Preschool Education TeacherThe Winooski School District is looking for a full-time Early Childhood Special Education teacher to join our early learning team. To help all students develop school readiness and social-emotional skills. Designs a learning environment that guides and encourages students to develop and fulfill their academic potential, as well as helps them develop their character, personality, and social and emotional skills. Promotes enthusiasm for growth and development. Creates a warm and nurturing relationship with each child, designing an environment that stimulates curiosity and celebrates diversity. Creates, organizes, and implements meaningful and engaging lessons/activities for diverse groups of students in a preschool. Using observation and assessment tools, this position is responsible for documenting each child’s growth and learning in relation to his or her developmental level and the Vermont Early Learning Standards. Cultivates the students’ interest in education and serves as their dedicated ally in the entire process of learning and development. QUALIFICATIONS: Education and Experience. Bachelor’s Degree plus relevant experience, and the ability to obtain a provisional teaching license. Recent experience working in a Vermont school system is preferred.Certifications and Licenses. Ability to obtain a provisional license in Early Childhood Special Education (0-80 Endorsement). ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Creates and maintains an environment of respect and rapport. Responsibility for overall classroom program for children and families – making sure the classrooms run smoothly and that individual, daily needs of both children and families are met.Maintain an open, friendly, and cooperative relationship with each child and family to promote a strong home-school connection and consistency in the classrooms.Integrates current best practices, research, and special education laws into the education of the disabled, to assure compliance with state and federal laws, and to provide the most effective educational program for assigned students. Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of assigned students including: characteristic signs of developmental delay or handicapping conditions; intellectual, social, and emotional characteristics of age group; students' varied approaches to learning; student skills and knowledge; student interests and cultural heritage; economic and cultural influences; student's family, school and community context. Develops and follow transition guidelines that will result in a successful transition of the student into the kindergarten program.Facilitates the development of a standards-based Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) for those students who qualify for such services and provides specialized instruction.Researches, coordinates, and effectively utilizes available school and community resources and outside agencies to ensure the proper delivery of students' IEP. (SLP, Social Worker, OT/PT, internal and external professionals and agencies, and the like). Support lesson planning and implementation using Creative Curriculum.Administers and/or coordinates a thorough assessment of identified students which may include language, behavior, visual motor, gross and fine motor, and cognitive skills using a variety of techniques including standardized tests, rubrics, checklists, curriculum-based measures, developmental scales, observations, behavior objectives, and the like. Implements appropriate classroom activities/educational materials to effectively engage students in learning and to maximize student comprehension of the lesson; including implementation of instructional groupings, schedule of activities, behavioral management techniques, and peer support. Provides effective, timely, and quality feedback on student progress to parents, students, and other professionals as needed or required. Effectively provides academic instruction, social skills training, and other direct services to assigned students to develop the readiness skills necessary for success in future school placements.Accurately assesses the effectiveness of classroom services (including learning activities, instructional groupings, lesson plans, educational materials, curricula, assessments, teaching strategies, and the like) to make sure instructional goals of assigned students are being met; and persistently seeks thoughtful alternative approaches/resources to improve student learning. Other duties may be assigned.