2026-2027 Special Education Teacher - Intensive Support, Watkins Elementary School

Springfield Public Schools•Springfield, MO

3d•Onsite

About The Position

This position provides highly specialized, individualized educational services to students with disabilities who need intensive instruction, modifications, and accommodations to access the general curriculum and functional life skills. The teacher facilitates learning in classrooms and other instructional settings by developing lesson plans, delivering small-group and individual instruction, supervising students, and collaborating with teachers, staff, and administrators to address instructional and classroom challenges. The role also responds to inquiries from students and their parents or guardians about instructional programs and student progress. The teacher assesses student competency and progress, develops and implements individualized learning plans, and case manages students’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The position includes providing, under supervision, assigned daily student care such as tube feeding, toileting, and diapering; managing student behavior; maintaining records; communicating with families; and supporting a safe and effective learning environment. The teacher may direct student teachers, paraprofessionals, volunteers, and student workers. The role requires a bachelor’s degree in a job-related area, job-related experience with increasing responsibility, and Missouri Special Education certification in Mild-Moderate Disabilities (SLD, ED, ID, OHI, and cross-categorical). The employee must be able to gain and maintain Highly Qualified status as defined by Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and pass a satisfactory District criminal background clearance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a job-related area.
Job-related experience with increasing levels of responsibility.
Missouri Special Education certification in Mild-Moderate Disabilities (SLD, ED, ID, OHI, and cross-categorical).
Ability to gain and maintain Highly Qualified status as defined by Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Must pass a criminal background clearance with results satisfactory to the District.
Knowledge of pertinent laws, codes, policies, and regulations; personnel processes; standard business practices; teaching strategies; working with families; and stages of child development.
Knowledge of algebra and/or geometry; ability to review and interpret highly technical information, write technical materials, speak persuasively, and analyze situations to identify issues and draw conclusions.
Ability to perform multiple technical tasks and routinely upgrade skills to meet changing job conditions.
Skills in using standard office equipment and relevant software, planning and managing projects and programs, overseeing program financial activities, developing effective working relationships, maintaining accurate records, administering personnel policies and procedures, and coordinating with other agencies.
Ability to schedule activities, meetings, and events; gather, collate, analyze, and classify data; and support effective and efficient department and program operations.
Ability to work with diverse individuals in a wide variety of circumstances.
Ability to analyze issues and data, create action plans, and support Department and District strategic objectives.
Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to apply critical thinking and problem-solving to improve work processes.
Ability to maintain confidentiality, set priorities, meet deadlines and schedules, work with detailed information, and adapt to changing priorities.
Ability to set high expectations, monitor progress toward goals, and use and offer effective feedback for continuous improvement.
Ability to work as part of a team and apply logical processes and analytical skills.
Physical ability to lift, carry, push, and/or pull; perform significant finger dexterity; and exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds to move objects.
Physical ability to work primarily with fingers, perceive sounds, make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes, express or exchange ideas orally, make substantial movements with the hands, wrists, and/or fingers, and discern letters or numbers at a given distance.
Required physical abilities include balancing, grasping, hearing, manual dexterity, mental acuity, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, visual acuity, and walking.

Responsibilities

Administer developmental testing and subject-specific assessments to assess student competency and develop individual learning plans.
Provide assigned daily student support and care under supervision, including tube feeding, toileting, and diapering.
Communicate with parents and legal guardians about student progress, expectations, achievements, and ways to reinforce classroom goals at home.
Assess student progress toward behavioral, motor development, communication, academic, and vocational goals.
Collaborate with instructional staff, school personnel, parents, and community resources to improve student outcomes and support classroom objectives and the school improvement plan.
Case manage students’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
Provide an effective educational program addressing individual student needs.
Differentiate classroom work and instructional materials to address individualized learning plans within established lesson plans.
Direct student teachers, paraprofessionals, volunteers, and student workers as needed to support the classroom program and individual student needs.
Facilitate student learning by creating learning environments, integrating technology, arranging field trips, and organizing age-appropriate activities.
Instruct students to develop academic, interpersonal, and daily living skills through defined lesson plans and courses of study.
Maintain confidential and non-confidential paper and electronic records, including test scores, student evaluations, and IEPs, in accordance with administrative guidelines and legal requirements.
Manage student behavior to provide a safe and optimal learning environment.
Monitor students in educational settings such as classrooms, playgrounds, and field trips.
Participate in professional development, staff meetings, IEP meetings, and other meetings to document progress and meet mandated requirements.
Prepare grades, attendance records, anecdotal records, IEPs, lesson plans, and data collection materials.
Report health and safety issues to administrators or appropriate agencies and comply with regulatory requirements and established guidelines.
Respond to emergencies to address immediate safety concerns or direct them to appropriate personnel.
Respond to inquiries from teachers, parents, administrators, and other resources to resolve issues or provide information and direction.
Support classroom teachers in implementing established curriculum and individual student plans.
Perform other related duties as required or assigned.