Special Education Teacher (Cross Categorical) - Thoreau - 0.5 FTE - 26-27 SY

Madison Metropolitan School District•Madison, WI

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is hiring a cross-categorical Special Education Teacher for Thoreau Elementary School at 0.5 FTE for the 2026–27 school year. The position is in Elementary School Operations, has a 192-day contract, is exempt, and lists a minimum annual compensation of $53,525 on the 2026–27 TE Salary Schedule. The teacher plans and delivers instruction using standards, student backgrounds and needs, and assessment data. The role includes adapting instruction for varied learning needs, assessing and monitoring student learning, providing feedback, maintaining classroom procedures, communicating with families, and collaborating with school staff. Teachers are expected to support an inclusive learning environment, uphold high expectations and equity for every student, use data to improve instruction, engage families, and reflect on their practice and professional growth. MMSD is Wisconsin’s second-largest school district, serving more than 25,000 students across a diverse community. The district describes its commitment to being anti-racist, culturally responsive, and inclusive, and to ensuring that every school is a thriving school where students are prepared for college, career, and community. School-based positions are in person unless otherwise directed by the building principal. Travel to district locations or off-site meetings may be required, and some positions may require evening, night, or weekend work. The job description notes that any hybrid flexibility depends on the position and work unit and may be discussed during the interview process.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree; official transcripts are required for formal employment.
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) teaching license in Special Education. An unlicensed candidate may be considered but must obtain and maintain the necessary license for the position.
If not already actively licensed in Wisconsin, apply for the required license within 30 days of starting employment; failure to do so will void the contract.
Demonstrate commitment to high expectations, excellence, and equity for all students.
Plan and deliver rigorous, engaging instruction and provide scaffolds, interventions, and extensions to address varied learning needs.
Use data beyond standardized assessments to diagnose student needs and differentiate instruction.
Collaborate with peers to reflect on student achievement and teaching practice and improve instruction.
Understand how systems and beliefs can contribute to inequitable outcomes for students of color and adapt instruction to student needs.
Meet the physical requirements of the position, including occasionally lifting up to 25 pounds and completing general tasks requiring manual dexterity.

Nice To Haves

Fluency in Spanish and/or Hmong; candidates indicating fluency may be invited to apply for bilingual positions and complete reading, writing, and oral-language proficiency assessments.

Responsibilities

Use standards, including CCSS and SELS, to identify shared learning targets.
Use students’ backgrounds, interests, learning styles, cultures, languages, individual needs, and assessment data to inform planning.
Develop daily, weekly, and year-long or course plans that support student progress toward mastery of standards.
Establish clear objectives for lessons, units, and projects and communicate them to students.
Teach students individually and in groups using varied methods to support engagement, collaboration, and independence with complex tasks.
Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to students’ varying needs and interests.
Provide opportunities for students to explain their reasoning, share explanations, make conjectures, justify conclusions, argue from evidence, and negotiate meaning.
Plan formative assessments and use multiple approaches to check for understanding.
Clarify, reteach, or adjust instruction based on evidence of student understanding and learning.
Provide meaningful feedback that recognizes effort and supports student involvement and progress.
Facilitate oral and written feedback among teachers and students.
Analyze student achievement, observation, and teacher-practice data and adjust instruction accordingly.
Establish behavior rules and procedures for maintaining order among students for whom the teacher is responsible.
Meet with parents or guardians to discuss student progress, priorities, and resource needs.
Collaborate with staff, including through team planning and co-teaching.
Build relationships with students and engage families as partners in their children’s education.
Reflect on strengths and growth areas and seek support to improve practice.
Travel to district locations or off-site meetings when required.