Special Education Teacher k-12 x2

Special Education Teacher k-12 x2 JobID: 1515

Position Type:

Elementary School Teaching/Special Education Teacher

Date Posted:

4/23/2026

Location:

Zuni Public School District

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JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: Special Education Teacher

Reports to: School Site Principal

Site: Shiwi Ts'ana Elementary School

FLSA Status: Exempt

Contract Length: 9 month

Salary: $50,556 to $80,162 depending upon experience, education and licensure level

Purpose: To help student learn subject matter and skills that will contribute to their development as mature, able, and responsible men and women. To enable students to benefit from the general education curriculum and to meet the New Mexico Standards and benchmarks in the core subjects.

This job description is to be used as a guide for accomplishing company and department objectives and only covers the primary functions and responsibilities of the position. It is in no way to be construed as an all-encompassing list of duties.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Education or related field. Master's preferred
• New Mexico Public Education Department Pre K-12 Special Education License;
• Ability to develop an effective working relationship with staff, volunteers,
• Ability to complete requirements of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) regulations;
• Experience with computers with the ability to enter data, utilize SMART Board and Microsoft Office programs;
• Ability to plan and implement lessons based on department and school objectives and the needs and abilities of students to whom assigned;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationship with students, peers and parents;
• Ability to communicate with students orally and in writing in English the language;
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations;
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedures manuals;
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of students, parents, staff and community;
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions in written, oral, diagram and schedule form;
• Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program;
• Ability to maintain confidentiality;
• Able to perform the following essential duties, physical and mental functions and utilize the essential equipment of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Essential Duties:

• Teach district approved curriculum;
• Develop and implement Behavior Intervention Plans as required;
• Maintain contact with parents and/or students via phone or written communication;
• Plan lessons, modifications and accommodations in accordance with student's IEP utilizing a variety of teaching strategies and techniques;
• Coordinate and supervise work experience and on-campus job-training programs at the secondary level as required;
• Assist students in making realistic assessment of abilities and in establishing educational and occupational goals in keeping with these abilities;
• Monitor student general health;
• Monitor student behavior and academic progress outside of the classroom, during lunch, recess, bus time, general education classes, and other school activities;
• Modify curriculum in collaboration with regular education teachers;
• Assist individual students with self-care and daily life skills as required (which may include diapering, feeding, change clothes and general hygiene);
• May lift, assist students who have mobility problems;
• Establish a structured classroom to ensure safety of each student;
• Maintain physical environment of the classroom conducive of learning;
• Assist students in making realistic assessment of his/her abilities and establishing educational and occupational goals per their abilities;
• Modify teaching strategies and methods to enable the student to meet state standards and benchmarks;
• Participate in professional development as required;
• Create a classroom environment that is conducive to learning and appropriate to the maturity and interest of students with different exceptionalities;
• Prepare for classes assigned, including instructional materials such as SMART Board presentations, other media, duplicating, preparing hand-outs, etc.;
• Take all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials and facilities;
• Employ a variety of instructional techniques and instructional media consistent with the physical limitations of the location, the needs and capabilities of the students involved;
• Guide the learning process toward the achievement of curriculum goals and establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, projects and the like to communicate these objectives to students;
• Assist the administration in implementing all policies and rules governing student life and conduct in the classroom, develop reasonable rules of classroom behavior and procedures, and maintains order in the classroom in a fair and just manner;
• Assess the accomplishment of students on a regular basis and provide progress reports as required;
• Evaluate pupils' academic and social growth, keeps appropriate records and prepare progress reports;
• Encourage students to set and maintain standard of classroom behavior;
• Monitor the learning of students on a regular basis, seeking the assistance of district as required;
• Maintain accurate, complete and correct records as required by law, district policy and administrative regulations;
• Communicate regularly with parents by newsletters, notes, phone calls, conferences, etc.;
• Available to students and parents for education-related purposes;
• Provide before and after school duty as assigned;
• Review and analyze data to evaluate the student progress and areas of needed improvement;
• Serve on District Committees, School Activities and Functions as assigned;
• Meet the New Mexico Public Education Department's Competencies for Teachers;
• Ensure the required testing is done on a timely manner;
• Perform assigned duties in a timely basis;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Physical Functions:

• Frequently required to stand, talk, hear and sometime walk and sit;
• Occasionally required to lift up to 30 pounds; may lift up to 75 pounds with the help of another employee;
• Hand and eye coordination in operating computer, SMART Board, grading papers, and writing assignments etc.;
• Usually works on even surfaces, may walk on uneven surfaces outdoors;
• Exposed to various degrees of noises (talking, attending games, assemblies etc.). The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud;
• May work in close proximity of other individuals;
• General vision, corrected to 20/20, reads a multitude of records, correspondence and data.
• Ability to adjust focus from various school tools to include: (SMART boards, computer, written assignments, typed material, lab equipment, art tools and equipment, etc.).

Mental Functions:

Must be able to:

• apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program;
• plan and implement lessons based on department and school objectives and the needs and abilities of students to whom assigned;
• read, analyze and interpret curriculum, test, evaluations and bilingual material;
• interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written and oral form;
• deal with students and parents in such a way to maintain their goodwill;
• respond appropriately to student behavior and discipline;
• respond appropriately to supervision and accept recommendations;
• communicate both orally and in writing, in English;
• effectively present information and respond to questions from students; parents, peers and supervisor;
• handle stress, work under pressure of deadlines, interruptions and frustrations;
• handle difficult people and difficult situations; work on conflict resolution and problem solving;
• utilize mathematical strategies and analysis;
• organize data, information and disseminate to appropriate venue.

Essential Equipment:

• Operate phone, fax, computer, scanner, printer, calculator, smart board, etc.;
• Operate a vehicle and hold a valid driver's license.