Teacher, Special Education (Substantially Separate ACCESS Program Teacher) (3201)

Natick Public Schools•Natick, MA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Natick Public Schools seek a Special Education Teacher for the Substantially Separate Program. This role is responsible for the day-to-day management of the classroom, including instruction, development and implementation of Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals, assessment, and curriculum design. The teacher will also supervise classroom staff, maintain ongoing parent contact, and collaborate with general and special education teachers to meet student needs. Natick Public Schools is a diverse and innovative district serving approximately 5,300 students, committed to high standards, equity, and fostering a sense of belonging for all students and staff.

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.
Thorough 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.
Formal application.
Rating of education and experience.
Oral interviews.
Reference check.
Strong record of work performance in current and previous roles required.
Successful completion of Criminal Records Check (C.O.R.I.), Sexual Offender Record Check (S.O.R.I.), and fingerprints.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
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

Day-to-day management of the classroom and provision of instruction.
Development and implementation of Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals.
Assessment and curriculum design.
Supervision of classroom staff.
Ongoing parent contact.
Collaboration with general education/special education teachers to ensure student needs are met.
Design and carry out 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.
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.
Updates policies and equitable access procedures as needed in collaboration with administration.
Other duties as outlined by Special Education building or district administrator.