Long Term Substitute Teacher, Special Education - ACCESS Program (3000)

Natick Public Schools•Natick, MA

43d

About The Position

The Natick Public Schools Seek a LTS Special Education Teacher - Access Program ASAP-June 2026 We invite you to explore a career with Natick Public Schools. The Natick Public Schools educate approximately 5,300 students from Pre-K through age 22. We are an innovative, supportive, and high-performing district whose outstanding staff provides high quality services for our diverse students and their families from Natick and Boston. Natick Public Schools is a community dedicated to all students achieving high standards in a safe, trusting, respectful environment where learning is exciting, dynamic, and engaging, and where connectedness and belonging are valued and actively cultivated. We are home to families that speak almost 60 different languages and our student population is approximately 29% Students of Color and 71% White students. With a graduation rate of 97% and 90% of our students attending post-secondary schools, we are proud of our commitment to excellence in educating students to be informed and successful citizens of a global world. We enthusiastically welcome educators to our district who seek and thrive in a diverse environment that focuses on the whole child in a strengths-based approach. Please partner with us in our mission to support the diversity of our school community, promote and deliver equitable practices for all of our staff, students, and families, and create meaningful connections that enable everyone to feel included and thrive. JOB GOAL: Profile of a Natick Educator The Special Education Teacher is responsible for day to day management of the classroom and provision of instruction, including development and implementation of the Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals, assessment, and curriculum design. The teacher is also responsible for the supervision of classroom staff and ongoing parent contact. The teacher is expected to collaborate with general education/special education teachers to ensure student needs are met.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree, Master's preferred
MA DESE licensure in Special Education
MA DESE SEI Endorsement
Ability to identify both formal and informal assessments that measure student skill level and conceptual understanding of academic, social-emotional, and behavioral benchmarks
Ability to evaluate/analyze formal and informal data in order to provide recommendations based on data
Understanding of child/adolescent development
Knowledge of best instructional practices for students with special abilities
Thorough understanding of the development and implementation of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for students
Through understanding of district, state, and federal policies and regulations as they relate to students with disabilities
Thorough understanding of and commitment to the principles and practices of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice as they relate to student engagement and opportunity
Demonstrated aptitude for work to be performed
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Strong interpersonal skills
Candidates should have a passion for working with students, families, and colleagues
Candidates must be flexible and collaborative
Candidates must be able to multitask in a fast-paced, supportive environment that nurtures student growth
Candidates must be organized and able to meet ongoing, time-sensitive deadlines for work production
Successful completion of Criminal Records Check (C.O.R.I.), Sexual Offender Record Check (S.O.R.I.), and fingerprints.

Nice To Haves

Additional certification in general education and/or ESL highly desirable
Experience working in a diverse public school setting preferred
Experience working with students with disabilities/special abilities preferred
Experience providing instruction and support for academic, social-emotional, and/or behavioral needs
Experience working in a diverse public school preferred
Experience working with students who are English language learners preferred
Experience with Google Suite (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Classroom, etc.) and PowerSchool preferred, but will train the right candidate
Bilingual skills, especially in Spanish and Portuguese, are highly desirable

Responsibilities

Design and carryout developmentally appropriate curriculum/programming as required by IEP goals/MA curriculum framework
Develop data collection systems using curriculum-based and school-wide progress monitoring tools to monitor progress towards goals and standards
Implement behavior and incentive plans and maintain data to support student's behavior and social emotional needs.
Guide classroom support staff in implementing activities that support student's goals and other areas of need and in collecting data.
Provide direct individual and/or group instruction through inclusion and/or resource models
Provide interdisciplinary programming through consultation with professional and support staff
Conduct thorough educational evaluations, developmental assessments, and/or progress monitoring necessary for quarterly progress reports, annual assessment and re-evaluations
Prepare MCAS alternate assessment on students, as assigned
Implement social skills training approaches and programs
Initiate and support the use of assistive technology to provide access to the curriculum and to support communication as necessary
Support the transition of students within the classroom and building by using positive behavior supports, visuals, and developmentally appropriate interventions.
Organize daily schedule to meet caseload requirements
Consult with staff in other discipline areas to improve programming
Facilitate ongoing parent communication and encourage family involvement
With the guidance of the Coordinator and in collaboration with team members, develop appropriate individual IEPs consistent with District expectations and all applicable laws and regulations
Participate in ongoing professional development in the Special Education Department and in your school(s) to support the implementation of School and District initiatives and goals
Works with district and school leadership to combat systemic barriers that limit student and families' equitable access to opportunity
Identifies and addresses bias and its impact on rigor and opportunity for students
In collaboration with administration, updates policies and equitable access procedures as needed
Other duties as outlined by Special Education building or district administrator