Special Education Teacher (LTSS)
About the Employer
About Salem Public Schools:
Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district enrolling nearly 4,000 students in 10 schools. Our vision is to ensure that all students will be locally engaged, globally connected, and fully prepared to thrive in a diverse and changing world. We hold dear our core values of belonging, equity, and opportunity in everything we do.
About This Position:
As a collaborative member of the special education team, this special education teacher is responsible for teaching students with disabilities in a substantially separate program and supporting these students in the inclusive setting of general education classes, as dictated by their IEPs. The special education teacher works in consultation with special and general education teams to provide a rigorous and accessible learning experience for all students.
Responsibilities:
• Provide specialized instruction that will allow all students to successfully engage in instruction based upon the Common Core Standards and District Curriculum Maps.
• Work with the classroom support team and assigned clinical staff to develop data-taking mechanisms and analyze data to drive instruction and monitor student progress.
• Maintain consistent positive relationships with students and manage student behavior by implementing positive student management strategies.
• Work collaboratively across school settings and with parents and various community agencies to improve the quality of student outcomes, develop solutions, plan curriculum, collect data, and create and implement individual education programs (IEPs) for students.
• Demonstrate ability to write an effective IEP with SMART goals and sensible accommodations and generate progress reports using IEP software.
• Demonstrate ability to administer, interpret, and report findings from standardized evaluations. Able to administer remote assessments, if needed.
• Present evidence of student progress toward goals and objectives in a professional manner during special education meetings.
• Evaluate students' abilities in basic academics and social development using formal and informal measures.
• Support and direct paraprofessionals and other school personnel in their implementation of classroom goals and IEP accommodations, modification, and goals.
• Use innovative approaches and instructional strategies, including the effective use of technologies, to increase student access, learning, and confidence to learn.
• Modify/adapt materials, instructional lessons, etc. to meet the specific needs of students across the school day, as identified in their IEPs.
• Embed social-emotional learning (SEL) and strategies into lesson planning.
• Able to use technology to teach in a remote learning environment, if needed
• Assist in self-care and activity of daily living (ADL) skills as determined by student need
• Additional duties as appropriate, assigned by the building principal, special education supervisor or executive director of special education.
What You'll Bring:
We are looking for candidates who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, are inspired by our mission and are highly motivated to change children's lives through education. You'll be right at home here if you are a reflective practitioner who values collaboration with colleagues and pushes yourself, your work and the people around you to the next level.
Requirements:
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred
• Required Massachusetts teaching certification/Licensure in Special Education (Severe Special Needs preferred)
• Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement (required within 1 year of start date)
• Safety Care trained or willing to be a trained (district provides)
• Proficiency with technology (digital literacy, teacher/family communication suites (Parentsquare preferred), Google Workspace) desirable.
• Ability to meet the expectations of the Massachusetts Standards and Indicators of Effective Teaching Practice
• Second language (Spanish and/or Portuguese) proficiency a plus
• Bilingual candidates and candidates of color strongly encouraged to apply
• Current authorization to work in the United States
Salem Public School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer:
Salem Public School District is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, housing status, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.