The Westborough Public Schools seek a dynamic Special Eduation Teacher

to join our caring staff at the Fales Elementary School (K-3)

beginning in the 2024-2025 school year

.5 position, working Monday-Friday

The Westborough Public Schools enthusiastically welcome professionals to our district who thrive in a diverse environment that focuses on the importance of relationships with our students, staff, families, and community.

• 
  We are an innovative, supportive, and high-performing district whose stellar staff provides high quality services for our diverse students and their families.
• We educate approximately 4,000 students from Pre-K through age 22, from homes that speak almost 30 different languages. Our student population is approximately 49% Students of Color and 51% White students.
• We support our vibrant, passionate, dedicated, skilled and professional staff through ongoing collaboration and feedback to ensure their safety, health, sense of belonging, and professional growth!

With a graduation rate of 97% and 90% of our students attending post-secondary schools, we are proud of our commitment to excellence in educating students to be informed and successful citizens of a global world.

Job Title: Special Education Teacher

Reports to: Principal and Student Services Coordinator

Department: Student Services

Work Year: 184 days

FLSA Status: Exempt, Unit A

Job Goal: The Special Education Teacher fosters a love of learning that encourages student curiosity, engagement, and growth in a welcoming community of learners. The teacher provides learning experiences that engage students and behavioral learning guided by the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, district standards, and IEP goals. The Special Education Teacher facilitates the academic, social and behavioral supports for students with special abilities through direct service, collaboration, consultation, and coaching.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree from an accredited college/university in a related field

• Professional Certification: MA DESE licensure in Special Education; SEI Endorsement
• Additional certification in general education and/or ESL highly desirable
• Specialized Knowledge: child development, curriculum frameworks, curriuculum accommodations and modifications, assessments, IEPs and progress reports, applied behavioral analysis (ABA), inclusive practices, progress monitoring, cultural proficiency and anti-bias instruction, co-teaching, CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) assistive technology
• Hiring Requirement: Successful completion of DESE mandated CORI and fingerprinting
• Preferred Experience:
• Teaching English Language Learners and in a diverse public school setting
• Experience with students with special abilities, including students with physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and learning challenges
• Strong background in inclusive special education practices
• Strong background in literacy and math instruction, along with science and social studies instruction
• Experience writing and implementing IEPs
• Experience creating SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound) IEP and progress goals
• Experience assessing student progress and writing data-supported progress reports
• Highly desirable to have experience with:

• Co-Teaching
• Balanced Literacy
• Play-based instruction
• Project-based learning
• FOCUS on Early Learning Curriculum
• Building Blocks Math
• Second Step
• Responsive Classroom
• Technology Integration
• Assistive technology
• PBS (Positive Behavioral Supports) using the FAIR system
• Zones of Regulation
• Social Thinking

• Skills:

• Create a welcoming, supportive, and equitable learning environment
• Plan and implement differentiated lessons and ongoing formative assessment based on district and IEP goals and the abilities, needs, and interests of students to whom assigned
• Implement instructional and assessment modifications and/or accommodations where needed
• Apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional design
• Empower students to be critical thinkers who can reflect on their learning, thoughts, and feelings and implement learned strategies
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing
• Maintain effective relationships with students, colleagues, and parents
• Integrate technology in order to enhance student learning
• Bilingual skills, especially in Spanish and Portuguese, are highly desirable

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• Manage a caseload of students to ensure that IEPs are implemented and that appropriate student progress is made.
• Provide learning experiences across all subject areas as guided by the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, district standards, and IEP goals
• Monitor students' understanding of the curriculum effectively
• Refine instructional practice and assessment strategies to increase student learning
• Write, revise, and monitor IEP implementation
• Monitor student progress using data-driven SMART Goal measures, and effectively communicate such progress through written progress reports, communications with colleagues and families.
• Collaborate with colleagues as a Co-Teacher in order to optimize student learning
• Participate in professional development activities and meet district expectations for licensure recertification
• Participate in faculty and district-wide committees as required
• Any other relative duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Special Education Teacher has supervisory responsibilities for any paraeducators who may be assigned to his/her/their classroom. In this capacity, the Special Educator is expected to direct and coach the paraeducators, offer timely and appropriate feedback related to job performance, and partner with the paraeducators to provide engaged learning with their shared students.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary, benefits, and responsibilities per the contract between the Westborough School Committee and the Westborough Education Association.

The Westborough Public Schools do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or any other class protected by law.

Date Updated: 4/10/2023