Instructional Coach Special Education Instructional Coach

Job Description:

POSITION: Special Education Instructional Coach

DESCRIPTION: Putnam Public Schools is seeking a Special Education Instructional Coach to support the districts self-contained programs, focusing primarily on grades K-8 during the first year. Working collaboratively with teachers, paraeducators, and administrators, this professional will provide non-evaluative support through classroom observations, instructional modeling, curriculum modification, and behavior-plan coaching. The ultimate goal is to build staff capacity, improve program consistency, and ensure students with significant academic, behavioral, and developmental needs receive high-quality, individualized instruction in the least restrictive environment.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Instructional Coaching & Curriculum Modification: Support K-8 self-contained teachers with multi-grade lesson planning, model specialized strategies, and modify general education curricula to align with IEP goals.
• Behavioral & SEL Support: Help teams develop proactive classroom behavioral systems, implement BIPs, use de-escalation strategies, and integrate SEL routines.
• Staff Capacity Building: Conduct non-evaluative classroom observations; provide timely, practical feedback to teachers and paraeducators to build instructional confidence and promote student independence.
• Program Consistency & Framework Development: Collaborate with staff to design a shared K-8 self-contained program framework, utilizing common templates for schedules, data collection, and daily routines.
• Inclusion Advocacy: Coordinate meaningful participation for specialized program students alongside typical peers in classes, electives, and schoolwide events.
• Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Meet regularly with administrators and related service providers to streamline student transitions and ensure proper IEP execution.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Valid Connecticut Special Education Certification, or other appropriate district-approved instructional credential.
• Extensive experience working directly with students who have significant academic, behavioral, or developmental needs.
• Deep understanding of IEP implementation, specially designed instruction (SDI), curriculum modifications, and progress monitoring.
• Proven ability to coach, model strategies, and provide non-evaluative feedback to adults across multiple buildings.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prior experience teaching in a specialized or self-contained special education program setting.
• Specialized training in autism, intellectual disabilities, crisis de-escalation (e.g., PMT, CPI), trauma-informed practices, or functional behavior data analysis.
• Experience creating shared data-collection tools or leading professional development for certified staff and paraeducators.

RATE OF PAY: $56,198 - $100,761 per year (determined by contractual agreement)

START DATE: August 24, 2026

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

EXTERNAL APPLICANTS: Please submit your application through our website: www.putnamschoolsct.org

INTERNAL APPLICANTS: Please submit a letter of interest to Rebecca Lopes, Director of Student Services

APPLICATION CLOSING DATE: Open until filled

Equal Opportunity Employer