federal regulations regarding services to early childhood special education students.
Develops, monitors, and updates the Individual Education Plan (IEP) for identified students.
Communicates high expectations to all learners.
Must complete all Special Education paperwork including IEPs and Medicaid billing.