Middle School Severe Special Needs Teacher-(Gates)-(SY26-27)

POSITION OVERVIEW Severe Special Needs Teacher under the supervision of the Director of Special Education and the building principal is responsible for developing and implementing a developmentally based educational program for an assigned class of school children. The curriculum must meet the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social needs of both the individual child and the group.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides a warm, safe, and caring environment that is kept orderly, clean, and appealing. The environment should allow the child to grow and to explore.
• Plans, prepares, and implements units of the curriculum which are based on childrens interests and which integrate intellectual challenges and opportunities for childrens development of academic skills.
• Provides opportunities for children to become involved on an individual, small group, and total group basis with people and materials in the environment, taking into account childrens individual developmental needs, and encourages children to help one another.
• Provides an approach to academic skill development which is integrated with relevant classroom experiences.
• Helps children build a sense of community and develop problem-solving skills which they use in cognitive as well as social situations.
• Provides opportunity for children to express their ideas and feelings through art, through language, and in writing by encouraging love of language, joy in reading, and valuing of books as a source of pleasure and a source of information.
• Reaches out to parents and caregivers and sets up appropriate opportunities through which parents can gain an understanding of the developmental philosophy of middle school education.
• Helps parents to appreciate the role that they play in their childrens education and the importance of home and school working together in order to insure the childs optimal growth.
• Ensures confidentiality of privileged information.
• Knowledgeable of state and federal special education laws.
• Conducts appropriate special education assessments to determine eligibility for special education services.
• Assists in IEP development, implementation, and progress reporting.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee.
• Coordinates MCAS ALT portfolios.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelors Degree with a major in Special Education; Masters Degree preferred.
• Massachusetts Educators License; Severe Licensure preferred.
• A minimum of two years teaching experience in a special education program is preferred.
• Knowledge of the requirements of federal and state regulations.
• Those personal and professional characteristics necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the position.
• Employment based on successful completion of a CORI background check and fingerprinting.
• Current authorization to work in the United States by the first day of employment.

TERMS This is a 10-month, 1.0 FTE position with a STA teachers contract.

The Scituate Public Schools have a commitment to maintaining an educational environment and workplace that establishes programs and support mechanisms to recruit and retain staff and ensure appropriate staffing levels that meet the needs of all students through a highly qualified and diverse workforce. Candidates who have a strong commitment to active antiracism are encouraged to apply.

We are an equal opportunity employer. Bigotry and intolerance, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, homeless status, or disability, are not tolerated. Any form of intimidation, threat, coercion, or harassment that insults the dignity of others and interferes with their freedom to learn or work is unacceptable.